Advancing Australia's national interest is an issue that will be faced by every government that ever holds power.

        In regard to our foreign policy, the recent events in New York on September 11, the war against Iraq and the Bali bombing have meant that security has become one of the most important issues in determining how to advance the national interest. In regard to this, Alexander Downer, in his “Advancing the National Interest” speech, stated that; “Our effort must be local, regional and global. It must be sustained. But it must also be mature. We must guard against this war becoming something that it fundamentally is not – a clash between Islamic and Western civilisations”. This statement is a clear indicator of the importance that the Australian government places on the security of our region. It should also be noted that when considering security, it is important for not only Australia, but also the whole South East Asian area to be adequately defended. This relates to and further explains the previously mentioned matter of foreign relations.

The defence and security of the South East Asian region is of great importance to Australia’s national interest, because this region is so important to Australia’s economic stability. The Foreign and Trade Policy White paper of 2002 echoes this point, where it states that “Asian countries account for seven of our ten largest export markets and are simultaneously important sources of investment, major security partners and a growing source of skilled migrants. Asia's weaknesses, as well as its strengths, matter to Australia. South-East Asia is also our front line in the war against terrorism”. In focusing on the South East Asian region, Australia must not neglect its relationship with other parts of the globe. Downer’s speech again provides support of this theory, when he states that the government “has sought to restore some of the balance in our foreign policy and to get away from an Asia-only focus to an Asia-first focus”. This issue is of great importance, as given the sometimes-volatile political nature of some South East Asian nations (Indonesia, Malaysia), we cannot ensure that a situation similar to the East Asian economic crisis will not occur. The advancements in South East Asia should be achieved through negations in ASEAN, and the WTO. An example of this is the talks between the Australian and Japanese governments to promote a free-trade arrangement. These trade arrangements are of great importance to Australia and its people, given that such a large proportion of our exports are primary products. 

Without economic stability and the trade opportunities that exist in South Asia, many industries would be crippled, and hence many Australians may stand to loose their employment, which in turn would lower their standard of living. This is something that any government holding power would not want to see occur, and would seriously damage the advancement of the national interest. 

Although our external relations, (dictated by and exercised through foreign policy) appear to be of extreme importance in advancing Australia’s national interest, internal politics are also critical to this. An example of this was the Whitlam government putting an end to the White Australia policy in the early nineteen seventies. This action showed that the government of Australia had realised that they could no longer ignore the rights of any of its constituents. Even today, thirty years later we see repercussions of this policy, with the present government attempting to make amends for the past injustices. This is essentially an advancement of the national interest, even if it is directed primarily at a certain group. Issues of welfare (education and public health care for example) are also areas that the government addresses to advance the national interest.

It is clear that Australia’s national interest can be advanced by external and internal politics, but it appears that given the current nature of international relations among all nations in the wake of several terrorist attacks and a significant military conflict, advancement would be best achieved by way of foreign policy. I suggest this because the defence of the Australian nation (and the region in general) from outside invasion is of extreme importance, as is the continuing trade with other nations from all parts of the world.. It would be foolish to assume that any nation in the world could stand-alone against invasion from a determined enemy, or more importantly against the threat of terrorism. The most productive way to counteract terrorism and external threats is through the sharing of intelligence between the security agencies of a number of nations, and through bilateral or multilateral treaties, a perfect example of this being the re-enactment of the ANZUS treaty.