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Albanese government on foreign policy: More say the government is doing a poor job Albanese government on foreign policy: More say the government is doing a poor job
On 3 May 2025, Anthony Albanese led the Australian Labor Party to its second consecutive federal election victory.
Since then, the Albanese government has continued prosecuting a foreign policy agenda that emphasises maintaining a stable relationship with China and a strong alliance with the United States, while prioritising its resources in areas where Australia has a comparative advantage, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. This marks a shift in emphasis from the former Coalition government’s policy of contesting China’s influence, maintaining a strong alliance with the United States, and prioritising bilateral engagement in the Indo-Pacific over multilateral forums.
When asked about the performance of the Albanese government on foreign policy, a slim majority of Australians (54%) rate it as either ‘quite poor’ or ‘very poor’, up 13 points from 2024. A large minority (43%) say the Albanese government has done ‘quite a good job’ or a ‘very good job’, down 13 points from 2024.
About the author
Charles Lyons-Jones
Charles Lyons-Jones is a Research Fellow in the Lowy Institute’s Foreign Policy and Public Opinion Program. He oversees the annual Lowy Institute Poll and the Global Diplomacy Index.
