Over recent years, our foreign policy has become more ambivalent than independent. However, when China subsequently criticised that, we quickly reverted to asserting the independence of our foreign policy. Already there have been two visits to Pacific states by Australia’s new foreign minister in her first two weeks in office, while our foreign minister has stayed at home and kept largely quiet. Historic and recent foreign policy events have shown us the folly of sitting back and waiting for things to unfold before we take a stand. But, increasingly, our foreign policy looks hurriedly cobbled together because things have not happened the way or within the timeframe some expected.

Source: Stuff June 09, 2022 18:36 UTC