Lowy Institute urges new government to be ambitious in its international policy

Today the Lowy Institute published a new Analysis outlining five international policy priorities for the new Australian Government.

Judicious ambition: international policy priorities for the new Australian Government, brings together briefs by a range of Lowy experts, that argue for:

• restoring focus and funding to defence policy in the face of an increasingly challenging strategic environment;
• re-energising the G20, the global economic forum that Australia will chair in 2014;
• adding substance to the strategic dialogue with China, agreed by Beijing and Canberra earlier this year;
• working with China in the Pacific Islands region, where it has emerged as a major aid donor; and
• adopting a measured and sustainable approach to the effort to end people-smuggling.

'At the beginning of its new term, we urge the government to approach the challenges and opportunities that Australia faces on the international stage with judicious ambition,' said Lowy Institute Executive Director, Dr Michael Fullilove.

'These briefs by Lowy experts provide the new government with practical suggestions for its early days in office,' said Dr Fullilove.