[Interview] Former Australian PM Abbott: "National Interest Above Ethnic Religion"

"All Australian organizations should rightly prioritize Australia's national interest above their ethnic or religious backgrounds."

Tony Abbott, the 28th Prime Minister of Australia (Photo by Jeong Dong-cheol)

In an interview held at a private office in Martin Place, downtown Sydney, Australia, at 2 p.m. on the 5th (Wednesday), former Prime Minister Tony Abbott urged Australians who support Palestine to put Australia's national interest first.

Former Prime Minister Abbott is a leading conservative politician highly regarded not only in Australia but also in the United States and the United Kingdom. As a sportsman who enjoys triathlons, he displayed a solid physique and a strong impression even at the age of 67, and he spoke candidly and deeply on questions about the upcoming federal election scheduled for April-May, the inauguration of U.S. President Trump, China-Australia relations, the Palestine-Israel conflict, and the impeachment crisis of the South Korean president.

He highly praised the leadership of Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberal Party, expressing expectations for quite good results in the upcoming election. Regarding the Middle East conflict, he clearly defined Hamas as a terrorist organization and stated that there is no choice but to firmly support Israel, a free democratic country. On China, he insisted that Australia must adhere to the principle of prioritizing its national interest while speaking out when necessary. He predicted that in relations with the U.S. under President Trump, Australia is likely to proceed in a direction where it takes on more responsibility as an ally.

Former Prime Minister Abbott entered politics in 1992 after working as a journalist and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994. He then held key positions such as Minister for Health and became the 28th Prime Minister in 2013 after defeating the Labor Party in the general election.

The interview lasted 30 minutes with Paul Mitchell, former Prime Minister Abbott’s aide, and Kim Mina, Marketing Director of Hanho Times, present.

Below is the Q&A with former Prime Minister Abbott.

▲ What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the Liberal Party in the upcoming election, and how should it establish itself as a strong alternative to the current Labor government?

I think Peter Dutton has done an excellent job as a leader. Since taking office, he has achieved growth far beyond expectations. The Labor Party deeply regrets underestimating him and realizes they face a tremendous fight ahead.

The biggest problem Australia is currently facing is that the household economy is in a deep recession, with per capita economic growth rate recording negative figures for nearly two years. The standard of living, in terms of real disposable income, has decreased by about 9% on average over the past few years. Productivity has also reverted to the level of five years ago. As the government fails to address or worsens these serious issues, there is a strong desire to find alternatives.

The challenge for the opposition is not simply to convince the public that the government is incompetent. Rather, it must persuade voters that the opposition is capable. Peter Dutton accurately read public sentiment through his stance on 'The Voice.' He is increasingly succeeding in the nuclear power campaign and is also well regarded on important cultural issues such as protecting the national flag and Australia Day.

Conventional wisdom holds that a first-term government losing in the second election has been almost unheard of for nearly 100 years, so many believe Peter Dutton will find it difficult to achieve a regime change. However, no government led by one leader has succeeded in re-election in the past 20 years. If Peter Dutton wins, it breaks one precedent, but if Anthony Albanese wins, it breaks another. From this perspective, I believe Peter Dutton has a much better chance than people think.

▲ Conflict between pro-Palestinian groups and the Jewish community in Australia is intensifying. How do you think Australian political leaders should handle this?

All Australian organizations should rightly prioritize Australia's national interest regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds. Supporting Israel, the only free democratic country in the Middle East, aligns with Australia's national interest. Of course, this does not mean we should not empathize with the suffering of Gaza residents on a human level. However, the responsibility for Gaza's difficulties lies entirely with the Hamas terrorist organization.

If Hamas had not committed the horrific atrocities on October 7, 2023, Israel would not have needed to exercise its right to self-defense and attack. If Hamas had not taken hostages and committed brutal acts, much of Gaza's suffering could have been avoided. If Hamas had released the hostages, laid down arms, and recognized Israel's existence, none of this suffering would have occurred.

We must clearly recognize who is responsible. Frankly, those who protest in support of Palestine are actually protesting in support of Hamas. They should acknowledge that they are on the wrong side and reconsider.

▲ Do you think the Australian police are adequately enforcing law and order regarding pro-Palestinian protests?

I believe the protest held in front of the Sydney Opera House on October 9 should have been forcibly dispersed by the police. The police and government authorities respond strongly to right-wing extremist groups but show relatively lenient attitudes toward pro-Hamas protesters, which is a clear double standard. Acts that violate public order should be dealt with strictly under the same standards regardless of who is responsible.

