Abbott, on family vacation, meets with Australian prime minister

Gov. Greg Abbott paused a family vacation to Sydney on Tuesday to meet with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. 

The two spoke for more than an hour about issues including the economic ties between Australia and the U.S., energy policy, transportation policy and trade, according to Abbott aides. They said the governor and Turnbull also "talked at length about regulatory policy — both under the incoming Trump administration and in Texas." 

Many Republicans, including Abbott, are hoping President-elect Donald Trump will be a boon for their states' economies.

Abbott and Turnbull began the meeting by swapping gifts. Turnbull gave Abbott an Akubra hat, and Abbott gave Turnbull a Stetson hat. 

"Engaging visit in Sydney with Australian Prime Minister," Abbott tweeted after the meeting, sharing a picture of the two modeling their new hats. "I traded a Stetson for an Australian Akubra."