THE VILLAGE EXPLAINER: By Dan McGarryIf the coming election goes to Australia’s Labor party, Penny Wong is very likely to become Foreign Minister. Volumes can be written about the need to distinguish development assistance from foreign policy, and many of them could be focused on the Pacific islands region. There are also blindingly good reasons to keep the Foreign Minister as the primary point of contact on matters of foreign policy. Scott Morrison may indeed be one of the worst exemplars of this blithe disregard for actual foreign policy engagement. And subjugating Pacific nations in compacts of free association isn’t a substitute for actual policy making.

Source: Stuff April 21, 2022 05:48 UTC