The world is in disarray. The attack by Israel on Iran has caused many to fear regional conflict in the Middle East. European countries, Canada and others are concluding the US is no longer a reliable ally. Can Australia rely on US protection? As President Trump has stated so clearly, “America will act in its own interests’.”

Australia now has a unique opportunity to rethink our national security based on our interests and those of our near neighbours.

The US military industrial complex propaganda machine has spent many years working to convince the Australian public that China is a threat, in order to manufacture consent for war. But China is not a military threat to Australia. AUKUS is a very expensive regional provocation with dubious benefit, if any, to Australia.

Where to now for Australia’s security? Is diplomacy now more important than defence? Is it time to implement an entirely new and independent Australian foreign policy?

Speakers:

Hon Gareth Evans AC, Distinguished Honorary Professor at the Australian National University. A former Senator in the Australian Parliament, Evans was Australia’s Foreign Minister from 1988-96.
Kishore Mahbubani is a veteran diplomat, student of philosophy, and celebrated author. He is currently a Distinguished Fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Asia Research Institute. He was President of the UN Security Council (Jan 2001, May 2002).

Moderator:

Melissa Conley Tyler is an Honorary Fellow in the Asia Institute of The University of Melbourne and Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D).