Peter Dutton says there’s an ‘eerie parallel’ between Donald Trump’s US election result and Australia

Peter Dutton says there is an “eerie parallel” between the US election result and what’s happening in Australia, and suggested it should put Labor on notice.

The Opposition Leader said Donald Trump’s victory had in part because so many Americans didn’t believe the Biden Administration had been listening to their cost-of-living struggles, and felt a “real disconnect”.

“People didn’t believe that the government was listening to them when they couldn’t pay their bills, couldn’t pay their mortgages, couldn’t pay their insurance, their rent’s gone up, etc.,” he told breakfast television.

“There’s sort of an eerie parallel with what’s happening here in Australia... The Government this week was telling people essentially that we’re past all this inflationary period, ‘don’t worry, you’ve never had it so good’.

“I don’t think that washes, because the lived experience, the reality for lots of families sitting around kitchen tables at the moment is that they’re pulling their hair out, and they can’t pay the bills, and people have to sell their homes because they just can’t affort the mortgage repayment. So I think there are some parallels.”

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said while it was clear cost-of-living had been one part of the election result, the American election had “lots of moving parts in that”.

He said the Albanese Government would continue to work closely with the US, and find common ground with president-elect Donald Trump, because of the “deep” alliance.

“The relationship is strong, and it’s about our national interest and for the American government, it’s about their national interest, America has a trade surplus with Australia,” Mr Shorten told ABC Radio.

“So I’m positive about the context.

“He won, he’s the guy we’ve got to deal with, they’re a democratic country, they’ve had their elections, we respect the outcome.”

Independent MP Zali Steggall meanwhile said Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd would need to do some “diplomatic tap dancing” after he deleted historic social media posts in which he criticised Mr Trump.

“It will be a test of his ability to rebuild that relationship,” Ms Steggall said.

“Anyone in those diplomatic roles representing Australia, especially with major allies, do have to be mindful about their language, very diplomatic and develop really good working relations.”

Former ambassador to the US Joe Hockey backed in Mr Rudd, who he said had the “trust and confidence” of the Prime Minister, and as such everyone needed to “move on”.

“It’s been a source of so much talk and conjecture in Australia, let’s all move on,” he said.

“He is the ambassador. Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister. Let’s just make it work and whether you, Liberal or Labor, Green or Pauline Hanson, whatever you are, we’ve got to be all Team Australia and all shoulders to the wheel.”