Elements of Australian Foreign Policy
Australia’s foreign policy includes a number of separate, but inter-related policies in the areas of defence and security, trade, international commitments and foreign aid.
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT)
DFAT is one of the “glamour” departments in the Australian Public Service. A prestigious ministry always held by a senior member of the government, DFAT’s relationship with its minister and the Prime Minister is integral to an understanding of how foreign policy is developed.
Foreign Aid
Australia’s foreign aid has been falling in recent years, currently sitting at 1.2% of GDP. The largest recipient of Australia’s foreign aid is Papua New Guinea.
Trade
Trade has always been at the forefront of Australian’s foreign policy, but never more so than in this era of globalisation.
Treaties
Australia is a signatory to a large number of international agreements and treaties, many under the auspices of the United Nations.
ANZUS
The alliance with the United States and New Zealand is the cornerstone of Australia’s defence and foreign policies. Whilst New Zealand no longer participates to any extent in ANZUS, the 50-year-old agreement was invoked by the Australian Government in 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks on the US.
Environmental Issues
Environmental issues such as the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gases now loom larger than ever before in determining the nature of Australia’s role in the world.
Archived Posts
- Apr 17, 2012: Gillard Suggests Troops In Afghanistan Will Be Brought Home During 2013-14
- Apr 17, 2012: Kevin Rudd: Building An Asia-Literate Australia
- Mar 07, 2012: Hillary Clinton On China
- Mar 02, 2012: Bob Carr Enters The Senate And Becomes Foreign Minister
- Nov 16, 2011: Obama Gives It A Burl At Parliamentary Reception
- Nov 16, 2011: Obama And Gillard Hold Joint Press Conference In Canberra
- Nov 16, 2011: Obama's Message To Australia
- Nov 16, 2011: President Barack Obama Arrives In Canberra
- Mar 10, 2011: Julia Gillard's Address to the Joint Meeting of the US Congress
- Mar 09, 2011: Julia Gillard and Barack Obama at Wakefield High
- Jan 31, 2011: Gillard Announces Free QANTAS Evacuation Flight From Cairo
- Jan 30, 2011: The Egyptian Unrest: Special Report from Stratfor
- Jan 19, 2011: "Fellow Punters, Fellow Capitalists": Bill Shorten in Hong Kong
- Jan 18, 2011: AUKMIN III Communique
- Dec 15, 2010: The Age Publishes WikiLeaks Cables From US Embassy
- Dec 10, 2010: The Future of Trade Policy in an Uncertain World: Emerson
- Nov 08, 2010: Hillary Clinton With Hamish and Andy
- Nov 07, 2010: Hillary Clinton Speaks In Melbourne
- Jan 05, 2009: Rudd Offers Condolences On Death Of Australian Soldier
- Jan 05, 2009: Eighth Australian Soldier Killed In Afghanistan
- Nov 08, 2008: John Key Claims Victory For New Zealand National Party
- Nov 08, 2008: Labour Defeated In New Zealand Election; Helen Clark Quits Leadership
- Nov 05, 2008: Greens Welcome Obama Election
- Nov 05, 2008: Rudd Congratulates Obama On Election Win
- Oct 22, 2008: East Timor Troop Numbers To Be Cut
- Oct 13, 2008: Rudd Meets With Vietnamese Prime Minister
- Sep 26, 2008: Kevin Rudd Addresses the United Nations General Assembly
- Aug 23, 2008: Paul Keating: Nothing But The Man
- Mar 20, 2008: Clare O'Neil: Howard's Terrifying Lack Of Reflection
- Feb 11, 2008: Rudd Sends More Peacekeepers To East Timor
- Jan 31, 2008: What's Happened To australianpolitics.com?
