Category: Australia

Reforming the Kimberley Process: Are blood diamonds truly a girl’s best friend?

Behind the glitz and the glamour of an annual 300-billion-dollar industry lies a troubling reality. From alleged human rights abuses to multilateral pitfalls, it appears diamonds aren’t the only thing you find when you dig below the surface. In November 2025, the Kimberley Process, a process designed to reduce the production of conflict diamonds, failed to reach consensus for the third year in a row. … Continue readingReforming the Kimberley Process: Are blood diamonds truly a girl’s best friend?

Defence diplomacy in the Pacific: what the Australia–PNG treaty means

On 16 September 2025, Papua New Guineans celebrated independence, marking 50 years since its separation from Australia. The following day, Prime Ministers James Marape and Anthony Albanese came together in Port Moresby to announce their commitment to the landmark ‘Pukpuk’ defence treaty, the first alliance of its kind for Australia since ANZUS in 1951. The treaty carries implications not only for Australia’s Pacific strategy and Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) domestic politics, but also for the wider regional power struggle between the United States (US), China and other powers in the Pacific. … Continue readingDefence diplomacy in the Pacific: what the Australia–PNG treaty means

Reach for the stars: space as the final frontier in foreign policy

Space is being widely viewed as the next domain of politics, diplomacy and warfare, and Australia is taking the space domain seriously.

This is demonstrated by the creation of the Australian Space Agency (ASA) in 2018 to protect commercial Australian interests, and the Defence Space Command in 2022 to protect Australian sovereignty in space. The establishment of these two stations comes from a long history of humanity turning its attention to space as the final frontier that signals where Australian national interests lie. … Continue readingReach for the stars: space as the final frontier in foreign policy

Australia-Canada: the alliance growing in importance

The uncanny similarities between the two recent Australian and Canadian elections are not a mere coincidence. They are reflective of the political convergence between Australia and Canada in a world that is becoming increasingly uncertain under the second Donald Trump presidency. Indeed, the two countries share historical, political and cultural ties that date back over a century. Both countries have fought wars together, are members of the British Commonwealth, have diverse multicultural populations and, at least until recently, been staunch allies of the United States. … Continue readingAustralia-Canada: the alliance growing in importance

History v geography: understanding Australia’s approach to national defence

Defensive has become offensive. Yet Australian defence policy remains entrenched in stagnant, myopic directives that do not consider long term challenges, as we are experiencing today. It can be said that we are witnessing a polycrisis unfold: multiple global catastrophes playing out with such force that strategic shocks are now the new norm, leaving policymakers to answer the difficult question of how best to respond. This question renews calls for a better directed national defence stratagem, if it is to withstand our current predicament. While our historical partnerships with countries like the US remain important, we must acknowledge our place in the world, and make the most of our regional potential. … Continue readingHistory v geography: understanding Australia’s approach to national defence

Ito Ay Manifestong Demokrasya: Elections, Political Culture, and Youth Power in Australia and the Philippines

There are likely many things that Philippine elections could learn from how elections are done in Australia. Preferential ballots, compulsory voting, and strong electoral transparency are only the beginnings of a list. However, views of Australian exceptionalism should not stop Australians looking for answers in unexpected places. Australians shouldn’t believe that they have nothing to learn from the conduct of Philippine democracy, or for that fact, any democracy.  … Continue readingIto Ay Manifestong Demokrasya: Elections, Political Culture, and Youth Power in Australia and the Philippines

Nationalism, Femicide, and New Masculinities: the far-right’s weaponisation of violence against women

Gendered violence is on the rise; it’s been declared an epidemic in several countries, including Australia, with the past few years having proved particularly dangerous for women. For hardline conservatives, there are a host of people to blame; recently, immigrants have been a favourite. The scapegoating of vulnerable communities by this section of the political spectrum has proven not just ineffective at combating male violence against women, but points towards a worrying trend of the dehumanisation of one group in the name of protection for another. … Continue readingNationalism, Femicide, and New Masculinities: the far-right’s weaponisation of violence against women

Anatomy of a breakup: the split of the Coalition and the worldwide state of agrarian populism

After nearly four decades of strained ties, the National and Liberal parties have gone their separate ways, announcing a ‘not unanimous but quite conclusive’ split. Spearheaded by Nationals leader David Littleproud, the decision came after negotiations stalled over four key policy directives within the Coalition agreement – most notably regarding nuclear energy commitments and divestiture powers targeting supermarkets. Overall, this move has cast further doubt on future campaign prospects of the federal opposition, as it seeks to rebuild following an extraordinary defeat during the recent federal election. … Continue readingAnatomy of a breakup: the split of the Coalition and the worldwide state of agrarian populism

Pillars of Strength: Breaking down the AUKUS Agreement

Donald Trump’s response of  “What does that mean?” may feel familiar to many when the acronym AUKUS is mentioned. Some readers may be familiar with the dialogue of submarines and the eye-watering amounts that this deal will apparently cost Australia (anywhere from $268bn to $368bn) but what actually is AUKUS and what does this all mean for Australia and the wider Indo-Pacific region?  … Continue readingPillars of Strength: Breaking down the AUKUS Agreement

Signal of Opportunity: What the EU-India Free Trade Agreement means for Australia    

After almost a decade of stalled talks, India and the European Union have pledged to establish a free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of this year. The new deal aims to remove domestic market barriers and encourage foreign domestic investment, while maintaining protections around geographical indications to ensure respective agricultural markets are not misused in the name of economic growth. The path to finalising this FTA has not been straightforward, and more roadblocks remain as leaders from both sides face diplomatic delays, increasing tariffs and protectionist challenges from other great powers. … Continue readingSignal of Opportunity: What the EU-India Free Trade Agreement means for Australia