A senior Liberal Party figure and former diplomat has warned of the "alarming" consequences of a "ghastly" Donald Trump returning to the White House, predicting the Republican candidate would "absolutely" start World War III.
George Brandis, a former federal attorney-general and foreign ambassador, told the ABC's Q+A on Monday that Trump's foreign policy would be "a real danger to the West".
He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should be particularly concerned as the war with Russia ground on.
"He [Trump], in my view, would on day one throw Zelenskyy under a bus," said Mr Brandis, who served as Australia's high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2022.
"He would send a signal to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin that Putin can get away with what he likes. Does anybody believe that Trump would defend the Baltic states? Of course he wouldn't.
"And so what happens to NATO? What? So I'm really alarmed … in a geopolitical sense."
While Australia's current political leadership are careful not to buy into US politics ahead of the November election, former leaders like Malcolm Turnbull have lashed Trump and warned of the consequences of his re-election.
Earlier this year, Mr Turnbull told Q+A that Trump's "creepy" embrace of Putin was a "terrifying" threat to democratic order.
The race is much closer among likely voters in the US, with Harris marginally ahead in recent polls.
Mr Brandis said the vice-president would have his vote.
"Even though I come from the conservative side of politics, I'm hoping that Kamala Harris wins because I think Donald Trump is so dreadful," he said.
"But then I would have voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 because I'm an original believer that Donald Trump is dreadful.
"There are bigger issues at stake here which make him too dangerous a person in my view to be the president of the US again."
Liberal MP Keith Wolahan said, "we respect the decision is the American people's to make".
But he understood the excitement around Kamala Harris, who was born to an Indian mother and Jamaican-American father.
"I was born in Ireland and I remember many houses would have … a picture of the pope and John F Kennedy. For many Irish people, when they saw an Irish Catholic become the most powerful person in the world, it meant a lot.
"These things do matter."
Americans remain deeply polarised over their choice between Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. In Australia, a new survey suggests one candidate has overwhelming support.
Q+A heard from Indian-Australian Rohan Hora, who said his community had been energised by the Harris campaign.
"Seeing the energy and the hope in my parents' faces when we talk about American politics now, it's something that I've never seen before," he said.
"It shows it's possible for somebody like me to get into politics and that's something I haven't seen in my lifetime."
Egyptian-born Labor frontbencher Anne Aly said it was "touching to hear".
"I never imagined a career in politics for myself," she said.
"And I have to say it's not just politics, [it's] mainstream media as well. There's very little diversity and it's true that you can't be what you can't see."
Trump's Threat to the West
Brandis, who served as Australia's high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2022, painted a bleak picture of the potential consequences of a Trump presidency, emphasizing the risk it posed to the West. He argued that Trump's policies would undermine the stability of the international order and embolden authoritarian regimes.
He expressed particular concern about the potential impact on Ukraine, stating that Trump would "throw Zelenskyy under a bus" on day one of his presidency. Brandis suggested this would signal to Putin that he could act with impunity and undermine NATO's credibility.
Australian Sentiment
While the current Australian government has maintained a neutral stance on the US election, former leaders have been vocal in their opposition to a Trump victory. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, known for his public clashes with Trump, characterized his embrace of Putin as a "terrifying" threat to democracy.
Polling data further suggests a strong anti-Trump sentiment within Australia. Recent surveys have shown Trump with significantly lower support compared to Harris, with only 27% of Australians indicating they would support a Trump presidency. This stark contrast highlights a clear preference for a change in leadership in the United States.
The Broader Context
The Australian public's unease with Trump extends beyond concerns about his foreign policy. Many Australians view him as an unpredictable and divisive figure whose rhetoric and actions have polarized American society.
Brandis's warning about the potential for World War III under Trump's leadership underscores the seriousness of the situation. It serves as a stark reminder of the potential for global instability, even in the absence of a direct conflict between major powers.
The upcoming US election is not just a domestic issue; it carries implications for the global order and the future of international cooperation. The stakes are high, and the world is watching.
