Former prime minister John Howard urges Australians to trust Donald Trump - but admits the U.S. leader's presidency was 'provocative' and 'unusual'

  • Former prime minsiter John Howard calls for Australians to trust Donald Trump
  • 'The style of President Trump is unusual... but it's what he does that matters' 
  • Speaking in Sydney on Thursday Mr Howard addressed Liberal party tensions
  • He insisted the party was made up of both moderate and conservative voices
  • It comes after Malcolm Turnbull said the Liberal party was not conservative

By Australian Associated Press and Kate Darvall For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Former prime minister John Howard has urged Australians to trust Donald Trump, despite admitting his style of presidency was 'provocative' and 'unusual'. 

Mr Howard, who served as Australia's prime minister from 1996 to 2007, said Australia should give the US president a chance.

'The style of President Trump is unusual... I accept that some of his style is provocative, but in the end it's what he does that matters,' Mr Howard said at a University of Sydney event on Thursday. 

'The style of President Trump is unusual...I accept that some of his style is provocative, but in the end it's what he does that matters,' Mr Howard said at a University of Sydney event on Thursday

'The style of President Trump is unusual...I accept that some of his style is provocative, but in the end it's what he does that matters,' Mr Howard said at a University of Sydney event on Thursday

Mr Howard also addressed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's claim the Liberal party was not a conservative one. 

Earlier this week Mr Turnbull said the Liberal Party was not conservative but 'the sensible centre' at an event in London.

Mr Howard insisted the party was made up of both classical liberal and conservative traditions.

'Let me say to people in this country who regard themselves as conservative, you are always welcome in the Liberal party,' he said.

'The Liberal Party and the National Party are the natural and most productive homes for conservatives in this country.'

'Let me say to people in this country who regard themselves as conservative, you are always welcome in the Liberal party,' Mr Howard said

'Let me say to people in this country who regard themselves as conservative, you are always welcome in the Liberal party,' Mr Howard said

Mr Howard, who served as Australia's prime minister from 1996 to 2007, said Australia should give US President Donald Trump a chance

Mr Howard, who served as Australia's prime minister from 1996 to 2007, said Australia should give US President Donald Trump a chance

Mr Howard's comments come amid a war of words between Mr Turnbull and his predecessor Tony Abbott about the definition of the Liberal Party.

Mr Turnbull said Liberal founder Sir Robert Menzies 'went to great pains not to call his new political party consolidating the centre right of Australian politics 'conservative' but rather the Liberal Party, which he firmly anchored in the centre of Australian politics'.

'The sensible centre was the place to be. It remains the place to be,' he told a London think-tank.

Mr Howard's comments come amid a war of words between current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his predecessor Tony Abbott about the definition of the Liberal Party

Mr Howard's comments come amid a war of words between current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his predecessor Tony Abbott about the definition of the Liberal Party

Mr Turnbull said Liberal founder Sir Robert Menzies 'went to great pains not to call his new political party consolidating the centre right of Australian politics 'conservative' but rather the Liberal Party, which he firmly anchored in the centre of Australian politics'

Mr Turnbull said Liberal founder Sir Robert Menzies 'went to great pains not to call his new political party consolidating the centre right of Australian politics 'conservative' but rather the Liberal Party, which he firmly anchored in the centre of Australian politics'

After a public backlash, Mr Turnbull said he had deliberately used the phrase 'sensible centre' coined by Tony Abbott, and believed most Liberal Party members - including himself - embraced both the terms liberal and conservative.

'They are brought together and indeed they are shared by most of us, we share both traditions, they are not exclusive,' Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Abbott vowed to be a strong voice for conservative voters.

Former Liberal senator Cory Bernadi split from the Liberal party earlier this year to set up his own Australian Conservatives party.

Mr Howard urged supporters to steer clear of 'alternative conservative configurations' because joining such groups would 'end in tears'.  

'The Liberal party and the National party are the natural and most productive homes for conservatives in this country,' Mr Howard said (pictured at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney on Thursday 

'The Liberal party and the National party are the natural and most productive homes for conservatives in this country,' Mr Howard said (pictured at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney on Thursday 

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