TODAY
16 September 2015
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- Australia’s Foreign Policy Likely to Stay the Same, Say Analysts
Australia’s Foreign Policy Likely to Stay the Same, Say Analysts
Australia may have a new Prime Minister, its fourth in five years, but the thrust of its foreign policy is unlikely to change, said analysts interviewed by TODAY.
Mr Malcolm Turnbull, who defeated Mr Tony Abbott 54-44 in a snap poll of Liberal Party lawmakers on Monday, is likely to be more open to the outside world and less conservative in approach than Mr Abbott. But the new PM is unlikely to tinker too much with current foreign policy, especially in dealings with the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Singapore.
“There is a general and longstanding consensus, both between Australia’s major political parties and within them, on the importance of good working relations with ASEAN countries, including Singapore. This will not be affected by the leadership change,” said Mr Raoul Heinrichs, who teaches international security and politics at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University.
…“Close relations between Singapore and Australia stem from years of defence, economic and political cooperation rather than from the leadership of a particular leader,” said Mr Daniel Chua, a research fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. “(Mr) Turnbull’s leadership will likely change the style but not the substance of the Liberal Party’s approach.”
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Last updated on 16/11/2015
