Now that it is in opposition, the Liberal Party must review all of its policy positions, not merely those that were demonstrably unpopular with the electorate.

The party's stance on foreign policy is among those that will require attention.

Overall, the Howard government's foreign policy (and national security posture more generally) commanded strong public support. It had two key attributes for success: it reflected the national interest and was crafted in response to the realities of the international environment rather than wishful thinking.

Among its many achievements were strong engagement with Asia; forcefully facing up to the challenge of Islamic extremism; creatively meeting the challenges of instability in the South Pacific and, of course, appreciably deepening relations with our most important ally, the United States. Overwhelmingly the record is a strong one, but renewal also demands recognition of the shortcomings, including the failures over Iraq.

The epicentre of the global economy is moving towards East Asia; China's rise is challenging American geostrategic primacy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Globalisation is exacerbating old insecurities and generating new ones. The self-confidence of Islam is on the rise and, although riven by internal schisms, it is clear that the struggle to defeat Islamic extremism will be a long one. Then there is a long list of other challenges: environmental degradation, the dangers of nuclear proliferation, the faltering progress of democratisation and the failed-state phenomenon among them.

One of the truly important legacies of the Howard era is that it has given Australia the national means to respond confidently to many of these challenges - not least a strong economy and reinvestment in the strength of our military capability.

But ideas and policy innovation will be the keys to our success. Global politics is and will remain an arena largely indifferent to Australia's interests. As the new century unfolds, Australia will have to play an increasingly smart national game, one that is more strategic in conception and tactically astute in the way it seeks to advance the national interest. We need the policies to respond.

So far, Kevin Rudd's Labor has been troublingly vague or. foreign affairs. Perhaps, now that the election is over, the dead hand of campaign discipline will be remove and considered policies based on a coherent foreign policy outlook will emerge. Where the new government offers the right policy, it will be our duty to support it. But while bipartisanship maybe preferable, foreign policy is far too important not to be the subject of the most rigorous opposition scrutiny.

The challenge for Liberals in opposition will be to develop a balanced critique of the Howard era, and to formulate a new foreign policy that will not only ensure that Australia remains secure and prosperous in a world of change, but will also command widespread public acceptance.

Source: Australian Financial Review