Ep. 8: Australian foreign policy speeches, China and Australia’s South Pacific pivot/balance, Victoria on the Belt and Road, US midterms and Brazil’s new president

It has been a busy few weeks for international affairs, and this week Allan and Darren cover three pairs of issues. To begin, a pair of foreign policy speeches by PM Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Next, the two discuss Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s first visit to China, pairing that with the Australian government’s raft of new initiatives for engagement with the South Pacific, what Darren is (affectionately) terming the “South Pacific Pivot / Rebalance”. The conversation also takes a quick detour into the State of Victoria’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Finally, a pair of elections—the US midterms and a new President in Brazil. 

As always, our thanks go to AIIA interns Stephanie Rowell and Mani Bovell, Martyn Pearce of the ANU’s Crawford School, Rory Stenning for composing our theme music, and AIIA CEO Melissa Conley-Tyler.

Relevant links

Scott Morrison’s speech at the Asia Society: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/keynote-address-asia-briefing-live-beliefs-guide-us

Bill Shorten’s speech at the Lowy Institute: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/foreign-policy-next-labor-government

Scott Morrison’s speech at Lavarack Barracks: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/address-australia-and-pacific-new-chapter

Paul Krugman in Foreign Affairs, “Competiveness: A dangerous obsession” https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/1994-03-01/competitiveness-dangerous-obsession

Ludovico Einaudi, “Divenire”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8SkX9CSJQo

ANU School of Politics and International Relations: US Post-Midterm Election Roundtable (held on Monday 12 November): https://bit.ly/2qKmzwB