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.
White Papers
- 2012: Australia in the Asian Century – Gillard government
- 2003: Advancing The National Interest – Howard government
- 1997: In The National Interest – Howard government
Selected Items
- 2002: ‘John Curtin’s World And Ours’: Speech by Paul Keating – a critique of Australian foreign policy by the former Labor Prime Minister, delivered on the 57th anniversary of Curtin’s death.
- 2002: Australia’s Foreign Policy Challenge – Speech by Alexander Downer, as part of the government’s process leading to a second White Paper to be called Advancing the National Interest.
- 2001: Australia – Meeting Our International Challenges – Speech by Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs. The speech includes an extensive discussion of Australia’s commitment to globalisation.
- 1996: Australia’s Place In The World – Speech by Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in which he discusses the foreign policy goals of the coalition government, particularly Australia’s commitment to the region, the enhancement of Australia’s security, Australia’s broader global links, and the Government’s approach to human rights and humanitarian issues.
Foreign Policy Backgrounders
A good starting point for the study of Australian foreign policy is this collection of articles from the Australian Bureau of Statistics web site.
- Australia’s Place in the International System
- Australia’s Bilateral Relationships
- Australia’s Security Interests
- Australia’s Economic Interests
- Australia and the United Nations
- Australia’s Human Rights Policy
- DFAT’s Role In Australia’s International Relations
- Australia’s Overseas Aid Program
Archived Posts
- Sep 01, 1951: ANZUS Treaty – Full Text
- May 04, 1965: Arthur Calwell Responds To The Menzies Government’s Military Commitment To South Vietnam
- Nov 26, 1996: Downer: Australia’s Place In The World
- Feb 28, 1997: Closer Economic Relations: Australian And New Zealand
- Aug 31, 1997: In The National Interest: Foreign Policy White Paper
- Feb 15, 1999: Books On Foreign Policy
- Mar 01, 2001: Alexander Downer: Australia – Meeting Our International Challenges
- Aug 29, 2001: Howard Launches DFAT Book Of Documents On Australian Foreign Policy
- Apr 22, 2002: Australia And Asia: New Partnerships, New Directions – Speech by Simon Crean
- May 30, 2002: Paul Foley: Ambassador To East Timor
- Jun 18, 2002: Government Gives In-Principle Support to US First-Strike Policy
- Jun 20, 2002: Howard Government Decides To Ratify International Criminal Court
- Jun 25, 2002: Downer Responds To Bush’s Statement On The Middle East
- Jul 05, 2002: Paul Keating: John Curtin’s World And Ours
- Jul 06, 2002: Howard Meets Pope; Discusses Kangaroo Meat
- Jul 09, 2002: Hugs And Unfair Dismissals: Howard Meets With Berlusconi
- Sep 15, 2002: ASEAN Regional Forum
- Sep 17, 2002: Statements On Iraq: Downer And Crean Speak In House Debate
- Jan 02, 2003: Cyclone Zoe Hits Solomon Islands
- Feb 12, 2003: Advancing The National Interest – Foreign Affairs White Paper
- Feb 12, 2003: Advancing The National Interest: Foreign Policy White Paper
- Mar 18, 2003: Howard Announces Cabinet Decision To Deploy Defence Forces In Gulf Region
- Mar 25, 2003: Beattie Says Howard Will Need To Repair Australia’s Regional Relationships
- Mar 28, 2003: Iraq War: Daily Defence Briefing – Brigadier Mike Hannan
- Mar 28, 2003: Iraq Operations Going Extremely Well: Howard
- Apr 01, 2003: Daily Defence Briefing: Robert Hill And Peter Cosgrove
- Apr 15, 2003: Daily Defence Briefing: ‘It Looks Like A Short War,’ Says Hill
- May 03, 2003: Howard ‘A Man Of Steel’ Says Bush
