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 significant 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.
- ANZUS Treaty – The full text of the treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the United States, signed on September 1, 1951 in San Francisco.
- Australia-United States Relations – a brief from DFAT
- Factsheet on USA – PDF document from DFAT
- Farewell Great & Powerful Friends – ABC Television’s final episode of “100 Years – The Australian Story” screened on April 11, 2001. Essential viewing. Read the transcript.
- The U.S.-Australian Alliance in an East Asian Context – speeches delivered at a conference at the University of Sydney, June 30, 2001:
- Upside, Downside: ANZUS After 50 Years – an excellent paper from the Parliamentary Library [Feb 2001]
- 50 Years of ANZUS – Speech by John Howard [May 30, 2001]
- Howard Speech at DFAT Launch of Book of Documents on Foreign Policy (August 29, 2001)
- Australia and the United States – A Vital Friendship – a speech by Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs [May 29, 1996]
- U.S. Embassy 50th Anniversary of ANZUS web-site
- Howard Government Invokes ANZUS [September 14, 2001]
- Prime Minister’s Press Conference
- Australia And The US: Shared Interests – Speech by Alexander Downer [Mar 08, 2002]
- Don’t Let Iraq Become Australia’s New Vietnam [Jan 7, 2003] – extracts from a speech by Laurie Brereton, the former ALP Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, calling on the ALP to reject involvement in a possible war with Iraq.
- American Military Bases In Australia – an article by the Communist Party of Australia about the possible use of American bases in an attack on Iraq [September 4, 2002]
- A Loyal Ally, But Not Unquestioning [July 8, 2002]
An article by Simon Crean on the American alliance. Crean says: “Contrary to recent assertions … there is no reflex anti-American position in Labor ranks – just a clear-headed sense of our national interests. No one on the Labor side is arguing for a diminution of our alliance relationship with the US.” MORE - ‘John Curtin’s World And Ours’: Speech by Paul Keating [July 5, 2002]
A critique of Australian foreign policy by the former Labor Prime Minister, Paul Keating, delivered on the 57th anniversary of Curtin’s death. Keating says: “Even if we are able to interrogate the people involved, even if we take part ourselves in the events we describe, the causes and consequences of human actions will always be wrapped in doubt and seen quite differently by different observers. Perhaps this is especially true of political actions, which play across so much broader an arena of human activity than most.” MORE
Archived News Items
- Nov 14, 2012: Paul Keating’s Murdoch Oration: Asia In The New Order
- Nov 13, 2012: Gillard Speaks To Media In Perth
- Aug 06, 2012: Paul Keating Speech At Launch Of ‘The China Choice’
- Jul 18, 2012: Tony Abbott’s Foreign Policy Speech To The Heritage Foundation
- 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
- Dec 15, 2010: The Age Publishes WikiLeaks Cables From US Embassy
- Nov 08, 2010: Hillary Clinton With Hamish and Andy
- Nov 07, 2010: Hillary Clinton Speaks In Melbourne
- Nov 08, 2008: John Key Claims Victory For New Zealand National Party
- Nov 08, 2008: Labour Defeated In New Zealand Election; Clark Quits
- Nov 05, 2008: Greens Welcome Obama Election
- Nov 05, 2008: Rudd Congratulates Obama On Election Win
- Dec 06, 2007: U.S.-Australian Relations In A New Era: Nicholas Burns
- 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
- Mar 31, 2007: Hicks To Serve 9 Months In Australian Jail; Released After Election
- 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
- Aug 20, 2005: Costello Decries Anti-American Sentiment Amongst Teachers
- Apr 16, 2004: “Gutsy” Australians Want To See Things Through: Howard On FOX News
- Apr 07, 2004: Labor And The World: Mark Latham Outlines Opposition Foreign Policy
- Mar 25, 2004: Greens Say Schieffer Should Butt Out
- Feb 09, 2004: Howard Defends Free Trade Agreement With U.S.
- Oct 23, 2003: President Bush Addresses Australian Parliament; Greens Ejected
- Oct 23, 2003: Howard Welcomes Bush To Australian Parliament
- Jul 05, 2002: Paul Keating: 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
- Sep 14, 2001: Howard Government Invokes ANZUS Treaty
- Sep 14, 2001: U.S. Attacks: Government Invokes ANZUS Treaty
- Jun 30, 2001: Beazley: The US-Australian Alliance In An East Asian Context
- Jun 29, 2001: U.S. State Department Perspective On The Australian Alliance
- May 30, 2001: 50 Years Of ANZUS – John Howard Speech
- Nov 18, 1999: Peacock Returning From USA
- Nov 20, 1996: President Bill Clinton Addresses Joint Session Of Australian Parliament
