'There's no need to be pessimistic' Australia tells UK to LOSE downbeat attitude to Brexit

Hardline Brexit supporters have been critical of the Government after details of the UK’s transitional agreement with the European Union emerged yesterday.

Taking a more positive view, Mr Downer described the transition as “only 21-months” and a “useful amount of time to tidy up negotiations”.

The Australian High Commissioner then told the British people to stop being pessimistic about cutting ties with Brussels.

He said: “You’re very pessimistic people. Some people say that is one of our strengths, you are self-deprecating and self-deprecating humour is very funny so you deserve great credit for your sense of humour here.

“Look you may have voted for Brexit, or you may have voted for Remain, but if Australia ends up in a difficult situation like that, and we did when the UK joined the European Union, we have an expression in Australia which is 'she'll be right’.

“So we'll work it out somehow and she will be right, in our case we've always done pretty well as a country because we run our country well.

“You've always done pretty well as a country, you'll work your way through it and there's no need to be too pessimistic.”

The Australian High Commissioner also called on the Government to do more to promote post-Brexit optimism in Britain.

He told LBC: “I mean the government has to you know be optimistic and be forward leaning and forward thinking.

“The leadership of the country has to get the country to feel good about itself and why wouldn't you I mean this is a wonderful country.”

During his interview with host Iain Dale, the Australian High Commissioner also said it “can’t be difficult” for the UK and Australia to strike a post-Brexit trade deal.

Following the announcement from David Davis and the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator on Monday, the details of the transition period became ever more clear for Britons.

The transition deal, which will come to an end in December 2020, sees Britain effectively remaining in the Common Fisheries Policy and giving ground on freedom of movement.

But, Britain did negotiate the ability to agree, sign and ratify trade deals during the implementation period, which will come into effect once the UK has fully cut ties with Brussels in 2020.

Australia’s High Commissioner has previously told the UK it will be good for the country to leave the EU.

Australian, like their United States counterparts, have also voiced their interest in striking a trade deal with the UK once it cuts ties with Brussels.