▲ How should Australia balance its national interests in trade and national security in its relationship with China?

We must clearly distinguish between the Chinese government and its people. Australia has no problem with the Chinese people but has serious issues with the Communist Party government. The Chinese government suppresses its own people, threatens neighboring countries, and has waged a trade war against Australia. In particular, the Chinese government continuously threatens Taiwan's freedom. I believe Australia should strongly support Taiwan's freedom and democracy. If Taiwan loses its freedom simply because a bigger country claims sovereignty, all small countries will face similar risks. Trade with China should continue, but at the same time, Australia must reduce strategic vulnerabilities to China. To do this, we need to reduce dependence on Chinese products in critical supply chains and further strengthen Australia's own military power.

▲ What do you think about Peter Dutton’s announcement to pursue better relations with China under a Liberal government?

We all want better relations with China. The problem lies with the Chinese government, not the Australian government. The Chinese government unilaterally imposed unfair trade sanctions worth 20 billion dollars on Australia. It mocked Australia as 'gum under China's shoe' and made baseless claims that Australian soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan. I believe it is the Chinese government, not Australia, that should apologize.

▲ U.S. President Trump has started his second term. How should Australia readjust its alliance with the U.S. in terms of defense and trade?

I expect the U.S. to be much tougher under the Trump administration. It will be more hardline not only toward adversaries but also toward allies in all areas. I am confident that the fundamental shared interests and values between the U.S. and Australia will not change. Nevertheless, during President Trump's term, the U.S. will expect Australia to do more on its own, especially increasing defense spending to a significantly higher percentage of GDP.

In recent days, I have witnessed President Trump using 'shock and awe' tactics on long-standing U.S. allies like Canada and Mexico. Interestingly, these shock tactics seem to have been effective. Mexico has promised stricter border control and more measures to block illegal immigrants and drug precursors. Canada has also pledged to strengthen border controls.

It is clear that the moment President Trump realizes Australia is lacking in actual actions as an ally compared to its words, he will demand more contributions from us.

▲ As a director of the U.S. media company Fox Group, what role do you play? How do you think the experience and insights gained can be applied to Australia?

I have only been on the Fox board for a year, but I am happy, proud, and honored to work diligently here. Considering the roles Rupert Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch have played over the past 30, 40, and 50 years in the UK, the U.S., and Australia, I think this is a kind of public service. There is no doubt that Fox is the most successful mainstream broadcaster in the U.S. media environment. Since Lachlan Murdoch succeeded his father as chairman, the stock price has risen from $30 to around $50, which I believe strongly supports Fox's management and direction in the media market.

▲ Do you have to visit the U.S. often?

I visit about three times a year.

▲ How do you think the Liberal Party should communicate effectively with the younger generation and maintain long-term political standing?

The Liberal Party's core values are timeless. The older the party, the more important it is to reflect enduring values and essence rather than temporary trends. The Liberal Party has always said it is a party of freedom, tradition, and above all, patriotism. Commitment to freedom, respect for tradition, and deep love for the country are, I believe, consistently attractive to everyone. As long as the Liberal Party leads with courage and strong intellect, I am confident it can be competitive in any election.

▲ Are there challenges for more effective communication between the Liberal Party and young voters?

We always think about how to deliver and spread messages well, but I don't think the Liberal Party is doing badly right now. I am confident that in all areas, especially on online platforms including social media, we will run a strong campaign on par with the opposition in the coming months.

▲ What do you think about the political turmoil currently unfolding in South Korea, such as the declaration of martial law, the passing of the presidential impeachment motion, and arrests?

Honestly, I do not know the current situation in depth. I have learned somewhat through newspaper reports. The fact that the president has entered impeachment proceedings is clearly not a good situation. Also, the situation requiring the president to declare martial law is serious. Nevertheless, South Korean democracy has faced several political crises over the past 40 years, including assassination attempts on presidents, criminal acts, and extreme actions by former presidents, yet it has shown considerable resilience each time. I believe the Korean people will overcome this situation as well. I hope this leads to a better and stronger nation.

▲ Thank you for taking the time for this interview despite your busy schedule.

Thank you.

Jung Dong-chul, Hanho Times Reporter

※This article was written based on content provided by Hanho Times (www.hanhotimes.com).