- Dec 28, 2007: Kevin Rudd Condemns Benazir Bhutto Assassination
- Dec 12, 2007: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Address To The UN Bali Conference On Climate Change
- Dec 06, 2007: U.S.-Australian Relations In A New Era: Nicholas Burns
- Dec 03, 2007: Rudd Government Ratifies Kyoto Protocol: First Official Decision
- Nov 29, 2007: UN, USA, Asia: Three Pillars Of Labor's Foreign Policy, Says Smith
- Sep 13, 2007: Democrats Say Bush Failed To Provide Plans For Future Of Iraq
- Sep 05, 2007: APEC: John Howard and George Bush Joint Press Conference
- May 13, 2007: Australian Government Bans Zimbabwe Cricket Tour
- Apr 10, 2007: Howard Announces Additional Troops To Afghanistan
- Mar 31, 2007: Hicks To Serve 9 Months In Australian Jail; Will Be Released After Election;
- Mar 21, 2007: Howard Admits Mistakes But Defends Iraq Commitment
- Mar 08, 2007: Kevin Rudd Commits To Emissions Trading Regime
- Feb 23, 2007: War On Terror Is Battle Of Ideas: Cheney
- Feb 15, 2007: Australia To Accept New American Military Base At Geraldton
- Feb 14, 2007: U.S. Ambassador Hasn't Read ANZUS Treaty
- Feb 13, 2007: Murdoch's New York Post Supports Howard Against Obama
- Feb 11, 2007: Howard Attacks Obama and US Democrats
- Nov 19, 2005: Australia To Provide $100m For APEC Bird Flu Measures
- Nov 17, 2005: Iraq A Flawed Policy Wrapped In Illusion: John Murtha
- Oct 07, 2005: Australia's Trade Performance: Speech by Kevin Rudd
- Aug 20, 2005: Costello Decries Anti-American Sentiment Amongst Teachers
- Jun 05, 2005: Hill And Rumsfeld Meet
- May 17, 2005: Alexander Downer: Earle Page Politics Speech
- Mar 28, 2005: Australians Speak: Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
- Feb 09, 2005: APEC To Meet In Sydney 2007: Howard Staying On?
- Jan 30, 2005: Beazley Acknowledges Long Road Ahead
- Jan 29, 2005: Howard Talks Of Trade, Plays Down Chances In Werriwa
- Jan 28, 2005: Howard Has Trade Talks With World Leaders In Davos
- Jan 09, 2005: Tsunami: John Howard Address to the Nation
- Jan 07, 2005: A National Day Of Mourning And Reflection
- Jan 07, 2005: HMAS Kanimbla Sets Sail For Banda Aceh
- Jan 06, 2005: No Role For United Nations: Howard
- Jan 06, 2005: A Partnership Between Australia And Indonesia: Howard
- Jan 06, 2005: ALP Pressured Over Latham Illness, Welcomes Indonesian Aid Package
- Jan 06, 2005: Australia-Indonesia Partnership For Reconstruction And Development
- Jan 05, 2005: Howard Heads To Jakarta For Aid Summit
- Jan 05, 2005: Howard Announces $1 Billion Tsunami Aid Package For Indonesia
- Jan 05, 2005: Defence Minister To Visit Tsunami Affected Region Of Indonesia
- Jan 05, 2005: Defence Force At Work In Aceh
- Jan 04, 2005: Hill Details Defence Support To Tsunami Relief In Aceh
- Oct 23, 2003: President Bush Addresses Australian Parliament; Greens Ejected
- Oct 23, 2003: Howard Welcomes Bush To Australian Parliament
- May 30, 2003: The Times Of London On Howard's Roman Holiday
- Apr 25, 2003: Sometimes No Alternative To Force: Defence Minister
- Apr 25, 2003: Iraq Commitment Part Of A Great Tradition: Howard
- Jul 05, 2002: John Curtin's World And Ours
- Jun 12, 2002: Howard Addresses Joint Meeting of US Congress
- Jun 08, 2002: Trade Issues On Agenda For Howard's American Visit
- Jun 02, 2002: Howard To Visit U.S. For I.D.U. Forum
- Jan 30, 2002: John Howard's New York Press Conference
- Oct 17, 2001: Australian Troops Deployed To Afghanistan
- Jun 29, 2001: U.S. State Department Perspective On The Australian Alliance
- May 30, 2001: 50 Years Of ANZUS - John Howard Speech
- Apr 06, 2001: Downer: Reflections On The Church, World Affairs And Upholding Human Dignity
- Dec 06, 1999: World Trade Talks Collapse; Australian Farmers Lose Out
- Nov 27, 1999: Labour Party Wins New Zealand Election - Shipley Concedes Defeat
- Nov 23, 1999: Government Increases Medicare Levy To Pay For Increased Commitment To Timor
- Nov 18, 1999: Peacock Returning From USA
