The Aukus safety pact ties Australia to the hip of a “dangerous demagogue” in Donald Trump, Adam Bandt has warned, as he mounts a recent argument for the submarines deal to be deserted.
Showing on the Nationwide Press Membership in Canberra, the Greens chief mentioned Australia ought to associate with different international locations reeling from the US tariffs to “isolate” the president.
“Because that’s what you should do with bullies like that, work with others and isolate him,” Bandt mentioned.
The Greens’ long-running opposition to the Aukus deal to equip Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines has intensified since Trump regained the White Home.
Aukus has bipartisan assist from Labor and the Coalition however Bandt believes public sentiment is popping in favour of the Greens’ place, declaring “we think we’ve got the Australian people behind us on this”.
“Now is precisely the wrong time for Australia to be joined at the hip to Donald Trump,” he mentioned.
“They [the submarines] are about joining Australia at the hip to a dangerous demagogue in the US. They’re not about defending our country – they’re about joining Donald Trump in his next attack that he wants to make on someone else.”
Bandt is adamant Australia is headed for a hung parliament during which the Greens maintain the balance-of-power, giving it leverage to pressure a possible Albanese minority authorities so as to add dental to Medicare, ban native forest logging, make childcare free and wind again detrimental gearing and capital positive factors tax concessions.
After beforehand campaigning for the tax breaks to be abolished solely, Bandt unveiled a extra nuanced coverage on Wednesday that will grandfather the concessions for one property to guard “mum and dad investors”.
“What we’re trying to do is put on the table something that we think that could be implemented by the end of the year,” he mentioned. “And we think it’s more urgent now with the potential for interest rate cuts [and] fallout from Trump.”
Anthony Albanese dismissed Bandt’s newest demand as an try to “make himself relevant”.
The prime minister has repeatedly dominated out hanging power-sharing offers with the Greens, refusing to even countenance an end result apart from retaining majority authorities.
Bandt mentioned he could be “absolutely astounded” if Albanese refused to work with the Greens in a hung parliament – together with in adopting gadgets on its coverage wishlist.
“I would be absolutely astounded if Anthony Albanese or anybody else says, ‘No, I don’t want to get dental into Medicare, I’m not going to talk to anyone and I’m going to take my bat and ball and go home’,” he informed the press membership.
“I understand people will … say things during the course of the election campaign, but at the end of the day if that’s what people decide [a hung parliament] then we’ve got an obligation to work together.”
