Submission by the Independent and Peaceful Australian
Network (IPAN) to the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper
Australia’s foreign policy and its application in the world affect many aspects of
Australian life in critical respects. Whether we go to war, our relations with our
neighbours and the rest of the world, our contribution to building a global
environment which is peaceful and environmentally sustainable are all major policy
issues which reflect our values and humanity.
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) therefore welcome the
opportunity to provide a submission to the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper
process. IPAN has a number of member organisations which will also be presenting
their own submission to this process.
We have used the questions posed in relation to the White Paper to frame our input
in this submission.
01
AUSTRALIA’S FOREIGN POLICY NEEDS TO BE GROUNDED IN A CLEAREYED ASSESSMENT OF AUSTRALIA’S INTERESTS.
How should we define Australia’s national interests in a changing world? How
should our values underpin Australia’s foreign policy? What should we do
differently? How can we do better?
Australia’s national interests need to be defined in the context of being a valuable
global citizen, as well as being in the context of furthering the interests of Australian
citizens and residents. These two aspects should not be in contradiction.
Australia’s national interests have often been defined narrowly as what will benefit
Australia economically. This definition is too narrow and short sighted. Economic
interests are of course important, but they should not trump other aspects of our
national interests.
What does being a ‘valuable global citizen’ entail? We believe it means making
contributions according to the means of a wealthy country in global terms, to global
peace, minimization of poverty and enhancement of the global environment. The
values entailed in being a valuable global citizen are those of caring for humanity,
generosity in sharing resources and generosity of spirit.
Our world is indeed changing. The main challenges we face at the moment to global
and Australian security are assisting in reducing the conflicts in many parts of the
1
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151
Email: [email protected]
world and the associated growth in numbers of refugees. This includes the risk of
war, possibly nuclear war, between major powers. The second major challenge is
the environmental challenge of global warming, which is also contributing to
refugee movements in Africa, the Pacific and Asia.
Our History in Conflicts post WW2
If we look at the history of major conflicts with which Australia has been involved
since the Second World War, there is a pattern of Australia being involved in
conflicts which have not represented any threat to Australia’s sovereignty. We have
sent troops to the Korean, Vietnam, East Timor, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and now
Syrian conflicts. None of these involved threats to Australia and the only one which
could be argued to have been a ‘just’ war is East Timor.
Why have we become involved in these wars? The primary reason is that after
leaving the shelter of the British Empire after WW2, our governments have been of
the view that we need protection from a powerful friend, the USA. In order to
secure that ‘protection,’ Australian governments have been willing to subordinate
Australia’s interests and follow the USA into ill-judged wars, which, particularly in
the case of the Iraq, Afghanistan and now the Syrian conflict, have left the world in a
vastly less secure state and with millions more refugees and terrorist attacks
becoming widespread. We should note that in the case of East Timor, the USA did
not assist the East Timorese people in that conflict.
It is clear that war in the vast majority of instances, does not solve problems, it
creates more for generations to come.
The environmental damage from war is also immeasurable. Fossil fuel use and
emissions from military planes, vehicles, equipment and use of weapons, as well as
emissions from, and resources needed for, the extensive reconstruction needed
following such conflicts are significant on global scale.
Our successive governments’ fears of acting independently have led to Australian
governments allowing the USA to use our country for their military bases and to
engaging in conflicts which has led to us being considered a flunkey of the United
States by our regional neighbours. Following America in its military actions makes
us more likely to be a target of terrorist attacks. This subservience has also led to us
being complicit in war crimes with our participation in the illegal invasion of Iraq
and accepting the Pine Gap Joint Facility role in targeting for drone assassinations in
countries with which we are not at war. Allowing Darwin to be used as a US base is
also drawing us into potential conflict with China, tensions which if not reduced,
could conceivably lead to a nuclear war.
The dangers to Australia and the world of continuing to act as the United State’s
junior, silent military partner are too great for this situation to continue. We
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151
Email: [email protected]
2
consider that the close military alliance with the United States of America has made
Australians less secure and that a truly independent approach to the defence of
Australia is required.
