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.
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.
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.
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.
Archived Posts
- Nov 15, 2014: Barack Obama Highlights Climate Change In Speech At University Of Queensland
- Nov 15, 2014: Tony Abbott’s Remarks At G20 Leaders’ Retreat
- Oct 19, 2014: Widodo Inauguration: Abbott Stresses Jakarta Focus In Foreign Policy
- Oct 13, 2014: We Shirtfront The Tsar; Abbott Says He Will Confront Putin Over MH17 At G20
- Oct 03, 2014: Abbott Government Commits Defence Aircraft To Coalition Airstrikes Against ISIL In Iraq
- Sep 21, 2014: G20 Finance Ministers And Central Bank Governors Meeting Concludes In Cairns
- Sep 20, 2014: New Zealand PM John Key Wins Third Consecutive Election; National Triumphs, Labour Humiliated; “A Victory For Those Who Kept The Faith”
- 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
- Sep 09, 2014: Jingoistic, Xenophobic, Protectionist: Bill Shorten’s March To The Fringe In Speech To Submarine Workers
- Sep 01, 2014: Federal Government Expands Sanctions Against Russia Over Ukraine Violations
- Aug 31, 2014: Abbott Announces Assistance For Military Airlift To Kurds; No Request Yet For Further Action
- Jul 24, 2014: Bill Shorten: Speech To Australian-American Leadership Dialogue
- Jul 19, 2014: Abbott Calls For Independent Investigation Of MH17; Foreign Minister Off To UN To Co-Ordinate Campaign
- Jul 08, 2014: Abbott Signs Free Trade Agreement With Japanese Prime Minister Abe
- Jul 08, 2014: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Addresses Australian Parliament
- 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
- Jun 09, 2014: Tony Abbott In Canada
- Jan 23, 2014: Tony Abbott Addresses World Economic Forum In Davos
- Jan 22, 2014: Abbott Arrives In Davos For World Economic Forum
- Dec 25, 2013: The Queen’s 2013 Christmas Message
- Dec 16, 2013: Stott Despoja, Former Democrats Leader, Appointed Ambassador For Women And Girls
- Dec 05, 2013: Tony Abbott’s Weary Dunlop Speech To AsiaLink
- Dec 05, 2013: Australia Strikes Free Trade Agreement With South Korea (KAFTA)
- Nov 20, 2013: Indonesia Demands Spying Explanation, Suspends Co-operation; Abbott To Respond; Shorten Invokes ‘Team Australia’
- Nov 19, 2013: Abbott Statement On Indonesian Intelligence Operations; Regrets But Does Not Apologise
- Nov 01, 2013: Bishop Says AusAID Abolition Heralds Alignment Of Foreign, Trade And Development Policies
- Sep 10, 2013: Julie Bishop Sacks Steve Bracks As Consul General In New York
- Aug 27, 2013: Rudd On Foreign Policy: Prosperity Linked To Our Place In The World
- Feb 16, 2013: ‘Enemy Of The State’ – Senator Nick Xenophon Deported From Malaysia
- Jan 23, 2013: Stuart Robert Attacks Gillard Over National Security Strategy
- Jan 23, 2013: Gillard Releases National Security Strategy
- Jan 17, 2013: British Foreign Secretary William Hague’s Howard Lecture
- Jan 17, 2013: Howard Lecture: Tony Abbott Introduces William Hague
- Jan 01, 2013: Malaysia Free Trade Agreement Comes Into Force
- 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
- Oct 19, 2012: Australia Wins Seat On United Nations Security Council
- Oct 09, 2012: Australia Becomes The World’s 12th Largest Economy
- Sep 14, 2012: Asia-Ready People, Asia-Ready Policies: Wayne Swan Speech
- Aug 30, 2012: Five Australian Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan
- Aug 06, 2012: Paul Keating Speech At Launch Of ‘The China Choice’
- Jul 26, 2012: Rudd: Global Challenges, Global Responses And Global Governance
- Jul 24, 2012: Tony Abbott’s China Speech: Working Harder On A Complex Relationship
- Jul 18, 2012: Tony Abbott’s Foreign Policy Speech To The Heritage Foundation
- Jun 06, 2012: Malcolm Fraser’s Whitlam Oration
- May 29, 2012: Government Expels Syrian Diplomats
- Apr 17, 2012: Gillard: Afghanistan Troops 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; Clark Quits
- 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
- Dec 28, 2007: Kevin Rudd Condemns Benazir Bhutto Assassination
- Dec 12, 2007: Kevin Rudd’s Address To 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; 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
- Dec 26, 2005: Howard Statement On Tsunami Anniversary
- 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
- Nov 12, 2004: Australian Government Statement On Death Of Yasser Arafat
- Nov 11, 2004: Downer Offers Condolences For Arafat, Calls For Renewed Peace Efforts
- Oct 19, 2004: Indonesian Relationship Should Be Based On Mutual Respect And Realism: Howard
- Apr 25, 2004: Baghdad Visit: As Goes Bush, So Goes Howard … Again
- 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
- Apr 06, 2004: Australia Provides Extra Funds To Pacific Forum
- Mar 25, 2004: Greens Say Schieffer Should Butt Out
- Mar 24, 2004: Latham Should Reconsider Iraq Stand: Howard
- Feb 09, 2004: Howard Defends Free Trade Agreement With U.S.
