Australia in the World
Ashmore Reef resurfaces as a maritime headache
Is Ashmore Reef part of Australia? That should be a relatively simple question to answer. The reef is an area of approximately 583 square kilometres, and encloses three islands –…
The real message B‑52s send from northern Australia
On Monday, ABC’s Four Corners program broke news that the United States is investing in new infrastructure at RAAF Tindal, the air force base just south of Darwin, so that it can…
Risks and responses repatriating foreign terrorist fighters and families
Last weekend, the first of about 60 Australian women and children planned to be repatriated from detention camps in Syria arrived home. As has been the case in most Western…
Economic diplomacy: Searching for APEC
A new horse in the regional race
It is hard to begrudge an ageing father opting for his daughter’s wedding over a leaders’ summit which has lost its early lustre. But Joe Biden…
Where does Australia’s new aid budget leave gender equality?
With the region currently confronting multiple crises, from the Covid-19 pandemic to climate change, Australia’s new aid budget, announced by the Labor government on 25 October,…
Australia must help turn back a regional democratic retreat
Successive Australian governments, for many years now, have not had an explicit policy for fostering and promoting democracy. One is needed, now more than ever.
International…
B-52 bombers only part of a very long Australian story
Onlookers should not be surprised to see growing numbers of nuclear-capable B-52 bomber aircraft in Australia’s airspace and territory. B-52s have been flying over the Northern…
Overcoming suspicion: reconciliation for Australia and Bougainville
During a visit to Papua New Guinea earlier this month by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, a newspaper report on one of his press…
Australia’s shared security in the Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean region has played a crucial role throughout history, yet in recent times it has not been recognised for its distinct regional security architecture.
Despite…
After West Jerusalem shift, will Labor also turn on Israel at the UN?
The Labor government’s decision to formally withdraw Australian recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was the first foreign policy misstep of the Albanese government.
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