<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>329143</docID> <postdate>2024-09-16 11:28:57</postdate> <headline>Attempted Trump assassination a concern in Australia</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-258478" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Donald_Trump_official_portrait-resized-e1695765644345.jpeg" alt="" width="899" height="599" /></p> <caption>The US Secret Service has foiled a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Photo: Shealah Craighead</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Kat Wong</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>There could be ramifications for Australia's political landscape after a second assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump.</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it's good Mr Trump is safe but the incident remains a concern.</p> <p>"Everyone wants the democratic process to be peaceful and to be orderly," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.</p> <p>The event could have consequences for Australian politics, cabinet minister Clare O'Neil said.</p> <p>"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.</p> <p>"We're very lucky here and I never want Australians to lose sight of that."</p> <p>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.</p> <p>"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.</p> <p>"It's a little bit fragile at times and we need to support it and protect it."</p> <p>Mr Trump was targeted on Sunday while golfing on his course in West Palm Beach.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Although the suspect attempted to flee, his car was spotted and he was taken into custody.</p> <p>This attempt on the Republican nominee's life showed the power of words, Liberal senator Hollie Hughes said.</p> <p>"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.</p> <p>"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."</p> <p>Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was relieved Mr Trump wasn't injured.</p> <p>"Political violence has no place in any society - certainly has no place in a democracy," she told ABC radio.</p> <p>"This is another dreadful demonstration of potential political violence."</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The shooter, identified as a 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.</p> </body>