As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden promised the US would demonstrate “global leadership on refugees”. Once elected, he pledged to vastly increase refugee resettlement in the US.
If history is any guide, the new president’s forward-thinking approach could help drive Australia’s commitments to refugee protection, as well.
Over the past four decades, the United States and Australia have contributed to international refugee resettlement through planned annual admission programs.
The annual US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has traditionally operated on a much larger scale than any other country, with tens of thousands of places per year. Since 1980, the program has enabled more than 3 million people to find safety and build new lives in the US.
Governor General David Hurley inspects the Royal Guard during the Australia Day Flag Raising Ceremony at Lake Burley Griffin on January 26, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Getty)
A number of Australians have also been recognised for their services to healthcare, education and the emergency services during 2020, a year, of course, marked by the coronavirus pandemic and bushfire devastation.
Governor-General David Hurley said the honours helped celebrate the contributions of people from every part of the community. On behalf of all Australians, I congratulate everyone recognised in the Australia Day Honours list, Mr Hurley said. The individuals we celebrate today come from all parts of our great nation and have served the community in almost every way conceivable.
The complete Australia Day Honours list coffscoastadvocate.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from coffscoastadvocate.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In his first major foreign policy speech as leader, to be delivered a day before Joe Biden is inaugurated as president, Mr Albanese will say it was important for America s allies to be utterly unambiguous in condemning Mr Trump as he sought to undermine the democratic process .
He will say a tense phone call between former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Mr Trump demonstrated the difficulties Australia faced in managing the relationship under the divisive president. But Mr Morrison went too far – partly out of his affinity with Donald Trump, partly because of the political constituency they share . There is no doubt Mr Morrison put his affinity and his political interests first when he effectively went on a campaign rally stage with Donald Trump in Ohio, Mr Albanese will tell the Perth USAsia Centre, according to a draft of the speech.