Brexit: Scott Morrison calls for ‘cool heads’ and sticking to plan

Scott Morrison has warned against exaggerating the economic threat from the British exit from the EU.

Malcolm Turnbull has named ­border protection as one of the key lessons from Britain’s vote to leave the EU, after consoling his British counterpart David Cameron on his dramatic decision to step down.

As the momentous vote shook the Australian election campaign, the Prime Minister declared that the “loss of control” of British borders was probably the biggest ­single issue in the push for a Brexit.

“They felt they’d lost their sovereignty, or many Britons did,’’ Mr Turnbull said last night on the ABC’s 7.30 program. “And this was the argument that because citizens of other European Union countries could come and go to the United Kingdom as they pleased, Britons felt that they’d lost control of their own country.

“Rightly or wrongly, that was the perception. That was something that reminds us of how really ­important it is for the government to be seen to control its borders, and of course we are able to do that in Australia and that is one of the issues in this election.”

Mr Turnbull, who spoke to Mr Cameron yesterday, said he was sorry to see him resign but that Australia would continue to have the “closest relations” with Britain.

“Naturally I consoled him on the defeat in the referendum and we discussed his next steps and what he announced did not come as any surprise,” he said.

Mr Turnbull also said Australia had strong support in France and Germany for a free-trade deal with the EU, which remained on track despite the Brexit vote.

Scott Morrison has warned against exaggerating the econo­mic threat from the British exit from the EU as the global shock put the economy at the centre of the federal election.

The Treasurer urged “cool heads” as he predicted a two-year process to enact the historic changes and insisted the government’s $48.2 billion company tax cut remained the best way to shore up growth, despite global dangers.

“The wrong response is to increase taxes, to increase the deficit and to increase the debt — now that is, of course, what is being put forward by Bill Shorten at this election,” he said. “We are saying we need to stick to the plan, the plan is working and whether it is this shock or any other that comes our way, that is the best way to sec­ure the performance of the Aus­tralian economy as it transitions.”

Mr Morrison rejected the need to discuss ways to stimulate the economy and warned against over­estim­ating the impact of the Brexit vote, saying his message was shaped by the advice he ­received from the Reserve Bank, Treasury and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

Labor Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen offered the same ­assurance after a briefing from the same authorities, warning the government against “scaring” Australians for political advantage.

The British decision is overturning the election ahead of Mr Turnbull’s official campaign launch in western Sydney tomorrow, where his message on economic management will tap into the electorate’s heightened concern about global threats.

He said there was “no cause for Australians to be alarmed” by the vote but also used global volatility to urge Australians to avoid changing governments.