Clear-eyed Assessment of our National Interest
Australia has probably the best geographic location in the world to be an
independent nation. Our defence analyses have shown that we have no enemies,
and in particular no countries who in the foreseeable future would have the
inclination and capacity to launch an invasion of Australia.
The 2016 Defence White Paper stated that ‘The government is providing Defence
with the capability and resources it needs to be able to independently and decisively
respond to military threats”. According to former Defence capability analyst, Mike
Gilligan, “We have reached the point where we do not need the involvement of USA
forces to defend Australia from armed attack…it is time for our foreign, fiscal and
defence policies to reflect our own strength”.
Our national interest is not furthered by our ‘interoperability’ with the US military
forces. The guided missile frigate HMAS’s integration into the US Seventh Fleet1 is
not in our interests, nor is the seconding of Major General Burr of the ADF as deputy
commander of the US Army in the Pacific.2
Australia should maintain the integrity of its armed forces and not place them or our
personnel at the behest of any other country.
The Trump Presidency
Donald Trump’s Presidency, even at this early stage, is ringing alarm bells for
countries around the world. His lack of concern for democracy, for freedom of the
press, for building understanding and tolerance between different cultures and
religions and for peaceful relations between countries is evident at this stage. His
attempt to ban Muslims from America and his stated intention to build a wall across
the Mexican border is unprecedented in its divisiveness and irrationality. His
actions are likely to incite terrorist attacks, not prevent them.
A number of analysts have raised serious concerns about his attacks on the media,
most recently his exclusion of particular media outlets, including CNN, from press
conference. It has been pointed out that curtailing the media is one of the first
actions of a dictator.
1
Sarah West, ‘HMAS Sydney joins USN Carrier Strike Group’, Royal Australian Navy, May 7, 2013.
http://www.navy.gov.au/news/hmas-sydney-joins-usn-carrier-strike-group
2 Audrey McAvoy, ‘Australian general gets key US army post’, AP New, February 1, 2013
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/australian-general-gets-key-us-army-post
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151
Email: [email protected]
3
All of these actions and more make it imperative that Australia is not silent when
statements or actions of the American President are clearly counterproductive.
However, it is possible that the Trump Presidency may not last long and it is urgent
that Australia demonstrate its independence from the USA, regardless of who is in
the White House.
Nuclear Weapons Treaty Negotiations
Australia has recently indicated that it will not take part in the UN Nuclear Weapons
Treaty Negotiations beginning on 27 March 2017. With 123 nations supporting the
negotiations, it is an abrogation of our responsibility as a global citizen that
Australia is not participating.
The perceived ‘need’ for US protection identified above, is the rationale for
Australia’s boycott of the negotiations. Again our lack of a clear-assessment of our
defence capability is leading us into a stance which will adversely impact on
Australia’s credibility in the world. If we are not prepared to abide by the
international rules- based system, we cannot expect others to.
The decision not to attend the Treaty negotiations should be immediately reversed.
Refugees
Our policy on refugees impacts on other countries in the region and around the
world and is therefore relevant to the Foreign Policy White Paper.
In relation to refugees, resulting both from conflict and environmental causes, we
need to ensure that our policy is in line with our values, as identified above.
Currently our refugee policy is not in line with those values, but in stark contrast to
them. Apart from the relatively small number of refugees we accept through
UNHCR processes, our refugee policy is primarily directed at deterring refugees
from attempting to reach and seek asylum or refuge in Australia via other means.
The policy of deterrence does not value humanity and it does not demonstrate a
generosity of spirit.
The number of refugees who have attempted to reach Australia over the last decade
outside of the UN processes is very small compared with the numbers which other
countries, such as Iran, Jordan, Italy, Greece, Turkey and other countries in Europe
have had to accommodate. Our inhumanity to these refugees is reprehensible. We
do not suggest that Australia’s borders should be open, but we have a natural
barrier in our geographic location meaning that numbers are always likely to be
relatively small.
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151
Email: [email protected]
4
On the other hand our treatment of those refugees who have reached our shores has
been inhumane in the extreme, leading many to self-harm, mental illness and
suicide. It has also done irreparable harm to Australia’s reputation internationally.
