Australian news live: Albanese and Dutton pay tribute to Biden’s leadership after US president decides not to seek re-election | Australia news
Key events
Biden’s decision not a ‘surprise’ following weeks of speculation, Birmingham says
Simon Birmingham said it wasn’t necessarily a surprise that Joe Biden has decided to withdraw, following “news and speculation and otherwise in recent weeks”, but noted it is a “historic moment”.
It’s historic or the way that it has occurred and the circumstances surrounding it. But … in a broader sense, what denotes this as being so significant, is it means there will be a new US president next January, a new US administration in place and therefore, a different set of bases for us to ensure that our strongest of alliances continues to be as strong as possible in the future.
Birmingham honours Biden’s role in securing Aukus partnership
Shadow foreign minister Simon Birmingham spoke to ABC RN earlier this morning, also weighing in on US president Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the US presidential race.
He noted Biden’s role in the Aukus partnership and said he would leave a “strong legacy … in terms of our alliances and our relationship, and one that we must make sure the next administration builds upon.”
Joe Biden has been, and has continued, the tradition of US presidents being great friends to Australia, has continued that traditional mateship between our nations that has been so strong, and established one of the strongest alliances in the world and perhaps most critically under his administration, the Aukus partnership was initiated, agreed, and quite significantly secured bipartisan support in both the United States and in Australia, as part of the ongoing strengthening Indo-Pacific strategy and in response to the challenges of our time.
Rudd weighs in on Biden’s decision to withdraw
Australia’s ambassador to the United States, former prime minister Kevin Rudd, also issued a statement following Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw. He wrote on X:
Leadership can be a lonely place. We can all take pause to recognise, and respect, the difficult decision President Joe Biden has made today. Thank you for your service, Mr President, and for always being guided by what you believe is best for your country. The US-Australia relationship has prospered under your leadership.
Albanese thanks Biden for ‘leadership and service’ as he withdraws from US presidential race
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has thanked US president Joe Biden for his “leadership and ongoing service” as he announced he would withdraw from the US presidential race, endorsing his vice-president Kamala Harris.
Albanese wrote in a post to X:
The Australia-US Alliance has never been stronger with our shared commitment to democratic values, international security, economic prosperity and climate action for this and future generations.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, noted Biden’s role in launching Aukus, which “the peoples of our two countries carry forward with energy and determination.”
Like American Presidents before him, Joe Biden has been a leader resolutely committed to the Alliance. I thank the President for the support and abiding friendship he has shown to Australia.
Welcome
Emily Wind
Happy Monday and welcome back to a new week on the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be bringing you our rolling coverage for most of the day.
Overnight, US president Joe Biden withdrew from his presidential re-election race and endorsed vice-president Kamala Harris to take his place at the top of their party’s ticket. Prime minister Anthony Albanese thanked Biden for his “leadership and ongoing service” and said the Australia-US alliance “has never been stronger”, while opposition leader Peter Dutton recognised Biden’s role in launching Aukus.
The Liberal senator Simon Birmingham spoke about the move on ABC RN earlier, noting it was a “historic moment”.
It’s historic in the way that it has occurred and the circumstances surrounding it. But … in a broader sense, what denotes this as being so significant, is it means there will be a new US president next January, a new US administration in place and therefore, a different set of bases for us to ensure that our strongest of alliances continues to be as strong as possible in the future.
We’ll bring you more of the local reaction to this news shortly.
As always, if you see something that needs attention on the blog you can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.
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