He's not, still - President Trump personally asked Mr. Morrison last month for Australia to assist an American federal inquiry aimed at discrediting the Mueller investigation into foreign interference in the 2016 election. After our New York Times colleagues broke the news Tuesday, Mr. Morrison confirmed the country’s readiness to “assist and cooperate.”
That unleashed anvils of criticism for both Mr. Morrison and Mr. Trump. But is all the attention justified?
Isn’t it normal for Australia to help the United States with an investigation?
In general, yes. Australia and the United States regularly share information as part of the “Five Eyes” intelligence network, and government officials work together on a variety of international law enforcement issues affecting both countries, like drug smuggling, cyberhacking and copyright and intellectual property protection.
Then why is everyone making such a big deal of Trump’s latest request?
The president was trying to use American diplomacy not for subjects of shared interest, but for personal political gain. Hoping to bolster his re-election chances, Mr. Trump called for help in investigating — and ultimately undermining — the investigators who found that Russia had intervened on his behalf in the 2016 election.
Historians of American-Australian relations say they are unaware of any precedent for such a politically driven request.
What does that mean for Morrison?
In practice, Mr. Trump has asked Mr. Morrison to scrutinize his own Liberal Party colleagues as if they were potential enemies.
Scott Morrison rejects criticism of climate policies as MPs call for more action
PM says he is disappointed that Australia’s bushfire crisis is being ‘conflated’ with emission reduction targets
Sarah Martin Chief political correspondent @msmarto
Fri 10 Jan 2020 16.40 AEDT Last modified on Fri 10 Jan 2020 23.02 AEDT
Morrison says the government is willing to review recommendations for a “recalibration” of its climate change policies should there be a national fire inquiry. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPA
Scott Morrison has rejected criticism of the Coalition’s climate change policies amid the ongoing bushfire crisis, as a growing number of MPs privately concede that the government needs to do more to match the rising tide of concern over the issue.
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