President Donald Trump used his debut at the United Nations to urge the 193-nation organisation to cut red tape and more clearly define its global mission.
"In recent years the United Nations has not reached its full potential because of bureaucracy and mismanagement. While the United Nations on a regular budget has increased by 140 percent, and its staff has more than doubled since 2000, we are not seeing the results in line with this investment."
He called Secretary-General Antionio Guterres to drive reform so that the world body could be a more effective force for peace.
"We encourage the secretary-general to fully use his authority to cut through the bureaucracy, reform outdated systems and make firm decisions to advance the U.N.'s core mission. Further, we encourage all member states to look at ways to take bold stands at the United Nations with and eye toward changing business as usual and not being beholden to ways of the past which were not working."
It was a relatively restrained and respectful address from Mr Trump, a far cry from the views he proclaimed when he was running as a candidate for president last year.
Back then, he sharply criticised the global body for its spiralling costs.
"The United Nations is not a friend of democracy, it's not a friend to freedom, it's not a friend even to the United States of America; whereas you know it has its home."
Mr Trump appears to have found a friend in the new United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The former socialist prime minister of Portugal said he shared the vision of the billionaire president.
"Our shared objective is a 21st century U.N. focused more on people, less on process. And as you rightly said, more on delivery, less on bureaucracy. We know that the true test of reform will not be measured in words in New York or world capitals. It will be measured through tangible results in the lives of the people we serve, and the trust of those who support our work through their hard earned resources. Value for money while advancing shared values, that is our common goal."
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is standing in for Malcolm Turnbull who has decidied to remain in Canberra because of the citizenship crisis hanging over Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.
She says the United Nations is an important international body and said she was reassured by Mr Trump's comments.
"But there are areas where it could improve and I thought it was very reassuring to hear that the United States is committed to the United Nations but wants to see reforms and Australia agrees with that view and as did about 120 other countries. And the United nations itslef through the Secretary General."
Donald Trump will deliver a longer maiden speech to the UN's General Assembly.
Reports say he will push a for a harder line on North Korea and Iran.
His views on other issues, such as climate change, will also be keenly anticipated.
