Editorial | Australia has its share of racial problems and it has also faced race protests and even riots over the years but what has stood out on this occasion is Mr Trump’s brutal formula for dealing with the unrest.
Events of the past week have sorely tested Australia’s long-standing ties with the US and raised serious questions about what a second term for President Donald Trump would do to the alliance.
The streets of the country’s great cities, empty until a few days ago because of lockdown, have filled with protesters demanding justice and police trying to block their progress. Most leaders in democratic countries would have responded by acknowledging the legitimate grievances about police brutality and unfair treatment that drove tens of thousands of people on to the streets. They would promise reform while at the same time urging the protesters to respect the law. That sort of compromise is, for instance, how French President Emmanuel Macron rode out the prolonged Yellow Vest protests two years ago.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'No question' over US-Australia diplomatic relationship | Sky News AustraliaPerth USAsia’s Gordon Flake says there “is no question” about the strong diplomatic relationship between the two countries, after the officers that assaulted Australian journalists in Washington DC were promptly stood down.\n\nPolice attacked the Australian news team with shields and batons outside of the White House at a demonstration that turned violent, where crowds were forcibly moved away from during President Donald Trump’s address.\n\n“The US Embassy in Canberra quickly released a statement regarding freedom of the press,” Mr Flake told Sky News.\n\n“I think our allies of Australia in the US, which are many, responded to make sure this was handled quickly.”\n\nImage: AP\n
Read more »
Trump villainised by 'toxic US media environment' | Sky News AustraliaFormer US Naval Intelligence Officer John Jordan says US President Donald Trump has “received a lot of criticism and unquestioned adulation from his base” following his demonstration of authority outside of St John’s Church amid nation-wide protests. \n\nThe president was pictured holding up a bible in front of a Washington church that had sustained fire damage from Black Lives Matter protests taking place across the US, following a speech where he threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807. \n\n“President Trump, what he did here was ham-fisted, so much so that it’s unfair to hams everywhere,” Mr Jordan told Sky News. \n\n“It was not necessary, what he should have done was an Oval Office address talking about what steps the federal government was going to take to make sure that justice prevails here and to seriously deal with the underlying issue of law enforcement and the black community,” he said. \n\n“But anything President Trump does is going to be roundly criticised, fairly or not, and the fact is he did not invoke the Insurrection Act. \n\n“They’re treating like what he has done is without precedent when in fact it was, if he had done it. \n\n“So the American media environment is toxic in the extreme.” \n\n Image: Getty \n\n
Read more »
'Remarkable absence of violence' being observed in recent US protests | Sky News AustraliaUS correspondent Cam Stewart says recent protests in America have been “remarkably less violent” compared to previous days, as millions of people take to the streets across American following the death of George Floyd.\n \n'That includes in New York City where there was terrible looting 48 hours ago,” Mr Stewart told Sky News.\n \nHe said there seems to be much fewer of the 'professional protesters' being observed, while instead more mums and dads and families have joined in.\n \nMr Kenny said 'everyone would support' peaceful protests as the 'anger is understandable' following the death of Mr Floyd.\n \nMr Floyd had died after an officer knelt on his neck for several minutes despite his pleas that he can't breathe. However, Mr Kenny said the 'opportunistic lawlessness' has been 'frightening to see' around the country.\n
Read more »
US democratic process called into question over protests | Sky News AustraliaUS Studies Centre CEO Simon Jackman says he has “never been more pessimistic” about “the prospects of a free, fair and peaceful election” in the United States as protests rage across the country. \n\nThe US has entered its ninth night of protests over the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in police custody, with President Donald Trump calling on the military to intervene as protests grow more violent. \n\n“We have the events that we’re all reacting to over the last couple of days but I think the question we are asking is what does this portend for the prospects of a free, fair and peaceful election and if necessary transfer of power,” Mr Jackman told Sky News. \n\n“Can you hold a process, an election, to determine who should hold the reigns of national power and if there is a change in who holds those reigns, can that transfer be done peacefully?” he said. \n\n“That is what it means to be a democracy. \n\n“One can’t help but ask the question in a very serious way, is that going to happen this time around in the United States of America?”\n\nImage: AP
Read more »
US race-based protests have turned the 'collective against the individual' | Sky News AustraliaFormer speaker of the house Bronwyn Bishop says the deterioration of the race-based protests in the United States have turned the “collective” against the “individual”. \n\nThe protests are “not interested in the individual” African-American people whose businesses and livelihoods have been destroyed by looting and rioting.\n\nThe rioters are “interested in the collective” which is “what identity politics is all about,' she said. \n\n“You don’t take responsibility for anything but simply … tear things down on the basis that if you tear it all down you can then build your Utopia”. \n\nImage: AP
Read more »
Trump administration bans Chinese passenger carriers from flying to USThe Trump administration has barred Chinese passenger carriers from flying to the US as it pressures Beijing to let US air carriers resume flights amid simmering tensions between the world's two largest economies.
Read more »