Category: Australia

A Diplomat’s Reflections on Melbourne | Departure of Michael Kleine as U.S. Consul General

Since his arrival in August 2018, United States Consul General Michael Kleine has immersed himself in Melbourne’s local community and culture, taking every opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the place he has called home for the last three years. As his posting comes to an end, Ryan Attard sat down with the Consul General to reflect on his time in Australia and his perspective on key issues. … Continue readingA Diplomat’s Reflections on Melbourne | Departure of Michael Kleine as U.S. Consul General

Posted on by Ryan Attard

FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM — WHY AUSTRALIA SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS

The January 6 Insurrection, which culminated in the storming of the United States Capitol Building by far-right groups, was termed by FBI Director Christopher Wray as an act of “domestic terrorism”. The Insurrection demonstrated not only the fragility of democracy but also cautioned against misguided beliefs that far-right extremism could never penetrate western democracies. This article will observe the rise of far-right extremism in Australia and consider the possibility of similar acts being committed domestically. … Continue readingFAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM — WHY AUSTRALIA SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS

Posted on by mias

ANTI-ASIAN HATE – IT’S AN AUSTRALIAN ISSUE TOO

BY JESSIE WEN -#StopAsianHate has become one of the trending hashtags on the internet across social media platforms, catalysed in response to the killing of 6 Asian women in a massage parlour at the hands of a 21 year old white male in Atlanta, Georgia. The incident has added lost lives to the growing list of violent Asian hate crimes seen in the United States, and globally including Australia. … Continue readingANTI-ASIAN HATE – IT’S AN AUSTRALIAN ISSUE TOO

Posted on by Jessie Wen

FRAGMENTATION OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM | CONSEQUENCES FOR AUSTRALIA

The Post-War Era has seen the advent of regional integration through formal and informal multilateral organisations. While those such as the European Union and African Union are well known, the Australian Government should give further attention to those organisations within our geographic proximity, which play … Continue readingFRAGMENTATION OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM | CONSEQUENCES FOR AUSTRALIA

Posted on by Ryan Attard

AUSMIN 2020

AUSTRALIA’S FOREIGN POLICY NOT SO INDEPENDENT AFTER ALL Travelling to the US during Covid-19 is no small effort and by doing so Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Payne and Defence Minister Reynolds demonstrated just how important the Australia-US alliance is. The agenda at the Australia-US Ministerial … Continue readingAUSMIN 2020

THE AUSTRALIAN-INDONESIAN RELATIONSHIP

The highs are numerous and growing. Both nations are parties to a plethora of bilateral agreements including the Lombok Treaty (2006), the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2018) and the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (2019). Australia has committed significant diplomatic resources to Indonesia, with its network … Continue readingTHE AUSTRALIAN-INDONESIAN RELATIONSHIP

THE AUSTRALIAN IDENTITY

RECONCILING CULTURE, HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY “We do not, and cannot, aim to be ‘Asian’ or European or anything else but Australians.” – Paul Keating, 1994, Prime Minister 1991-1996. Who we are as a country and how we present ourselves to the world are questions Australia … Continue readingTHE AUSTRALIAN IDENTITY