Content Type: Policy Brief / Publishing Institution: Lowy Institute for International Policy / Political Geography: Australia/Pacific / Publication Year: within 25 Years / Topic: Foreign Policy

Author:: Jenny Hayward-Jones
Publication Date:: 05-2011
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:: What is the problem? Australia's tough-love policy towards Fiji has failed to persuade the government of Voreqe Bainimarama to restore democracy to Fiji and may even be helping to entrench his regime. The Fiji government, resistant to external pressure, has instead developed new allegiances and partnerships which undermine Australia's influence. Australia's reputation as a major power in the South Pacific and as a creative middle power more broadly may be diminished by the Fiji government's continued intransigence. Over time the Fiji people's once-strong connections with Australia may dwindle and Australia's relevance to Fiji gradually diminish unless the Australian government takes decisive action now.
Topic:: Foreign Policy and Democratization
Political Geography:: Asia and Australia/Pacific

Author:: Fergus Hanson
Publication Date:: 03-2010
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:: The relationship with Indonesia is one of Australia's most important but it is still not on a firm footing. Government-to-government ties have been strengthening but relations are focused around a mostly negative set of security-related issues. Business-to-business links are underdone and mutual public perceptions are poor. Without significant incentives to drive closer ties, one of Australia's most important relationships will continue to stagnate.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, International Trade and Finance, and Bilateral Relations
Political Geography:: Asia, Australia/Pacific, and Southeast Asia

Author:: Fergus Hanson
Publication Date:: 11-2010
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) needs to keep pace with technological advancements that could increase efficiency, improve internal and external communication, and facilitate information exchange and gathering. Without e-diplomacy DFAT will be cut off from important audiences and find it increasingly hard to communicate its messages and coordinate Australian foreign policy across government.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, and Science and Technology
Political Geography:: Australia/Pacific

Author:: Jenny Hayward-Jones
Publication Date:: 09-2008
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:: The Pacific Islands region is not on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the internationally agreed targets for improving human development by 2015. The Melanesian countries, which have the largest population, face the most significant challenges in attempting to meet the goals. In the Port Moresby Declaration of 6 March 2008, the Australian government promised to work jointly with Pacific Island countries to meet the goals in the context of new Pacific Partnerships for Development. While the Millennium Development Goals may not be the fairest measurement of the success of inputs from the Australian aid program, they provide a valuable universal mechanism of measuring development outcomes.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Development, and Government
Political Geography:: Australia/Pacific

Author:: Claude Rakisits
Publication Date:: 12-2008
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:: The late November terror attacks in Mumbai have once again thrown the spotlight onto Pakistan. The country had already been struggling with growing international pressure over the safe haven and support that the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan and international terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda were obtaining in Pakistan's troubled Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and North West Frontier Province. Claims that the Mumbai attacks were carried out by Pakistani nationals, perhaps linked to the terrorist group Lashkar–e-Taiba (LeT), will place even more pressure on Islamabad.
Topic:: Conflict Resolution, Foreign Policy, Political Violence, Diplomacy, and Terrorism
Political Geography:: Asia and Australia/Pacific

Author:: Glenn Denning and Joel Negin
Publication Date:: 12-2008
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:: The new Australian government has made a significant commitment to increasing its overseas development assistance (ODA) from 0.3% of gross national income (GNI) in the 2007-08 budget to 0.5% of GNI by 2015/16. This represents a return to the levels last seen in the 1970s that were eroded over the 1990s and early 2000s (Figure 1). Depending on the projected economic growth rate, some estimates foresee a tripling of ODA from the mid-2000s to 2015/16.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Development, and International Cooperation
Political Geography:: Africa and Australia/Pacific

Author:: Michael Fullilove
Publication Date:: 08-2006
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:: Australia is an abolitionist country. Both the Australian Government and the Opposition are opposed to capital punishment. Australia engages in modest advocacy against the death penalty but most of Canberra's efforts are directed toward cases involving Australian citizens. These are likely continue to occur: our closest Asian neighbours retain the death penalty, and Australian nationals will probably continue to commit ciminal acts carrying this penalty. For example, the looming execution of Van Tuong Nguyen last year led to calls from Australian commentators for trade and business sanctions against Singapore, and charges of hypocrisy being levelled against Australia in the regional press.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Government, and Regional Cooperation
Political Geography:: Asia and Australia/Pacific

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