Australians woke on Thursday morning and discovered they had not been dreaming.
The US election is over. Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in an event that will reverberate around the world for a long time.
Experts in every field in Australia are beginning to offer up their analyses of what this all means for the country; economics, defence, social and political shifts are all being canvassed as the reality of a Trump presidency sinks in.
The election dominated the front pages.
Thursday's front page, first edition pic.twitter.com/mEUEqFax6D
— Ben Cubby (@bencubby) November 9, 2016
Today's Newcastle Herald front page #USElection2016 #USElectionResults pic.twitter.com/7pvhMRBvrJ
— Newcastle Herald (@newcastleherald) November 9, 2016
Some are calling a Trump victory an opportunity for Australia; in a world where we have been dependent on the US-led world order our trade, defence and foreign policies now have a chance to be our own.
.@MichaelPascoe01 For the first time in our history, our trade, defence and foreign policies should become our own https://t.co/okfUYZ3Y1U
— smh.com.au (@smh) November 9, 2016
But the political consequences for Australia should not be underestimated. As the world grapples with populist politics, Australia should consider what this could mean for us.
Australia has not dodged the Trump bullet. A chasm has opened up beneath our feet. Historic day. My thoughts https://t.co/Ped7HKS4Ev
— Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) November 9, 2016
Some were less subtle in their analysis.
Front page of The Daily Telegraph. #Elections2016 #USElection2016 #auspol pic.twitter.com/hmv3GJXDo7
— Christopher Dore (@wrongdorey) November 9, 2016
News organisations also have a lot of reflecting to do, with so many blindsided by the results. Some were happy to acknowledge their errors early on.
Yes.... yes, you did. pic.twitter.com/UIK5UgTj9Q
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) November 9, 2016
Not that everyone was terribly impressed with the U-turns.
How good are journalists at pivoting from "We were so desperately wrong and out of touch" to "Listen to us explain what next".
— Osman Faruqi (@oz_f) November 9, 2016
And others see it as critical to shift towards other global alliances.
If Trump wins, Australia may need to pursue a more independent foreign policy and cultivate more reliable allies #auspol
— Ben Saul (@profbensaul) November 9, 2016
The economic prospects could be dire for the world and Australia.
? Trump victory: Global unease, uncertainty, repression. America; split, recession, no human rights. Australia; alone, time to stand up.
— Peter Garrett (@pgarrett) November 9, 2016
The analysis of how it will affect the environment has been particularly gloomy.
“Will Trump go down in history as the man who pulled the plug on a livable #climate?” by @climateprogress https://t.co/PkMtt66WHG
— Graham Readfearn (@readfearn) November 9, 2016
Rising inequality is being put forward by some as a key consideration in Australia and around the world.
In 2014 @Australia_21 published report saying rising inequality is a key issue. Didn't know how right we were. #Brexit #Trump
— Paul Barratt (@phbarratt) November 9, 2016
And when all else failed, people laughed. But in a dark kind of way.
I hope the nuclear codes are more than 140 characters.
— Dan Ilic (@danilic) November 9, 2016
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