Australia’s ambassador to the US says cynics would liken election to ‘a two-year reality television program’

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Joe Hockey has characterised the US election as a “very public display of self-doubt” but has refused to be drawn on what he considers the likely outcome.

Hockey, Australia’s ambassador to the US, made the remarks at an event organised by the University of Sydney’s US Studies Centre on Wednesday evening.

He said both candidates had been “questioning the role of American values”.

“Nothing has been off-limits in this election,” he said.

That had caused voters anxiety, which had been compounded by the “graphic, 24/7, real-time nature” of the campaign. “To some cynics, it’s appeared like a two-year reality television program.”

But he pointed to turnout at candidate rallies as evidence that the US democracy was robust.

Hockey said he found it “absolutely astounding” that Bernie Sanders, the failed Democratic candidate, could draw crowds of 30,000 people “and still lose the nomination”.

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He did not betray his thoughts on whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton would win what he called “the hardest job on God’s earth” and spoke generally about the similarities and differences between the two.

Pushed on the matter in a question and answer segment after his speech, he said the result was “too close to call”.

“The greatest fear of the Department of Foreign Affairs was that I wouldn’t be diplomatic,” he joked.

But, whichever candidate was successful, Hockey said the next president of the US would need to address real concerns of their people, many of whom wanted change.

The US had worn its self-doubt about its future direction and its values on its sleeve this election campaign, said Hockey, and the mood in the US seemed to be primarily one of pessimism. “The incoming president must be seen to respond to those who fear that America and its promise of a grand democracy is no longer working for them.”

He pointed to figures showing an erosion of confidence in civic institutions including the supreme court and Congress. “Clearly many Americans feel as if the existing structures that underpin their republic are not working, or working to their benefit.”

That was one of the chief differences between the US and Australia, said Hockey – that the “fundamental bedrock of the American republic is a distrust of government”.

“Now Australia have made a national sport of distrusting individual politicians – and I speak with some experience – but at a cultural level we do not share Americans’ deep distrust of institutions.”

Despite that difference, he said there was an enduring and deep relationship between the two countries, strengthened by Australia’s support of the US in defence matters.

“When we’re able to say ‘we’ve been with you in every major fight’, that has huge carriage.”

Hockey was announced as Australia’s next ambassador to the US in December and took up the position early this year.