The establishment of offshore detention centers is unnecessary, inhumane and more
expensive for Australian taxpayers. The housing and processing of these refugees
on Australian soil would allow for transparency in their treatment, ensuring that
they are treated humanely as well as being accommodated at considerably less
expense.
The Australian government as a matter of urgency should close the detention
centres on Manus Island and Nauru and house and process current and future
refugees on Australian soil. The government needs to work with the Opposition to
move to a bipartisan approach for this policy. Refugees should not be used as
political tools.
02
AUSTRALIA HAS DIVERSE INTERESTS THAT SPAN THE GLOBE
Which countries will matter most to Australia over the next 10 years? Why and in
what ways? How should we deepen and diversify key relationships?
What global trends, such as developments in technology, environmental
degradation and the role of non-state actors, are likely to affect Australia’s
security and prosperity? How should Australia respond?
Countries in our region and our main trading parties are the countries which will
matter most to Australia over the next 10 years, for reasons of both political security
and joint economic benefit. Other countries in Europe, the Middle East and also
Russia are also of importance to Australia, for both security and economic reasons.
We will address only some of these countries in the interests of brevity.
In the Asia Pacific region, Indonesia, as our nearest neighbour, is very important, as
is China, one of our main trading partners.
Indonesia
Our relations with Indonesia have been marred in recent years by our refugee policy
and the policy of turning back refugees to Indonesia, a country which has less
capacity to deal with them than Australia does. In order to improve relationships
with Indonesia we should ensure that our aid program is in accord with their needs,
that our refugee policy is reformed (as outlined above), and that Australian
companies operating in Indonesia do so with full regard to Indonesian needs and
the environment there. This applies in particular to mining operations.
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151
Email: [email protected]
5
Educational, cultural and other exchanges between Indonesia and Australia should
be increased, while at the same time raising issues of human rights in West Papua,
as a friend of Indonesia.
The mooted Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia should not include Investor State
Dispute Resolution provisions (see response to Q. 4 below).
Australia should not be encouraging Indonesia into ‘joint exercises in the South
China Sea’ as recently reported. Such provocative action is not in either Australia’s
nor Indonesia’s interests.
Timor-Leste
In relation to Timor-Leste, spying on Timor-Leste in order to gain benefit from the
resources in the Timor Sea is far from the action of a good neighbour. Negotiations
on a permanent maritime border, recently announced, should foreshadow a fair and
just outcome for Timor-Leste in relation to the resources there.
China
China, as a neighbour in the region and also a major trading partner is a country
with which we should also have increased exchanges as outlined above, while
making criticisms of human rights abuses. Our comments to any country on human
rights abuses, though, are no doubt of less force when we are committing human
rights abuses against refugees and Australian Aboriginal people and could therefore
be accused of hypocrisy. We have differences with China in relation to democratic
rights, but we also need to build a greater understanding of Chinese history and
culture by Australians.
The other single issue of most concern in relation to China is the US’s ‘pivot to Asia’
and its encircling of China with bases and military force which is widely understood
to be an attempt to ‘contain’ China. US bases in Japan, Guam and South Korea have
existed for many years, but over the last decade, they have increased military attack
capacity no doubt provoking changes in China’s defence policies.
Given the US bases stretch all the way from northern Japan right down to the
Philippines and Australia, it is no surprise that the Chinese have reacted in the South
China Sea by building runways on reclaimed reefs there. The US bases on Okinawa,
Guam, Jeju Island and no doubt elsewhere as well, are opposed by the people who
have lived on those places for millennia, but who are now finding their lives and
environments harmed, sometimes irrevocably, by the US military presence.
The US has many bases and facilities it uses in Australia including Pine Gap, near
Alice Springs, Darwin and Kojarena, inland from Geraldton in WA. Any of these
bases could be a prime target in an escalation of tensions with China or North Korea.
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151
Email: [email protected]
6
There has been no suggestion of China constraining shipping in the South China Sea
and it would not be in their interests to do so. If the situation was reversed, and
China enacted a ‘pivot to the Eastern Pacific’, the reaction would be immediate.
