Australia 'will build on Bush relationship'

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today that US President George Bush appeared on track for a second term, and said Australia’s government could build on its already strong relationship with the Bush administration.

“It does look as though President Bush is more likely than not to be re-elected and obviously from our point of view the Bush administration is a known quantity,” Downer said. “We’ve had a very good relationship with them for the past four years and I’m sure we’ll be able to keep building on that over the next four.”

He added, “But frankly, if Senator Kerry somehow miraculously comes through, or any case had been elected, we would have worked pretty well with them as well.”

Downer’s comments came with Bush leading, but with the result of the vote in the key state of Ohio still in doubt.