Greg Norman tees up Australian PM's access to Donald Trump
As world leaders hustle to speak to the President-elect, Malcolm Turnbull makes good use of one of Mr Trump's famous friends.
Thursday 17 November 2016 12:56, UK
Golfing great Greg Norman has helped Australia's prime minister jump the queue of world leaders waiting to speak to Donald Trump.
The 61-year-old two-time major winner is one of the President-elect's golfing friends.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnball confirmed Norman had helped facilitate the introduction to the billionaire, who includes golf course development among his business interests.
"In diplomacy and policies, you use lots of networks. All I can say is we have great networks, great connections and Greg Norman is a great Australian," Mr Turnball told reporters.
"(Norman) is a great advocate for strengthening the Australian-American alliance. One of our greatest assets is the more than million Australians who live overseas."
Damon Hunt, a spokesman for Mr Turnbull, said Australia had already been using its network of expatriates to canvass both candidates well before Mr Trump's victory.
Mr Trump's contact information was handed to Australia's US ambassador, Joe Hockey, who then relayed it to Mr Turnbull, Mr Hunt said.
"The only thing that was unusual about it was that we built relationships with both sides. A lot of countries and certain politicians just picked the Democrats, we were never going to back just one horse," he added.
Japanese officials have told of a different experience with Mr Trump's team.
Just hours before the President-elect was due to host his first foreign leader on US soil, Shinzo Abe, Japanese officials said they were in the dark about the particulars of the visit.
As Mr Abe departed Tokyo, his team said they did not know when or where in New York the two men would be meeting, or who to call for answers.
"There has been a lot of confusion," said one Japanese official.
Sky's Asia Correspondent Katie Stallard said: "It is very unusual, at this stage, with the Japanese Prime Minister, in the air, inbound, for these kind of details not to be fixed.
"That perhaps gives you something of an insight into how that transition is going."
:: Stallard analysis - Serious issues at stake as Trump meets Abe
The confusion shows the difficulties Mr Trump and his team face in putting together a watertight schedule and a fully functioning administration by his inauguration on 20 January.
Mr Trump has dismissed reports the transition is in disarray, insisting his cabinet selection process "is going so smoothly".
In an Apprentice-style tweet, Mr Trump himself asserted: "Very organized process taking place as I decide on Cabinet and many other positions. I am the only one who knows who the finalists are!"