11 Mar 2019
Matthew Flinders, national pride and dinner diplomacy
Scientific discovery has a long history of serving the high politics of state.
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20 Feb 2019
Responding to cyber attacks: resilience and transparency is key
Yes, Australia’s security was tested, but keeping it secret won’t help the public accept inevitable dangers to networks. -
19 Feb 2019
Polls apart: how Australian views have changed on “boat people”
Charged atmospherics over border security has plenty guessing about public attitudes, but the numbers tell a story, too. -
14 Feb 2019
The curious case of aid concentration in Papua New Guinea
The extreme concentration of aid from Australia to PNG stands out. It may be time for others to get involved. -
14 Feb 2019
The barely-noticed momentous change to Australian foreign policy
A seemingly minor move on Venezuela has potential ramifications for every country Australia has diplomatic ties with. -
13 Feb 2019
The long tail of the al-Araibi case
A case where Bahrain didn’t need to win to send a chill of horror up the spines of other dissidents watching on. -
13 Feb 2019
Doctors help the moral case for border security
The medical evacuation bill is a really a debate on the limits of political discretion. -
13 Feb 2019
Film review: They Shall Not Grow Old
Peter Jackson has reclaimed the voices of veterans, and with technical prowess offered a glimpse of the battlefield. -
8 Feb 2019
Blocking asylum, by sea and air
Sometimes the dangers for refugees in transit are presented by the very people from whom they seek protection. -
7 Feb 2019
China cabinet: Huang Xiangmo’s visa strife, and outlook downbeats
<p>Is Australia stepping up pushback against Beijing? And why is China worried about economic bad views?</p> -
30 Jan 2019
What is the F-35 for, exactly?
Australia’s first two new stealth fighters have taken to local skies. Now what? -
30 Jan 2019
Australia’s new Pacific Czar
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s new Office of the Pacific is a sign of the step up being made real. -
21 Jan 2019
Australia articulates its Indian Ocean priorities
Payne emphasised that it is in Australia’s vital national interest for the Indian Ocean to remain open and peaceful. -
16 Jan 2019
Aid mergers: no unscrambling the egg
<p>Boris Johnson should look to Australia before saddling the UK’s aid agency with a costly diplomatic merger.</p> -
14 Jan 2019
Morrison in Vanuatu and Fiji: broadening, not deepening
Rather than another grand initiative for the Pacific, Scott Morrison should join up policy at home for deeper relations. -
10 Jan 2019
International broadcasting: the ABC vs the wisdom of the crowd
An incoming Australian government should review and rethink the purpose of state-funded international broadcasting. -
7 Jan 2019
Money talks, and Australia doesn’t have a G8 voice
Getting a seat at the table won’t depend on rankings tables but what a country can offer to the group. -
27 Dec 2018
Best of The Interpreter 2018: the revolving door at the Lodge
Another year, another Prime Minister, and more upheaval at home to distract Australia abroad. -
21 Dec 2018
The debate over Australia stripping citizenship from terrorists
International law obligations and there is little evidence that revoking citizenship reduces the terrorist threat. -
20 Dec 2018
Stepping up on Pacific infrastructure
The advantage of concessional loans is grant funding by Australia can be leveraged into a much larger amount. -
18 Dec 2018
What I missed this year: Australia waking up to the Pacific
<p>Lowy Institute experts look back on what surprised them in 2018</p> -
17 Dec 2018
Responses to Australia’s Israel capital decision
<p>How the world reacted to Scott Morrison’s decision to formally recognise West Jerusalem Israel’s capital.</p> -
14 Dec 2018
Australia jostles over its Iran policy
The Jerusalem embassy debate has overshadowed a potential shift in Australia’s longstanding independent stance on Iran. -
12 Dec 2018
The true cost of fast fashion
Moves by countries such as Australia to adopt modern slavery laws are a small start in tackling a big global problem. -
12 Dec 2018
How Australia should deepen ties with India
From Kohli to coal exports, Australia is reconsidering India’s potential as a key economic and geopolitical partner. -
7 Dec 2018
Indonesia has a stake in Australia’s Lombrum plans too
The Australian debate over the Lobrum naval base almost entirely ignores Indonesia. -
6 Dec 2018
Steady but slow in Australia-Japan security cooperation
Abe’s recent visit to Darwin indicates that Canberra and Tokyo acknowledge the common security challenges they face. -
5 Dec 2018
Australia’s new foreign-influence laws: Who is targeted?
