Australia, explained.
Penny Wong insisted that the important thing is to “remain cool headed and disciplined” (Daniel Walding/DFAT)
A great question has Penny Wong waxing philosophically about the state of the world.
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“Is your job as Foreign Minister more difficult today than it was a week ago?”“Is your job as Foreign Minister more difficult today than it was a week ago?”
This morning at an International Women’s Day breakfast in Adelaide, Penny Wong was asked a simple, yet terrific question.
“Is your job as Foreign Minister more difficult today than it was a week ago?”
It has indeed been quite a week. Suddenly there is talk about Australian troops potentially joining a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, as Donald Trump upends faith in America’s commitment to European allies.
This leaves spill over questions about the US alliance for Australia, especially the reliance on America to deliver nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact, and warnings from Trump officials that Australia’s isn’t spending enough on its military.
All this in the wake of China’s warships circling the continent, and on-again, off-again tariff threats.
It’s not a bumper sticker slogan for an impending election campaign.
To underscore the brittleness of the times, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to London has been sacked this week for fairly gently questioning Trump’s understanding of history – admittedly from an official pulpit, as compared to the past musings of one Kevin Rudd when he was a private citizen.
Wong insisted that the important thing is to “remain cool headed and disciplined”, even if, as is said, a week is a long time in politics. As she explained:
I probably measure it in slightly longer terms. Before the election I did think a lot about what sort of world we were in and I talked about the fact that how many changes, how much there was moving in the international landscape and certainly since the election I think we’ve continued to see that. And it’s very important that one, to remain cool headed and calm and to work as we are to try and maximise Australia’s relationships, to elevate our presence in the region and to work with others across the world in support of those international rules which matter to us. I talk about relationships, rules and region, and that’s really defined what we have done this term.
Rules and relationships. It’s not a bumper sticker for an impending election campaign. But it is a useful reminder, to borrow another slogan, to keep calm and carry on.
About the author
Daniel Flitton
Daniel Flitton is one of Australia’s most experienced foreign affairs journalists and is Managing Editor of the Lowy Institute’s international magazine, The Interpreter.
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