Australians think that the government paid too little attention to the opinions of ordinary people when making foreign policy, according to the last annual Lowy Institute survey.
Foreign affairs
International TV service should be left to die, not put to tender
Our international television service costs $20m a year and has no discernible impact. Now we’re going to extend it for a decade.
Essential: Voters rate Joe on banks, and we want to get closer to China
More of us want to get closer to China than the United States, Essential Research’s new poll shows. And there’s strong support for gay marriage as well.
In foreign policy, Gillard needs to undo the damage of the Rudd era
Julia Gillard needs to remove foreign policy emphasis from China and undo the damage of the Rudd government era while focusing on other nations in the South East Asia region, says a foreign affairs expert.
Cabinet reshuffle tips for Gillard: Rudd’s a dud on foreign affairs
Kevin Rudd’s foreign policy experience was limited and it showed, writes former diplomat Bruce Haigh. Julia Gillard shouldn’t return him to the ministerial post.
Essential Research: nervous voters back Budget spending cut
Voters are urging the government to cut spending programs, according to new polling, as they brace for a federal budget most believe will hurt them personally. Crikey has the latest Essential Research results.
The copyright outrage the geeks forgot to mention
The tech community hasn’t done much of a job of persuading mainstream Australia that proposed internet censorship laws are a bad idea, despite their potentially crippling effect on freedom of speech, writes Angus Kidman.
Oops, there goes the relationship with Indonesia
The roller-coaster that is the Australia-Indonesia bilateral relationship is again plummeting.
China, Australia and Rio Tinto: economic/resource shadow war?
The arrest of ethnic Chinese and Australian citizen executives of Rio Tinto in Shanghai has crystallised the differences in the two countries’ economic culture and political systems, writes Tony Lamond.
Hu and 420 others: Aussies on the beermat
As the PM issues soundbites over China’s detention of Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu, Crikey thought it pertinent to cast an eye over other, less prominent, Australians languishing in overseas gulags.
China will do whatever it likes. Hu knew!
Kevin Rudd suddenly finds himself in the firing line for failing to meet Australians’ expectations about how we should be treated overseas. But, says Bernard Keane, Australia can’t control what the Chinese do.
Australians working in China are terrified
The arrest of the general manager for Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations in China has sent shockwaves through the expat community, reports Isabelle Oderberg.
What next for Australia-Malaysia relations?
Relationships between Australia and Malaysia were terse under former PM Mahathir Mohamad. Now that his son’s in a political position, will there be a return to old times? asks Greg Lopez.
Love and hate: Australia and Indonesia [PDF]
Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is not what it used to be. Howard Dick explains how this is both a good and bad thing.
What is Gillard’s Israel visit all about?
No one should be surprised at the news that the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is hot footing it to Israel, writes Peter Dowding.
Speaking the language of diplomacy
If only a quarter of our diplomats speak a language other than English, it is hard to see how our diplomatic service is being as effective as it could be, says Andrew Bartlett.
Crikey Says: Overseas Aussies can go it alone
Why do Australians assume they have a special right to be rescued from whatever trouble they get into while travelling overseas?
Asia will be China’s. Will we be prepared?
The Government’s looming defence White Paper will need to address the challenges of power shifts in Asia, writes Hugh White in a new Lowy Institute paper.
Taiwan, China and Israel dominate foreign travel of our MPs
When it comes to the influence of foreign governments on MPs and Senators, it isn’t China that we should be concerned about — it’s Taiwan, writes Bernard Keane.
All the Queen’s men: life after Dauth in DFAT
For Aussie diplomat John Dauth, the wheel of career fortune has turned full cirlce, writes a Special Correspondent.
US08: Primary the Musical!
If only the Democrat death match could be set to music … cue Guy Rundle.
