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Who Cares If Duterte Skips the ASEAN-Australia Summit?
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to skip the ASEAN-Australia commemorative summit did not come as a surprise. Despite the warm gesture extended by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm...
When Australian nuclear weapons could make sense
What a way to start a year! The debate initiated by three former Australian deputy secretaries of defence—Hugh White, Paul Dibb and Richard Brabin-Smith—about the possibility of Australia acquiring...
Foreign policy: why we should expect more of ourselves
We are starting to turn the “soft bigotry of low expectations” against our own government, and therefore against ourselves. Look at the way we have responded to the government’s recent Foreign...
Francophone Africa is Australia’s Final Diplomatic Frontier
Francophone Africa is a relative unknown for many Australians, but as this group of countries begins to take its place on the global stage, Australia should take note. French-speaking nations make...
The Battle of Beersheba, 100 years on
In Australia’s memory of the Great War, the Sinai–Palestine Campaign gets comparatively little thought after Gallipoli and the Western Front. The exception is the Battle of Beersheba, fought on 31...
Turnbull Takes Part in Reinvigorated Pacific Islands Forum
Barring unforeseen circumstances – and these days perhaps one shouldn’t talk too soon – Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will fly to Samoa to attend the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting....
Lunch with John Blaxland, or how to write a history of ASIO
Since John Blaxland co-authored The Official History of ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation), the final volume of which was published late last year, he has been attacked by right-...
ASEAN and Australia beyond 50
ASEAN has achieved much in its 50 years, but it is currently perceived as underperforming and facing difficult challenges ahead. Australia, as ASEAN’s longest-standing partner, should support its...
Why Moriarty is a good choice for Defence Secretary
Pundits were surprised and eyebrows raised late last week when the news broke that Greg Moriarty had been selected as the replacement for Dennis Richardson as Secretary of the Department of Defence...
New home affairs department seems to be more about politics than reform
It is difficult not to give in to cynical impulses over Tuesday’s announcement that the government will create a department of home affairs. Described as a “federation of border and security...
