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 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.

• Jan 07, 2003: Don’t Let Iraq Become Australia’s New Vietnam – 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.
• Sep 04, 2002: 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
• Jul 08, 2002: A Loyal Ally, But Not Unquestioning – 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.”
• Jul 05, 2002: ‘John Curtin’s World And Ours’: Speech by Paul Keating – 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.”
• Mar 08, 2002: Australia And The US: Shared Interests – Speech by Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Sep 14, 2001: Howard Government Invokes ANZUS
• Sep 14, 2001: ANZUS Invoked: PM John Howard’s Press Conference
• Aug 29, 2001: Howard Speech at DFAT Launch of Book of Documents on Foreign Policy
• Jun 30, 2001: The U.S.-Australian Alliance in an East Asian Context – speeches delivered at a conference at the University of Sydney:
  • Kim Beazley, Leader of the Opposition
  • Peter Reith, Minister for Defence
  • Edward W. Gnehm, U.S. Ambassador to Australia
  • Richard N. Haass, U.S. State Department
• Apr 11, 2001: 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.
• May 30, 2001: 50 Years of ANZUS – Speech by John Howard
• Nov 30, 2000: Factsheet on USA – PDF document from DFAT
• May 29, 1996: Australia and the United States – A Vital Friendship – speech by Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Archived News Items

• Jun 26, 2019: Where We Live – Scott Morrison’s Asialink Address On Foreign Policy
• Jan 13, 2017: Keating Warns Against Tillerson’s South China Sea Adventurism
• Jun 13, 2016: We Cannot Be Complacent: Malcolm Turnbull On Orlando Shootings
• May 31, 2016: Labor’s Foreign Policy: Tanya Plibersek Speech To Lowy Institute
• Jan 29, 2016: Hockey Presents Credentials To Obama; Abbott Meets Kissinger
• Oct 03, 2014: Abbott Government Commits Defence Aircraft To Coalition Airstrikes Against ISIL In Iraq
• Sep 14, 2014: ALP Supports Military Commitment To Iraq, Greens Opposed
• Sep 14, 2014: Combat Aircraft To Join Coalition Against ISIL; Advisers But No Combat Troops; Australia Responds To US Request
• Jul 24, 2014: Bill Shorten: Speech To Australian-American Leadership Dialogue
• Jun 14, 2014: Tony Abbott Reflects On His Overseas Trip; About To Depart U.S.
• Jun 13, 2014: Tony Abbott Meets With Barack Obama At White House
• Jun 10, 2014: Tony Abbott Visits New York Stock Exchange
• Dec 05, 2013: Tony Abbott’s Weary Dunlop Speech To AsiaLink
• Sep 10, 2013: Julie Bishop Sacks Steve Bracks As Consul General In New York
• Jan 23, 2013: Gillard Releases National Security Strategy
• Nov 14, 2012: Paul Keating’s Murdoch Oration: Asia In The New Order
• Nov 13, 2012: Gillard Speaks To Media In Perth
• Oct 28, 2012: Gillard Launches Asian Century White Paper
• 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
• Jun 06, 2012: Malcolm Fraser’s Whitlam Oration
• Apr 17, 2012: Gillard: Afghanistan Troops Will Be Brought Home During 2013-14
• 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
• Jun 22, 2006: Kim Beazley Statement To The House On Iraq
• Jun 22, 2006: John Howard Statement To The House On Iraq
• 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: ALP Attacks Government For Selling Out Australian Farmers In FTA
• Feb 09, 2004: Farmers Lobby Group ‘Very Disappointed’ With Aspects Of FTA
• Feb 09, 2004: People And Parliament Still In The Dark On FTA: Democrats
• Feb 09, 2004: Agreement Reached On Australia-USA Free Trade Agreement
• 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
• Oct 15, 2003: Paul Keating On China, The USA And Australia
• Sep 02, 2003: Howard Lauds “Rich Historical Relationship” With United States
• May 05, 2003: Minor Parties Oppose US Free Trade Agreement
• May 04, 2003: No Grounds For Terminating Governor-General: Howard
• May 03, 2003: Howard ‘A Man Of Steel’ Says Bush
• May 03, 2003: America Deeply Grateful For Australian Contribution Says Bush
• May 02, 2003: Howard In USA; Fields Questions On Hollingworth
• Feb 04, 2003: John Howard’s Address To Parliament On Iraq
• Jan 07, 2003: Don’t Let Iraq Become Australia’s New Vietnam: Brereton
• Oct 11, 2002: Text of Joint Resolution On Iraq Passed By The U.S. Congress
• Sep 04, 2002: American Military Bases In Australia – A Communist Party View
• Jul 08, 2002: A Loyal Ally, But Not Unquestioning: Simon Crean
• Jul 05, 2002: Paul Keating: John Curtin’s World And Ours
• Jun 25, 2002: Downer Responds To Bush’s Statement On The Middle East
• Jun 18, 2002: Government Gives In-Principle Support to US First-Strike Policy
• Jun 13, 2002: Howard Meets With Bush: Mutual Friendship Asserted Yet Again
• 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
• Apr 14, 2002: John Howard Addresses Liberal Party Federal Council; Emphasises Defence And Terror Issues
• Mar 08, 2002: Australia And The US – Shared Interests: Speech By Alexander Downer
• 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
• Sep 11, 2001: TERRORIST ATTACKS ON USA
• Aug 29, 2001: Howard Launches DFAT Book Of Documents On Australian Foreign Policy
• Jun 30, 2001: Beazley: The US-Australian Alliance In An East Asian Context
• Jun 30, 2001: American Ambassador Comments On The ANZUS Alliance
• Jun 30, 2001: The U.S.-Australian Alliance in an East Asian Context: Speech By Peter Reith
• Jun 29, 2001: U.S. State Department Perspective On The Australian Alliance
• May 30, 2001: 50 Years Of ANZUS – John Howard Speech
• Nov 30, 2000: U.S.A. Factsheet – DFAT
• Nov 18, 1999: Peacock Returning From USA
• Nov 20, 1996: President Bill Clinton Addresses Joint Session Of Australian Parliament
• May 29, 1996: Australia And The USA – A Vital Friendship: Speech By Alexander Downer
• May 04, 1965: Arthur Calwell Responds To The Menzies Government’s Military Commitment To South Vietnam
• Apr 29, 1965: Sir Robert Menzies Announces Military Commitment To South Vietnam
• Apr 07, 1954: President Dwight D. Eisenhower Outlines The Domino Theory
• Sep 01, 1951: ANZUS Treaty – Full Text