- May 05, 2003: Minor Parties Oppose US Free Trade Agreement
- Sep 02, 2003: Costello Jousts With Journalists Over National Accounts, Iraq, Tuckey, Ethanol And Hanson
- Oct 16, 2003: Asia’s Role In Australia’s Economic Future: Ian Macfarlane
- Nov 26, 2003: Downer Attacks The Myth Of ‘Little’ Australia
- Jan 24, 2004: Australia’s Defence Well Prepared, But ALP Would Make Us Vulnerable: Hill
- Feb 09, 2004: Agreement Reached On Australia-USA Free Trade Agreement
- Mar 28, 2005: Australians Speak: Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
- Jun 22, 2006: John Howard Statement To The House On Iraq
- Jun 22, 2006: Kim Beazley Statement To The House On Iraq
- May 23, 2007: Howard And Karamanlis Sign Social Security Agreement
- Jul 05, 2007: John Howard Speech To ASPI Global Forces Conference
- Sep 06, 2007: John Howard Speech To APEC Forum In Sydney
- Sep 09, 2007: Howard Conducts APEC Final Press Conference; Questioned About Leadership
- Jan 05, 2009: Eighth Australian Soldier Killed In Afghanistan
- Jan 05, 2009: Rudd Offers Condolences On Death Of Australian Soldier
- Jun 23, 2010: Australia’s Afghanistan Commitment: John Faulkner And Stephen Smith Press Conference
- Dec 15, 2010: The Age Publishes WikiLeaks Cables From US Embassy
- Jan 18, 2011: AUKMIN III Communique
- Jan 19, 2011: “Fellow Punters, Fellow Capitalists”: Bill Shorten in Hong Kong
- Jan 30, 2011: The Egyptian Unrest: Special Report from Stratfor
- Jan 31, 2011: Gillard Announces Free QANTAS Evacuation Flight From Cairo
- Feb 22, 2012: Rudd Resigns From Gillard Ministry; Late Night Move In Washington
- Mar 02, 2012: Bob Carr Enters The Senate And Becomes Foreign Minister
- Mar 07, 2012: Hillary Clinton On China
- Apr 17, 2012: Kevin Rudd: Building An Asia-Literate Australia
- Apr 17, 2012: Gillard: Afghanistan Troops Will Be Brought Home During 2013-14
- May 29, 2012: Government Expels Syrian Diplomats
- Jun 06, 2012: Malcolm Fraser’s Whitlam Oration
- Jul 24, 2012: Tony Abbott’s China Speech: Working Harder On A Complex Relationship
- Jul 26, 2012: Rudd: Global Challenges, Global Responses And Global Governance
- Aug 06, 2012: Paul Keating Speech At Launch Of ‘The China Choice’
- Aug 30, 2012: Five Australian Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan
- Oct 19, 2012: Australia Wins Seat On United Nations Security Council
- Oct 28, 2012: Gillard Launches Asian Century White Paper
- Oct 28, 2012: Australia In The Asian Century: Foreign Policy White Paper
- Nov 14, 2012: Paul Keating’s Murdoch Oration: Asia In The New Order
- Jan 17, 2013: Howard Lecture: Tony Abbott Introduces William Hague
- Jan 17, 2013: British Foreign Secretary William Hague’s Howard Lecture
- Jan 23, 2013: Gillard Releases National Security Strategy
- Jan 23, 2013: Stuart Robert Attacks Gillard Over National Security Strategy
- Feb 16, 2013: ‘Enemy Of The State’ – Senator Nick Xenophon Deported From Malaysia
- Aug 27, 2013: Rudd On Foreign Policy: Prosperity Linked To Our Place In The World
- Jun 09, 2014: Tony Abbott In Canada
- Jul 19, 2014: Abbott Calls For Independent Investigation Of MH17; Foreign Minister Off To UN To Co-Ordinate Campaign
- Aug 31, 2014: Abbott Announces Assistance For Military Airlift To Kurds; No Request Yet For Further Action
- Sep 01, 2014: Federal Government Expands Sanctions Against Russia Over Ukraine Violations
- Jun 25, 2016: Liberal Party Free Time Advertisements: 2016 Federal Election
- Jul 07, 2016: John Howard Responds To Chilcot Report On Iraq War
- Jan 13, 2017: Keating Warns Against Tillerson’s South China Sea Adventurism
- Jan 14, 2017: Turnbull Meets With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
