Australia criticized for having 5 prime ministers in 5 years

Australia criticized for having 5 prime ministers in 5 years

Renowned entrepreneur Frank Lowy made a scathing assessment of Australia's current political climate. He called the series of changes in political leadership unacceptable and warned that democracy was "carefully guarded".

"Having five prime ministers in five years is unacceptable," he said before Australian political and business leaders on Thursday (9/13) night.

"Democracy must be nurtured and treated carefully," he added.

Frank Lowy, one of the giant founders of the Westfield shopping center, delivered a speech on the 15th anniversary of the Lowy Institute, a well-known think tank in Australia. Lowy called national development a "hard task" but according to him being in the top position was even more difficult.

The 87-year-old man criticized the nation's tendency towards immigrants, and praised the work of former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Julie Bishop himself described Lowy as "one of the best citizens" and said his story reflected "the classic truth of our good fortune as a nation".

Lowy arrived in Australia at the age of 21 with his brother after fleeing World War II in Europe. He called himself a "boat man" who fled to Palestine.

He said for almost 70 years of living in Australia, having experienced this country open to new ideas, but felt that sentiment had declined.

Scott Morrison is now Australia's new prime minister replacing Malcolm Turnbull

"I think we are moving in the wrong direction," he said. "We should talk about targets, not caps."

"Now that our borders are safe, I'm sure we can be ambitious about immigration and be generous to refugees who come through the process," he said.

He also highlighted US leaders who were arguably Australia's most important ally. According to Lowy, the future of Australia's relations with the United States is deeper than the figure who now sits in the White House.

"I am sorry that Trump did not see the big profits flowing to America from global trade alliances and systems," he said.

"And personally, according to my life experience, I feel more comfortable when the president of the United States is a supporter of democracy, not a friend of authoritarian leaders," he said.

"Our alliance is not with the Trump administration, but with the United States," Lowy said.

source: republika.co.id