Former Australian leader rips into America following Trump's election

There's no shortage of uncertainty over a Trump presidency. But Australians shouldn't need to worry so much.

That's if you heed the words of former prime minister and clap back Queen, Paul Keating, who praised Australia (and slammed the U.S.) in the face of a looming Trump presidency on ABC's 7:30 Thursday night.

Essentially, Keating thinks Australia is better than the U.S. "as a society," and in future, it should be look to improve its relationship with Asia instead of trying to be America's "deputy sheriff," all the time.

Keating says Australian society is "more even, it's more fair, we've had a 50 percent increase in real incomes in the last 20 years, median America has had zero. Zero."

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While there's been protracted debate over gun control and public health care in the U.S., for decades Australia has proven to be progressive in these policy areas.

Strict gun control measures have been in place since 1996 following the country's deadliest massacre. Australia's publicly-funded universal health care system, Medicare, was introduced in 1975.

"We've had universal health protection -- from the cradle to the grave. We have a retirement income system, with superannuation," Keating said.

"We have high participation rates in schools. We don't shoot our children in schools and if they were to be shot, we'd take the guns off the people who shot them. The Americans do not do this.

"This is a better society than the United States. Therefore the idea we should get around like Uriah Heep like we're some subordinate outfit that has to get a signal from abroad before we think -- is of course a complete denial of everything we've created here."

Ouch. Another classic Keating smack-down.

Despite a long friendship between the two nations, Keating wants Australia to stop following the U.S. in matters of international affairs.

In his eyes, Australia should instead make its way in the Asia Pacific region with an independent foreign policy.

"It's time to cut the tag. Time to get out of it," he said.

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Trump's opposition to China and inklings toward an America-first foreign policy has left Australian government officials showing caution in the wake of his election win.

While a handful of far-right politicians have expressed eagerness to work with Trump, there are still plenty of questions when it comes to the president-elect's values and handling of international affairs.

Prepare for a long four years.