Australia

A “climate defence force” for the Pacific
A “climate defence force” for the Pacific
During the summer political slumber, Australian Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh indicated that Canberra was considering permitting recruitment from Pacific Island Countries …
Australia-Vietnam: A partnership made in China?
Australia-Vietnam: A partnership made in China?
Last week, Australia and Vietnam announced they were elevating their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), marking six years of improved relations since their…
Supporting Pacific women to tell the region’s stories
Supporting Pacific women to tell the region’s stories
Rosi Tamani-Doviverata is co-founder of Women in Media Fiji, President of the Fijian Media Association, and Acting Publisher/CEO at the Fiji Sun. Kathy McLeish is inaugural co…
ASEAN-Australia: The art of what’s possible
ASEAN-Australia: The art of what’s possible
Having talked about atmospherics and then process, let’s look at results from the final day of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. This is the “outcomes document”, as they call it…
ASEAN-Australia: Small steps at the big summit
ASEAN-Australia: Small steps at the big summit
Today is “bilat day” (short for bilateral) for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne. Call it diplomatic speed-dating, with lots of…
From confrontation to collaboration: Working together on critical minerals supply chains
From confrontation to collaboration: Working together on critical minerals supply chains
A recent article in the Australian Financial Review on the urgent “parachuting” of Chinese technicians to a troubled lithium processing plant in Western Australia has highlighted…
A role for nuclear in Australia’s climate response?
A role for nuclear in Australia’s climate response?
Dron Parashar, writing in The Interpreter last month, notes that other countries are actively exploring nuclear options for electricity generation, while the current Australian…
Melbourne gets a taste of the ASEAN way
Melbourne gets a taste of the ASEAN way
Melbourne has rolled out a blue carpet, not red. It’s a fitting colour for the assembly of Southeast Asian leaders expected to march along and shake the hand of the host,…
ASIO versus the A-team
ASIO versus the A-team
ASIO Director General Mike Burgess began his 2024 Annual Threat Assessment by heralding the end of business as usual – or “BAU” as he put it. “If terrorists and spies don’t do…
Australia's new navy: The Japanese option
Australia's new navy: The Japanese option
By the end of this decade the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) may well by operating a frigate that originates from Japan. The Independent Analysis of Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet…