SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Australian leaders pay tribute to George HW Bush

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has praised former US President George Bush Snr as past and present Australian leaders pay their tributes.

Bob Hawke and US president George HW Bush.
Bob Hawke and US president George HW Bush. Source: AAP

2 min read

Published

Updated


Skip to article content

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.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"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.
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.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world