Australian leaders have paid tribute to former US President George Bush Senior, who has died at the age of 94, calling him a true friend to the country.
Mr Bush "fought for freedom and democracy not only as president and throughout his public life, but as a WWII veteran," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a tweet on Saturday night.
"Australians join with the American people to mourn the loss of President George HW Bush," he wrote.
"The president was a true and great friend of Australia."
Mr Morrison, who is in Argentina for the G20 Summit, said Australia's thoughts and prayers were with the president's family and American people.
He has joined a growing list of past and present Australian leaders honouring Mr Bush, who was a World War II hero and the 41st president of the United States.
Saddam Hussein's Iraqi army was defeated during his presidency between 1988 to 1993, but President Bush lost his chance for a second term.
Mr Bush was the US president during Bob Hawke last three years as Australian prime minister.
Mr Hawke called the former president a good friend "whom I admired as a man of decency and charm, an outstanding president in a difficult era."
Opposition leader Bill Shorten described him as "a statesman to the end, who devoted his life to service."
"His example will live long in the hearts of his fellow Americans," Mr Shorten tweeted.
Former prime minister John Howard said Mr Bush "exemplified the best of his nation's values in both war and peace."
"He visited our country on a number of occasions. He was the first American president to address a joint sitting of our national parliament," he said.
1994: Annita Keating and Prime Minister Paul Keating hosting former president George H W Bush and his wife Barbara at Kirribilli House. Source: AAP
"The late president possessed an endearing sense of humour and always exhibited immense public grace. He was the patriarch of a great American family."
Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer praised the former president for his "outstanding overseas military service" and leadership in Gulf War one.
"All of this was in sharp contrast to three of his four presidential successors who all three avoided service in South Vietnam," he said.
Share
