3 days Ago By Kat Wong
There could be ramifications for Australia's political landscape after a second assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump. Login or signup to continue reading Two months after Mr Trump was injured by a bullet at a Pennsylvania rally, the Republican candidate was the target of another assassination attempt at his Florida golf club, the FBI confirmed. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it's good Mr Trump is safe but the incident remains a concern.
"Everyone wants the democratic process to be peaceful and to be orderly," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday. The event could have consequences for Australian politics, cabinet minister Clare O'Neil said. "It worries me because America is such an important and powerful democracy, and it does affect us here in Australia," she told the ABC on Monday.
"We're very lucky here and I never want Australians to lose sight of that." Strict gun laws and a political culture, where differences are resolved at the ballot box rather than by violence, are key to Australia's stability. "This is not the case in many countries in the world, and it's something precious and it's something we've got to value," Ms O'Neil said.
"It's a little bit fragile at times and we need to support it and protect it." Mr Trump was targeted on Sunday while golfing on his course in West Palm Beach. US Secret Service agents spotted and fired on a gunman with an AK-47-style assault rifle about 400 metres away from the presidential candidate.
Although the suspect attempted to flee, his car was spotted and he was taken into custody. This attempt on the Republican nominee's life showed the power of words, Liberal senator Hollie Hughes said. "We've seen suck reckless rhetoric coming from the Democrats, referring to President Trump as Hitler, as a danger to democracy," she told Sky News.
"There's a lot of tension over there at the moment and that (rhetoric) has got to be, in some way, attempted to be taken out of it." Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was relieved Mr Trump wasn't injured. "Political violence has no place in any society - certainly has no place in a democracy," she told ABC radio.
"This is another dreadful demonstration of potential political violence." In July, Mr Trump's right ear was grazed and one rally-goer was killed when a gunman opened fire at a campaign event near Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooter, identified as a 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
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