Australia’s Asia-Pacific Engagement: Past and Future

Australia’s relationships in and with Asia and the Pacific is a perennial feature of debates about its foreign and defence policy and how it projects its sense of identity on the world stage. In recent years Australia’s interaction with major powers have become much more complex. As Australia reconceptualises future directions in dealing with allies and neighbours, and its position in Asia and the Pacific more broadly, what lessons does history offer? What forces have influenced Australia’s role on the world stage both historically and today? What is the future direction of Australia’s foreign relations? How should we reposition what we know about Australia’s international relations and its Asia engagement for an increasingly contested future? This event is the Melbourne launch of the book Australia on the World Stage (edited by Benjamin T Jones, Bridget Brooklyn and Bec Strating). Panel: Wesa Chau (Founder and CEO, Cultural Intelligence) Dr Benjamin T Jones (History, Central Queensland University) Dr Michael O’Keefe (Politics, La Trobe University) Dr Nicholas Ferns (History, Monash University) Associate Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Asia)(Chair) Recorded on 21 March, 2023