Has Stephen Harper found his conservative soul mate in Australian PM Tony Abbott?

Andy Radia
·Politics Reporter

If you read the Australian newspapers, this morning, you'd think that Stephen Harper was engaged in a burgeoning international bromance with Aussie Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Abbott, is in Canada for two days this week as one of his first ever foreign visits as PM.

The media in that country report that there aren't many truly conservative leaders left in the developed world. They're playing-up the fact — here, here and here — that, because the duo are so ideologically aligned, they've developed a special bond.

Here's an analysis by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation:

"Much of the mutual admiration can be traced to the links between Mr Abbott's Liberals and Mr Harper's Conservatives.

The parties have studied each other's successes for years and even use similar rhetoric, like "open for business", "a tax on everything" and "strong and stable government".

Mr Howard dispensed advice to Mr Harper when the future Canadian prime minister was in his country's opposition.

Mr Harper famously plagiarised parts of a Howard speech in 2003 - it led to the resignation of a campaign worker in 2008.

But now the roles are somewhat reversed.

Facing a budget backlash, it is Mr Abbott's turn to see if he can learn anything from the more senior, conservative statesman."

The similarity in the respective leaders' policy directives are certainly uncanny.

On Sunday, Abbott praised Harper for his conservative economic policies.

"He has been regarded as something of a beacon to centre-right parties around the world and certainly I have regarded Stephen Harper as an exemplar of a contemporary, centre-right prime minister," Abbott told reporters.

"Certainly there are many things that Stephen Harper has done well but I guess most noteworthy is taking a $55 billion deficit in the immediate aftermath of the (2008 economic) crisis and turning that into a surplus in the coming financial year.

"That’s a very significant achievement. It’s been achieved without significant social dislocation and that is something that all of us can learn from."

[ More Politics: Northern Gateway pipeline could become Harper’s biggest career decision ]

On international issues — from Syria to security in Asia — the two also see eye to eye. And, with regard to Russia and Ukraine, Abbott is now backing Harper.

"They're very forthright remarks and I think that they're perfectly appropriate remarks for the Canadian prime minister to make," Abbott said when asked about Harper's tough talk against Putin.

"Canada probably has more involvement in the affairs of Europe than Australia often does, but nevertheless let's not minimize the affront to international stability and the affront to the ordinary norms of behaviour between nations which Russia has been responsible for."

Moreover, the two are in lock-step when it comes to environmental issues: Both leaders are promoting natural resource development in their home countries as a means to create jobs and boost their respective GDPs and are against any carbon pricing schemes.

It's a match made in conservative heaven.

[ Related: Stephen Harper introduced as the ‘prime minister of cannibal’ — twice ]

If Abbott wants to continue the bromance, however, he might want to practice his pronunciation.

On Monday, Abbott was widely mocked on Australian traditional and social media after he mistakenly called Canada "Canadia."

According to one media report #Canadia was actually trending on Twitter.

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