Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has pointed the finger of blame at US President Donald Trump for inciting violence by refusing to accept the results of the November election.
Scenes of chaos and destruction descended on the US Capitol in Washington yesterday, with President-Elect Joe Biden calling the event "one of the darkest days in our nation's history".
Speaking on Today, Mr Turnbull said Mr Trump had a lot to answer for.
"It was incited by the president. This has been building up for a while. Trump, supported by his enablers in the Republican party and right-wing media, particularly Murdoch, have been assaulting democracy and the rule of law in America for years," Mr Turnbull said.
"Leaders have an obligation to bring their communities, their countries together. Trump, on the other hand, has sought to exacerbate and exploit divisions.
"He sought to turn Americans against each other to advance his own political interest, and in doing so, he has been supported by powerful voices in politics and in the media.
"And while Trump, I have no doubt, will be gone on the 20th of January, if not before, it is important that we hold responsible those people who enabled him to do the damage that he has done to America and the cause of democracy and freedom around the world."
Those sentiments were echoed by Bill Shorten who said Mr Trump "has no respect for the truth or the rule of law".
"It was unfathomable. But it is not unexpected," Mr Shorten said.
"For the last two months, Donald Trump has been encouraging these people, this mob, to run riot, but, in fact, it is part of his last four years of presidency where he and his supporters have basically been engaged in an assault on the rule of law and on American democracy.
"I think a lot of people right around the world are shocked, and they hold Trump responsible. He was the one who, for two months, as told the American citizens and his supporters that the election was stolen from him. It was not."
Mr Trump's actions have been condemned by leaders around the world, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison stopped short of criticising Mr Trump for sending mixed messages when the president asked his supporters to leave the Capitol.
Mr Turnbull said Mr Morrison should have come down harder on the US President.
"I think it should have been stronger," Mr Turnbull told Today.
"I think Scott should have really condemned Trump's actions. I see Boris Johnson in the United Kingdom has done that. I mean, at some point, you have got to call a spade a spade.
"I know from experience, you are always reluctant as an Australian PM, to get involved in or commentate on political affairs in other countries.
"But this was different. This was not an issue of domestic American politics. This was the President of the United States inciting a mob, many of whom were armed, to attack and lay siege to the country's Parliament.
"This is staggering stuff. It is insurrection and sedition."
Mr Shorten agreed with Mr Turnbull that the prime minister's response was "weak and tepid".
Riots, violence and deaths after Capitol stormed
"I think we have to call that out. You do no favours to your allies by simply ignoring the real problem. The real problem here is that America is the democracy to which we are allied with, upon which our security relationship reside," he said.
