Australia's foreign policy

Senator Trood's policy paper on 'the emerging global order: Australian foreign policy in the 21st century' was launched on March 17, 2008.

Senator Trood’s monograph explores the shifting foundations of the emerging global order. It identifies the fault-lines of today’s world politics and assesses the effectiveness of traditional approaches to armed force, international organisations and international law. It combines a comprehensive survey of the challenges facing the international community – from terrorism and nuclear proliferation to climate change, pandemics, population and energy pressures – with a set of recommendations to guide Australian foreign policy under a policy framework of selective global activism.

A copy of the speech from the launch can be accessed here.

Sorry

February 13 was an historic day for Aboriginal people throughout Australia as members of the Commonwealth Parliament apologised to members of the indigenous community who were forcibly removed from their families.

In 1997 the "Bringing Them Home" report highlighted the extent to which members of Australia's indigenous communities had been subjected to discriminatory practices, including the wrenching apart of families and, on occasions, the abuse of removed children. These practices were introduced by state governments across the Commonwealth and caused immense pain, anguish and distress to Australia's indigenous community.

Some Australians have not been persuaded that this apology was necessary and their views should be respected. For most Australians, however, the Australian Parliament's resolve to apologise for these practices and to say "sorry" for their consequences is overdue and lays the foundation for reconciliation between Australia's indigenous and non-indigenous communities.

Although very important, the saying "sorry" is only one step towards improving the living standards of indigenous Australians. The gap in life expectancies, levels of participation in education, and the overall economic prosperity between indigenous and other Australians remains a national disgrace and must be addressed by both state and Commonwealth governments.

Now that this momentous event has taken place, it is time for all governments to work together to focus on the challenges that need to be overcome to improve the quality of life of indigenous Australians.

Prime Minister Rudd's intended cuts to DFAT Budget

Senator Trood finds Prime Minister Rudd’s intended cuts to DFAT’s budget deeply disturbing and said that this could well mark the beginning of a treacherous road for Australia’s future under the Labor Government. Here is what he had to say about the issue...

The officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) represent Australia’s interests overseas – for the most part with great distinction – and often in very dangerous and trying conditions as the bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta in 2004 reminds us. For all the challenges they face and the risks they take it is very hard to argue that they are especially well-paid particular by reference to their international counterparts.  

In this context, Prime Minister Rudd’s intended cuts to DFAT’s budget are deeply disturbing and could well mark the beginning of a treacherous road for Australia’s future under the Labor Government. As I remarked in an adjournment debate in the Senate in October 2005, for far too long chronic under-funding of DFAT has undermined Australia’s ability to fully project and protect our interests abroad. Far from reducing the department’s budget there has long been a need for a targeted increase in funding.

While all of Australia’s other national security agencies have enjoyed substantial increases in funding over the last few years DFAT’s has remained largely static. Mr Rudd’s confirmation of his decision to slash the Department’s budget by a further $57 million will exacerbate an already tenuous situation. These cuts highlight the potential for Mr Rudd’s stewardship as Prime Minister to run contrary to Australia’s long-term national interests, and eloquently underline his government’s inexperience in foreign affairs.

Of particular concern is the decision to reduce DFAT’s staff by a total of 19 positions, including at least two of the staff currently engaged in advancing the meritorious Australia-China Free Trade Agreement. Whilst consistent with Rudd’s ‘meat-axe’ approach to federal services, this is likely to have a deleterious, long-term effect on Australia’s diplomatic capabilities and financial prosperity. It is also at odds with Mr Rudd’s election promise to expand Australia’s commitment and role in international affairs. Given the international challenges Australia faces, this is arguably a time for Australia to be expanding its diplomatic capabilities, not reducing them still further.

Equally, the Prime Minister’s decision to axe the “Australia on the World Stage” programme signals a dark time ahead for Australian public diplomacy. Public diplomacy, like international law and a multitude of other instruments, forms part of what Roger Fisher has called the ‘toolbox of the statesman’ and is but one of the many instruments of policy that governments can call upon to prosecute their states’ interests. This decision will have a devastating impact on Australia’s endeavours to project its unique cultural heritage onto the international stage.

Moreover, the pronouncement stands in stark contrast to the ALP’s bi-partisan support for last year’s Senate Inquiry into Australia’s public diplomacy which, notably, recommended a substantial increase in funding cultural and other public diplomacy activities. At a time when much hyperbole has accompanied Labor’s criticisms of the Howard Government’s foreign policy and the impact it is alleged to have had on Australia’s standing abroad, it is more than a little hypocritical that the Labor Government opportunistically denies important funding to a department which is at the forefront of advancing our nation’s international image

The Government has yet to yet to respond to the Senate report and its 18 recommendations for improvement in Australia’s public diplomacy. Perhaps this slash and burn approach to Australia’s foreign relations is Mr Rudd’s answer to the Senate. Let us hope not and anticipate a more considered response in the not too distant future. In the meantime, it is an appalling example of a confused ‘economic conservative’ sacrificing Australia’s long-term national interests for short-term political gain.

Senator Russell Trood is a Liberal Senator and Standing Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

Traveston Dam

The Queensland Government recently completed its Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Traveston Dam. It's my understanding more than 16,000 submissions were made to the State Government co-ordinating general.

Senator Russell Trood remains supportive of the Mary River Valley community's efforts to try and stop the construction of what is an extremely unviable dam. I continue to have huge misgivings about the dam and what it is likely to contribute to the south-east Queensland's water supply. I also support the submissions made by the Mary River Valley community that the EIS has not fully addressed the many concerns about the viability of the dam and its impact on the local community.

On 26 February 2007, the Senate referred an inquiry into additional water supplies for South-East Queensland to the Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport. The Inquiry will investigate all water options that will help solve the water crisis in South-East Queensland.

Under the terms of reference, the committee will examine all reasonable options, including increasing dam capacity, for additional water supplies for South-East Queensland, including:

(a)     the merits of all options, including the Queensland Government's proposed Traveston Crossing Dam as well as raising the Borumba Dam; and

(b)    the social, environmental, economic and engineering impacts of the various proposals.

Submissions for the Inquiry close on 4 April 2007

The Inquiry details can be accessed here.

Although the Senate inquiry would not be able to stop the construction of the dam, it will give the Mary River Valley community the chance to publicly voice its concerns about the Traveston Dam proposal.

The Traveston Dam was declared a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in late November. Under the guidelines of the act, the Federal Government will have an important role to play in assessing whether the dam will be able to go ahead.

Speech in Parliament by Senator Russell Trood on 8 February 2007.