Australia should not be entangled in the dangerous US military brinkmanship in the
South China Sea. As former defence expert, Professor Des Ball, indicated, the idea
that a war with China could be contained, and not break into a full-scale war,
perhaps nuclear, is unrealistic. That such dangerous brinkmanship is happening
should be strongly opposed by the Australian government.
The recent reports that North Korea may target Pine Gap as a surrogate target
against the USA should be taken seriously.
Middle East
Similarly Australia should not be involved in military action in the Middle East. It is
not a region which has an impact on Australia and the countries in the region should
be encouraged to resolve the conflicts there. Our involvement in the Middle East
serves to make Australia less secure. The illegal invasion of Iraq, which Australia
was a party to, has clearly made the world more insecure, has created millions of
refugees and increased terrorism globally.
Australia, along with the majority of countries globally, should recognize Palestine
as a member state of the United Nations. We should not hesitate to criticize the
injustice of the Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian Territories, the
blockade of Gaza and the continued theft of Palestinian land through the ongoing
establishment of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. As a friend of
Israel, we should be aware that friends do not act as accomplices to illegal actions.
Russia
Australia should avoid getting engaged at all in the tensions between Russia and
NATO. While criticisms can be made of Russia, the military pressure being applied
to the area close to Russia’s borders is unlikely to reduce those tensions. The
dangers of war in the region are significant and Australia’s most positive role would
be to encourage parties to reduce military buildups and encourage diplomatic
resolution to the tensions.
Australia must change its foreign policy to be more independent and be a voice for
peace and the rule of law globally.
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151
Email: [email protected]
7
Significant global trends
The most significant global trend affecting Australia and the world’s security is
global warming. Severe climatic events and sea level rise will lead to an increased
number of environmental refugees, both internationally and within Australia, as
well as to enormous costs of reconstruction from fires, floods, storms, cyclones, heat
waves and other events. Attempts to stop the degradation of the Great Barrier Reef
are futile if global emissions keep rising. Australia should be playing a leading role
in reducing emissions, as it has the technological expertise and resources to move
quickly in that direction.
Australia is one of 194 signatories to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change. However, the Australian government is
not recognising the need for Australia to move urgently to a low emissions, clean
energy future.
A stronger scientific research community should be rebuilt for climate change as
well as other areas and stronger emission reduction policies need to be adopted to
play our part in this crucial challenge. Without a strong scientific basis
underpinning our endeavors in all sectors, we cannot more forward to a secure
future.
03
AUSTRALIA IS AN INFLUENTIAL PLAYER IN REGIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Which regional and global organisations matter most to us? How should we
support and shape them? How can we maximize our influence?
Australia has played a significant role in the United Nations and other regional or
global organizations such as the G20. We should continue to be active participants
in these organisations, balancing global interests with Australian interests.
Australia can most effectively maximize our influence in these organisations if we
are seen to be a country which works for global equality and harmony and which
treats all countries with respect. If we attempt to put Australia’s material interests
to the forefront as our priority, and if we continue to flout international law, as we
did in joining the invasion of Iraq and as we do in relation to the treatment of
refugees, our international reputation will continue to be degraded and our
influence will be minimal.
Further if we continue to act as the US’s junior military partner we will not deserve,
nor gain respect in the international arena.
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151
Email: [email protected]
8
04
AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO BE AMBITIOUS IN GRASPING ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES.
What steps should be taken to maximize our trade and investment and expand
commercial opportunities for Australian business? How can we ensure Australia
is positioned to take advantage of opportunities in the global economy? What
are the key risks to Australia’s future prosperity and how should we respond.
Australia has placed significant emphasis on free trade agreements, both bilateral
and multilateral. The benefits of such agreements are often vastly overstated. The
recent Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) would not have been in Australia’s overall
interests. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry did not support the
TPP and indicated that the lack of an independent assessment of benefits to accrue
from the Agreement was a major flaw. On top of this basic deficiency, the
Agreement would have come on top of hundreds of other such Agreements which
make the trade environment too complex for business.