- Nov 26, 2003: Downer Attacks The Myth Of ‘Little’ Australia
- Oct 25, 2003: Greens Claim Presiding Officers ‘Kowtowed’ To Chinese President
- Oct 24, 2003: Howard And Hu Sign Trade Deals
- Oct 24, 2003: ‘Constantly Increasing Common Ground': Hu’s Speech To Australian Parliament
- Oct 24, 2003: Remember Who Dug The Well: Crean Welcomes Hu
- Oct 24, 2003: Commonsense Relationship With China: Howard Welcomes Hu
- Oct 23, 2003: President Bush Addresses Australian Parliament; Greens Ejected
- Oct 23, 2003: Howard Welcomes Bush To Australian Parliament
- Sep 02, 2003: Howard Lauds “Rich Historical Relationship” With United States
- Jul 24, 2003: Australia Benefits From Globalisation: Downer
- 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
- Feb 25, 2003: The Case Against War: Bartlett Puts Australian Democrats View
- Feb 20, 2003: Costello: Australia & New Zealand Siblings With A Common Heritage & A Shared Future
- Feb 04, 2003: John Howard’s Address To Parliament On Iraq
- Jul 09, 2002: Hugs And Unfair Dismissals: Howard Meets With Berlusconi
- Jul 09, 2002: Howard Talks Up Globalisation To Italian Business Leaders
- Jul 05, 2002: Paul Keating: John Curtin’s World And Ours
- Jul 02, 2002: In Berlin, Howard Promotes Free Trade, Defends Refugee Policies
- Jul 01, 2002: Howard Arrives In Frankfurt; Says Free Trade More Important Than Foreign Aid
- 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
- May 20, 2002: Timor Sea Treaty
- May 07, 2002: Downer On Advancing The National Interest: Australia’s Foreign Policy Challenge
- Mar 02, 2002: Move With The Times To Remain Relevant, Queen Tells CHOGM
- Mar 02, 2002: John Howard’s Address At The Opening Ceremony Of CHOGM 2002
- Jan 30, 2002: John Howard’s New York Press Conference
- Oct 17, 2001: Australian Troops Deployed To Afghanistan
- Sep 28, 2001: CHOGM Off, Election Announcement Expected Soon
- 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
- Jul 26, 2001: Costello Defends Globalisation; Speech Stakes Out Election Position And Leadership Credentials
- 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
- Apr 29, 2001: John Howard Speech: Australia’s Relations With Japan
- Apr 06, 2001: Downer: Reflections On The Church, World Affairs & Human Dignity
- May 20, 2000: Statement by Fijian President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara On PM’s Arrest
- Jan 29, 2000: The Next Ten Years: John Howard’s Federation Address
- 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: Howard Introduces Temporary Tax Levy To Pay For East Timor Commitment
- Nov 23, 1999: Government Increases Medicare Levy To Pay For Increased Commitment To Timor
- Nov 18, 1999: Peacock Returning From USA
- Nov 12, 1999: John Howard’s Comments on Nelson Mandela and Sanctions
- Jun 02, 1998: Pauline Hanson’s Speech to Parliament on the MAI
- Nov 26, 1996: Downer: Australia’s Place In The World
- Nov 20, 1996: President Bill Clinton Addresses Joint Session Of Australian Parliament
- Sep 04, 1995: International Treaties: Their Impact On Australia
- Apr 07, 1954: President Dwight D. Eisenhower Outlines The Domino Theory
