George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Before I address your question, may I welcome you back. It is good to see you back after your period of illness late last year. The Prime Minister is not of that view. As I have said many times, and the Prime Minister and the foreign minister have said many times as well, the Australian government will work with any American administration. There may be points of difference—there have been, historically. Nevertheless, it is in Australia's interests that the Australian government work with any American administration, and we do.

As you know, the Prime Minister has spoken to President Trump on two occasions. On the second of those occasions that week a difference was resolved, when Mr Turnbull, as you would expect of an Australian Prime Minister, stood up for Australia's interests. The foreign minister has spoken as recently as this morning to Secretary Tillerson, the new Secretary of State, and on several occasions to Vice President Pence. On Saturday morning I spoke to the Homeland Security Advisor, Mr Bossert, and other members of the cabinet have spoken to their interlocutors in the Trump administration. That is the way Australia does business, as you know, and it is very much in our national interest that, allowing for the fact that there may be differences from time to time, we have a cooperative and cordial relationship with the United States, and we will.