Australian prime minister Scott Morrison says he is hoping for a peaceful transfer of power in the United States as he condemned rioters for “terribly distressing” acts of violence in storming the Capitol building.
But he stopped short of criticising Donald Trump for sending mixed messages when the president asked his supporters to disperse, and also declined to rebuke one of his own backbench MPs for promoting unfounded conspiracy theories over the US presidential election results.
Morrison’s predecessor, the Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, criticised his response as “a bit weak” and “a bit tepid” in comparison to condemnation from other world leaders.
The opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, was much more direct in his response to what he labelled as “effectively an insurrection”, saying there was “no doubt that both the words and actions of Donald Trump have encouraged this activity”.
Morrison and Albanese were among Australian politicians to express their shock after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building on Wednesday local time, disrupting the largely ceremonial process of the Senate certifying Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
Morrison said the developments were “very concerning”. He said Australia had updated its US travel advice to urge any Australians in Washington DC to observe the night-time curfew, avoid protests because of the potential for them to turn violent, and follow instructions from local officials.
“The riots and protests that we’ve seen in Washington DC have been terribly distressing,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
“I’m pleased that the Senate has been able to recommence their proceedings and we hope for a peaceful and stable transition of government to the new administration elected by the American people.
“This is a difficult time for the United States, clearly, they’re a great friend of Australia and they’re one of the world’s greatest democracies. Our thoughts are with them and we hope for that peaceful transition to take place.”
Morrison had said on Twitter that Australia condemned “these acts of violence”.
Very distressing scenes at the US Congress. We condemn these acts of violence and look forward to a peaceful transfer of Government to the newly elected administration in the great American democratic tradition.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 6, 2021
When asked by reporters whether Trump bore some responsibility for undermining democracy and inciting some of the actions, Morrison said he would not offer further comment on the “terribly distressing” scenes.
He said he noted Trump’s message to tell people to go home peacefully. “I hope that’s what people are doing,” he said. “I feel terribly for what is happening there, I really do … It’s heartbreaking to see what is happening there.”
Turnbull told ABC TV that although Australian leaders “don’t want to get drawn into a running commentary”, the case of a “US president actively seeking to undermine the credibility of a democracy he’s supposed to be leading” is “pretty special” and “right out there”.
Turnbull also took aim at Morrison’s decision to accept a legion of merit, the US’s highest military honour, from Trump. He said accepting honours from foreign countries is always “a bit fraught” and “questionable”, suggesting it was a pity Morrison had not found a tactful excuse to refuse it.
Trump, who has promoted unfounded claims about the results of the November presidential election, issued a video message on Wednesday local time telling his supporters to go home but also saying “We love you” and repeating the lie that the election had been “stolen” from him.
When asked whether that was a responsible message from a world leader, Morrison said it was not for him to offer commentary on the leaders of other countries. “I don’t do that, out of respect for those nations.”
Morrison was also asked whether he would condemn the promotion of conspiracy theories by members of his own government, given that the backbench north Queensland MP George Christensen had made unfounded claims shortly after the election about Biden benefiting from “dodgy extra votes”.
At the time, Facebook added a warning to Christensen’s post for “missing context”.
Without commenting directly on Christensen’s claim, Morrison said: “You know, Australia is a free country. There’s such a thing as freedom of speech in this country and that will continue.”
Christensen took to Facebook again on Thursday, claiming the situation was “a dumpster fire at the moment … all because no one dared audit the vote”. He also accused Twitter of “pouring fuel on the fire” by “censoring the leader of the free world” in locking Trump’s account.
The Australian foreign minister, Marise Payne, responded to the developments by saying she was “very concerned by scenes at the US Congress” and she condemned “any violence to interfere with democratic processes”.
But Payne also expressed confidence that the developments would not impede the transfer of power, arguing America’s institutions were robust.
Very concerned by scenes at the US Congress. I condemn any violence to interfere with democratic processes. This will not impede the transfer of power, US institutions are robust & its democratic strength resides in the full breadth of its people who are no part of this violence.
— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) January 6, 2021
Earlier, Albanese called on the Australian government to make “strong statements in support of democratic values”.
The Labor leader described the events in Washington as “a tragedy for the great democracy that is the United States of America” and said democracy was precious and should not be taken for granted.
Albanese said Australians and Americans would be “very shocked to see people occupying the Capitol Building, occupying offices, including that of the speaker, ransacking and destroying the equipment and breaking through windows”.
“There is no doubt that both the words and actions of Donald Trump have encouraged this activity,” Albanese said.
“I do note that Donald Trump made his statement about how people should go home. That’s good. But he also repeated some of the mistruths which are there, which have also been repeated by some in the Australian media, that somehow this is an illegitimate result.”
Albanese also criticised Trump for putting pressure on the vice-president, Mike Pence, to intervene in the certification of the election result.
“It’s not usual for people to make those comments about what is a United States internal affair, but democrats have to speak out in favour of democracy. And I’m a democrat. And I support the United States so strongly as our most important ally.”
In a later interview with 2GB, Albanese reaffirmed his past criticism of Morrison for “attending what effectively was a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Ohio” in 2019.
The immigration minister, Alex Hawke, criticised the Australian Labor party for posting on Twitter a file photo of Morrison with Trump alongside the words: “It’s the company you keep.”
Hawke said the post was “poor form” because every Australian prime minister, regardless of party or the issues at hand, worked with each US administration “for Australia’s national interest with our key ally”.