Overall, the Agreement would have weakened labor standards and enabled
companies to bring in labor forces which would be unlikely to work in accordance
with Australian wages and conditions for the industry. Australia’s standard of
living is, to a significant extent, a result of Australian workers having adequate
wages and conditions which have been won by unions over many decades. Low
wages mean less money circulating in the economy. Studies have demonstrated that
the resulting economic inequality is a brake on the economy.
One of the most disturbing aspects of the TPP was the Investor State Dispute
Settlement (ISDS) provisions. These provisions would have enabled corporations to
sue the Australian government for preventing corporations to make profits they
would otherwise make but for legislation protecting our health, the environment or
other reasons. There are many examples of such incidents/cases. These provisions
represent a gross infringement of sovereignty and would have meant that the
government would be prevented from making laws in the interest of all Australians
and our natural environment, either in Australia, or globally. Even worse is the fact
that cases brought under ISDS provisions would not have been tested in an
Australian court, but in hearings which would not have the safeguards of a court.
ISDS provisions could preclude the proper labeling of products, eg fish, showing
country of production.
Other provisions in relation to copyright would have made drugs more expensive,
increasing health costs to ordinary Australians and the Australian health budget.
The Australian parliament should never again countenance such an attack on our
sovereignty. Other countries, such as Brazil refused to accept ISDS provisions – why
should we accept them?
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151
Email: [email protected]
9
05
AUSTRALIA CONFRONTS A RANGE OF STRATEGIC, SECURITY AND
TRANSNATIONAL CHALLENGES
How can Australia best deal with instability beyond our borders? How can our
foreign policy including our overseas development assistance program, support a
more prosperous, peaceful and stable region? How should our international
engagement work to protect Australia against transnational security threats such
as terrorism?
The primary way to deal with instability beyond our borders is to encourage
diplomatic and law-based mechanisms to resolve conflicts. Can we imagine how the
world could be different if the response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on
America had been to direct the trillions of dollars which have been spent on the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan towards health, education, environmental
enhancement and reduction of poverty in those countries instead of waging war on
them? It would certainly be a different world and the motivation for further
terrorism would have been avoided. Of course, those continuing to use violence
should be subject to the force of the law.
Our international engagement could best be directed to being an independent
sovereign country with a reputation for humanity, actions directed to peace and
assistance to our neighbours through an effective aid program at a level
comparative with other developed countries.
With an independent foreign policy which refused to allow Australia to be drawn
into future wars, transnational security threats to Australia would be lessened.
With the threat of nuclear war at the highest level for decades, along with the critical
threat of global warming, unless humanity can become cooperative, rather than
resorting to violence, our continued existence as a species is doubtful.
06
AUSTRALIA USES A RANGE OF ASSETS AND CAPABILITIES TO PURSUE
OUR INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS
What assets will we need to advance our foreign policy interests in future years?
How can we best use our people and our assets to advance Australia’s
economic, security and other interests and respond to external events?
How can Government work more effectively with non-government sectors,
including business, universities and NGOs, to advance Australia’s interests?
The primary asset Australia will need to advance our foreign policy interests in
future years is the courage to depend on our own capability for our defence and the
courage to play our part on the global stage as an independent and peaceful nation.
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151 10
Email: [email protected]
Given our strategic geographic location is one of the best in the world, it is of the
utmost importance that we take advantage of that location to further global and
regional peace.
The temptation is no doubt to dismiss these views as Pollyanner-ish and wishful
thinking. But Australians are looking for leadership which does demonstrate the
courage to stand on our own two feet and not be drawn into wars which are not in
Australia’s interests, nor in the interests of global security.
Unless global efforts are directed to addressing the other urgent challenge of global
warming, instead of the around US$1756 billion3 which are currently directed to
military spending, the human race has little chance of survival in the centuries
ahead. The foundation for a secure future must be built now.
Thank you for the opportunity to make this submission.
Annette Brownlie
Chairperson
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network
3
SIPRI Yearbook 2013 https://www.sipri.org/yearbook/2013/03
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, PO Box 573 Coorparoo, Qld, 4151 11
Email: [email protected]