American-born academic and Australian Catholic University Ballarat campus dean Bridget Aitchison, Committee for Ballarat chief Michael Poulton and Ballarat mayor Daniel Moloney say the reactions of our leaders and global leaders are crucial right now.

They say there were ripple effects for Ballarat, the birthplace of Australian democracy.

Professor Aitchison, who is a dual American and Australian citizen, has been outspoken on her fears for a civil war outbreak in the US. She said seeing the possible seeds for this take shape still came as a shock.

"Even seeing this as a possibility is too much to bear," Professor Aitchison said. "I did expect mild grandstanding from the Republicans but not this.

"The problem is, even if this comes under control, others might see the US as weakened. Other state actors, other nations, might get ideas that this is the beginning of more than some sort of incident."

Professor Aitchison has been "glued to her television" on Thursday morning for what was essentially a formal ratification of the US federal election results, the counting of electoral college votes in Congress.

About the same time, President Donald Trump addressed thousands of demonstrators outside the US Capitol and continued his unproven claims his loss to now President-Elect Joe Biden was due to fraud.

Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol building.

Earlier at the rally Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani spruiked the notion of "trial by combat".

Professor Aitchison said the subsequent scenes were akin to what you might see in a banana republic. A mob of thousands stormed the Capitol, breaking past security. One woman was shot inside the building by law enforcement and later died.

"I am horrified. This is flat-out insurrection and treason," Professor Aitchison said.

"If they restore order, they cannot sweep this aside as a protest...The fact even senators and members of congress have been trying to derail and seek to overturn a free and fair vote is against the constitution."

Professor Aitchison said Congress needed to invoke the United States' 25^th amendment and remove Trump from office and impeach him.

Trump is set to remain in office until Biden is sworn in as president at his inauguration on January 20.

For Professor Aitchison, who has close family in the US, this is more than just inciting violence.

Professor Aitchison said the disinformation, particularly on coronavirus, and an overwhelming lack of seriousness on what was a major health issue were tearing the nation apart.

Committee for Ballarat chief Michael Poulton said it was hard to grapple with the idea this could happen in Australia's Parliament House - but this was happening in what was arguably the world's greatest democracy.

"It's absolutely a concern. I would hope because it is seen as such an extreme action this is never something we would tolerate in this country," Mr Poulton said.

"(British Prime Minister) Boris Johnson has condemned the scenes. I think these actions have painted Trump in a small corner. Most would see this as a step too far.

"...Moderates would be in their 10s of millions in the US and they have voted and had their say. There is a minority clinging to the idea the election was Trumps."

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Mr Poulton said he took heart from President George W Bush, also a Republican, condemning Trump's leadership for inciting violence. He said this was a "game-changer" but needed senior Republican figures to step up and back him in what would be a vital move to start healing in the nation.

Mr Poulton said there was a stark showing of two different leadership styles in Trump and Biden. He said Trump's actions to incite demonstrators - and the later Twitter video saying he had love for rioters and felt their pain when calling for a peaceful end - were appalling.

City of Ballarat mayor Daniel Moloney said the storming of the US Capitol building was a telling reminder for everyone not to let ourselves get so partisan.

Cr Moloney said while it was important to acknowledge Australian democracy was born in Ballarat from a degree of rebellion against authority, but what happened in Washington "outrageously trashed" the democratic principles for which Americans were so patriotic.

"We are so incredibly lucky that no matter people's politics we don't have to agree with a leader but we can vote them out and have a peaceful transition at all levels of government," Cr Moloney said. "If anything, this can make us a bit apathetic. What happened in the US was a reminder democracy can be a fickle thing."

Cr Moloney was in the US Capitol with his two sons three years ago to the day of the riots. He could hardly believe the failure in security to allow this to happen.

Cr Moloney said the other important takeaway for everybody, particularly in politics of any level, was to call out bad behaviour and be prepared to take a stand against it. He said we were lucky to live in a country where there were no repercussions for calling out bad leadership.

"I know we're not even remotely in the same league as the US, but the past four weeks as councillors we have been reflecting on leadership style to appoint a new chief executive officer that's right for this city," Cr Moloney said.

"We chose Evan King because he is collaborative but decisive. We respect his style and ability to get on and do things but also widely talk and listen to people, to take on feedback - that's important.

"There's a fine line between collaboration and action, you can't have too much of one without the other."

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