Australia is leading the democratic push-back against quiet intrusions from authoritarian states. -
3 Dec 2018
Veterans fight back against the marketing enemy at the gates
Veterans respond to the call for the public to thank them for their service. -
30 Nov 2018
Review: lessons for Australia and Britain from Iraq War
A new book demonstrates Britain’s decision to go to war in Iraq was one of politics with unintended consequences. -
27 Nov 2018
Israel embassy debacle: can Australia strongarm Indonesia again?
Should Morrison play hardball with Indonesia on the proposal to move the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? -
23 Nov 2018
Time we heard the Pacific’s take on the Pacific
Should we really lament the passing of the old-fashioned foreign correspondent, or take a chance for something new? -
22 Nov 2018
Barley and bases: China stings Australian farmers
China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of barley from Australia – agriculture or politics? -
21 Nov 2018
Australia finds itself at a Pacific crossroads
Australia should foster more sustainable relationships in the Pacific. -
21 Nov 2018
Australia’s Indo-Pacific health security initiative
Australia’s new health security plan is a strong statement but requires ambitious investment to lock in early gains. -
15 Nov 2018
Chipping away at trust in democracy
<p>Without a greater level of political care, threats to the brittle foundations of democracy will grow.</p> -
15 Nov 2018
Abe’s visit to Australia: raising the stakes
A deal for more frequent and larger joint military drills with Australia is part of Japan’s push for stronger partners. -
14 Nov 2018
International broadcasting: raising Australia’s Pacific voice
The solution isn’t to simply transmit, or worse, dump Australian content on unsuspecting regional audiences. -
13 Nov 2018
Signalling a whole-of-Australia approach to China
A federal system of government actively discourages state participation in foreign policy, this needs to change. -
12 Nov 2018
Bourke Street: debating terrorism
Too often, the same debates dominate in the wake of a suspected terrorism attack, offering too little insight. -
12 Nov 2018
Where the new US envoy fits in the ambassadorial type
The nomination of Culvahouse leaves begging the question what kind of ambassador will he be? -
1 Nov 2018
Labor’s ambitions in the Pacific
Australia’s politicians are yet to explain why Pacific nations would want only one partner. -
1 Nov 2018
“Would you like thanks with that?”
Veterans are already well supported before shoehorning an American tradition to Australia and ignores service of others. -
31 Oct 2018
Melbourne joins the Belt-and-Road
Maybe a state-level decision will be a circuit-breaker for Australia’s befuddled approach to China’s signature policy. -
30 Oct 2018
Bill Shorten takes on the world
It’s not Australia going it alone, but the Labor leader wants to chart a more independent course in foreign policy. -
23 Oct 2018
Friends like these … allies and the Pence speech
The US may have to adjust its goals and means to obtain full allied support for its China policy, and what about Trump? -
16 Oct 2018
Australia’s Israel-Palestine conflict
This is actually one of those rare issues in Australian foreign policy where the two major parties quite often disagree. -
15 Oct 2018
Encryption does not create privilege
Eavesdropping, colloquially, has a bad name, but when justified by law and properly regulated, what’s the objection? -
10 Oct 2018
Australia-PNG: relationships are what matter
The size of the aid cheque is no where near as significant as personal connections and sustained neighbourly attention. -
5 Oct 2018
Japan’s advice to Australia to co-exist with China
Stay firm and don’t be swayed by Beijing’s emotional accusations should be Shinzo Abe’s lessons for Scott Morrison.