Fed: US consul hopes Obama will make early visit to Australia
21 Jan 2009 11:13 AM
MELBOURNE, Jan 21 AAP - US Consul-General Michael Thurston hopes Australia will receive an "early visit" from America's 44th president Barack Obama.
Mr Thurston watched the inauguration speech of Mr Obama, the first African-American president, on Wednesday morning (Australian time).
He later told reporters he hoped the new president would visit Australia soon.
"I wouldn't begin to say when we might expect a visit from President Barack but I would like to see an early visit, of course, as would all my colleagues all over the world," Mr Thurston said.
"We're just going to have to wait and see.
"He's got an incredibly busy schedule and he's got a tremendous amount on his plate in terms of issues to address, but early indications are that he is willing and wanting to visit the world outside as soon as he can do that."
As an African-American, Mr Thurston said watching the speech was moving and gave him great hope for the future.
"I think the speech was really terrific, it really hit the right note, it was a little bit of tough love," he said.
"It was about what we should do, not what we have to do, but it was also about what we're capable of."
Mr Thurston said he had believed America would have an African-American president in his lifetime, but it was a different matter for his father.
"(He) is going to be 89 in March and was born and raised in Mississippi and he would've thought the likelihood of having an African-American president was the same as a man walking on Mars in his lifetime."
Mr Thurston said he spoke to his father after the inauguration and it was a great moment.
"But it's important to remember he (President Obama) ran as an American, he didn't run as an African-American," Mr Thurston said.
"He was an American who went for president, and he happens to be African-American and what that really tells you is how far my country has come."
The relationship between Australia and America was unlikely to change under President Obama, Mr Thurston said.
"We already have an extremely close relationship and I would have thought it would continue and get closer, but it's hard to imagine a closer relationship," he said.
He said it was important not to forget that America had faced tougher times in the past than it does now, and had always come out on top.
"That fighting spirit will continue under President Obama's leadership," Mr Thurston said.
