By Helen Clark
A former deputy PM expresses frustration on U.S. gun control policy – and the alliance with Australia.
A former Australian politician known for his anti-gun stance suggests the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade should update its travel warning, and warning Australians against travel to California. He also questions the overall usefulness of the Australia-US alliance.
However Tim Fisher is no Greens supporter nor is he even on the left. He was Deputy Prime Minister throughout the era of Australian conservative icon John Howard and leader of the Nationals, the conservative rural party that often rules in Coalition with the Liberal Party. Howard always made Australia’s alliance with the U.S. a central part of his foreign policy. However after the Port Arthur massacre of early 1996 that killed 35 people both Fisher and Howard went on an anti-gun drive, buying back over 650,000 guns. It’s a well reported fact, but there has been no gun massacre in Australia since. Though possibly an increase in “sternly worded letters.”
John Howard remains well-respected on both sides of Australian politics for his decisive action on the issue. Fisher faced strong criticism from his own rural constituents, an effigy of him was hanged in one Queensland town.
However what might be notable is that this, “what’s America done for us lately, anyway?” question is never far away and has rather frequently been uttered by conservatives traditionally far more friendly to U.S. interests than the left is.
Read the full story at The Diplomat