30-04-2025
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull labels Trump a 'bully' at final Your Say panel
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has called US President Donald Trump a "bully" and criticised Australia's major parties for not standing up to him.
Speaking at the ABC's final Your Say panel — hosted by ABC Radio Sydney Mornings presenter Hamish Macdonald at the broadcaster's Parramatta studios — Mr Turnbull said he had counselled Australian leaders to take a harder stance in negotiations with the president.
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"The Australian prime minister should go to Washington [D.C.] and stand up for Australia. I mean, it makes me want to vomit," Mr Turnbull told the program.
"There has been a conga line of sycophants and lobbyists and grifters and advisors saying, 'Oh, you've got to flatter Trump, suck up to him,' and all they end up getting is more bullying."
The Your Say panel also included former home affairs secretary Mike Pezzulo, the US Studies Centre's Hayley Channer and Macquarie Univeristy's Lavina Lee.
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ABC News: Marcus Stimson
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He said newly elected Canadian President Mark Carney had taken a more effective approach.
"Is Mark Carney on his knees? Are the Canadians on their knees? You know what their motto is, 'Elbows up', which basically means a bit of biffo in ice hockey."
Hayley Channer from the US Studies Centre, argued the softer approach taken by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was more likely to get a favourable outcome.
Mr Turnbull pointed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's approach to Mr Trump as the example Australian leaders should follow.
"If you think about the way that the current prime minister, Anthony Albanese tried to evade the tariffs, it was all about packaging up a deal," Ms Channer said.
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If we use something like critical minerals, for instance, and we do something that looks attractive to him, we can use our soft power and our natural resources to actually get something out of the next four years.
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AUKUS, risk of Asia-Pacific conflict discussed
The panel also discussed the AUKUS deal, with Mr Turnbull arguing Australia was unlikely to receive any nuclear submarines from the agreement.
"The problem we've got at the moment is that both sides of politics are in denial, it is bipartisan gaslighting," he said.
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"They don't have to sell us any [submarines], unless they conclude that their navy doesn't need them, and their navy is currently about 20 subs short of what they say they need, and they're producing about half as many as they need to replace the ones that are retiring."
Former home affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo agreed that the US has a capability gap with its own submarines.
He said the government should stay the course with the deal but also look at contingencies.
"I think there is a timing imperative to start putting in place some lateral, I don't mean substitute, but lateral policies in place which can go forward simultaneously,"
Mr Pezzullo said.
The AUKUS deal was also discussed, with Mike Pezzullo advising for contingency plans to be considered.
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US Navy
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The panel also discussed the risk of conflict in the Asia-Pacific, with Lavina Lee from Macquarie University arguing that issue hasn't been given enough air time in the election.
"There are not enough frank conversations about the actual seriousness of the strategic competition that's going on around us and the risk of conflict in the region, and it's sooner rather than later," Dr Lee said.
"If we look forward in five to 10, years' time, people will be looking back at this election and judging our political leaders and both sides politics for not making this more of an issue."
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