The conversations rumbling around Australia about nuclear power are a small victory for pro-nuclear advocacy. Long dormant, the nuclear debate, has recently reinvented itself for a new era. This time, it is to fix climate change. The win is only “small” because Australia is a long way from building and operating a nuclear power facility. … Read more
Indonesia and Australia are preparing to open a new chapter in their diplomatic relations. Shortly after the general election in Indonesia in February, the winner of the election, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, met with Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles in Jakarta. During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in the defense sector … Read more
More deaths at sea, another capsized boat and more tragedy. This time it is Rohingya fleeing either persecution in Myanmar or unlivable conditions in makeshift camps outside the country. Seventy deaths and counting from the latest incident alone. The trendline for Rohingya escaping on boats to head for places like Indonesia or Australia is showing … Read more
China on Thursday said it will lift tariffs placed on Australian wine over three years ago, in a sign of improving ties between the two countries. China’s Ministry of Commerce said the decision will take effect Friday. China imposed tariffs on Australian wine in 2020 during a diplomatic feud over Australia’s support for a global … Read more
In recent years Australia has started to shift its focus westward. While the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia have been deemed primary areas of interest for the country, the Indo-Pacific construct has led Australia to take its Indian Ocean opportunities more seriously. Mostly this has led to greater cooperation with India as the region’s primary … Read more
Recently the idea of a “whole-of-nation” approach to Australia’s international engagement has taken root inside the federal government and the foreign policy community. This idea means that everything that occurs within the country is potentially impactful on Australia’s influence in the world. It is not only the prime minister’s office or the Department of Foreign … Read more
In February, Australia announced that it plans to dramatically increase the size of its navy over the next decade. If successful, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) would more than double the number of its major surface combatant ships, from 11 to 26 vessels. This would be the largest the RAN has been since the end … Read more
The battle lines have been drawn over Australia’s energy future. With the nation committed to net zero emissions by 2050, the Albanese Labor government is committed to renewables. The Coalition wants nuclear. Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s vision for meeting Australia’s energy needs would include large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors, a technology that … Read more
Australia is set to provide 4.6 billion Australian dollars (US$3 billion) to British industry to support the construction of nuclear-powered submarines and ensure its new fleet arrives on time, the two countries said Friday. The announcement came a day after the two countries signed a defense and security pact to better meet challenges such as … Read more
Australia’s primary security problem is an emotional one. Australia is a country so deeply unsure of itself that it exists in a constant state of anxiety about its place in the world, and in particular over its strategic relationship with the United States. Illustrating these anxieties, this week Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell made what … Read more