This week we take a deep dive into relations between two key U.S. allies — Japan and Australia. CSIS Strategic Japan Fellow Dr. Tomohiko Satake and CSIS Senior Adviser Andrew Shearer join to discuss the drivers for closer cooperation between…
By Ernest Z. Bower As the sun set in Canberra today, another Shakespearean-worthy political plot was thickening. Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s colleagues in his Liberal Party rallied around a former Goldman Sachs banker and the member of parliament from Wentworth,…
By Jack Georgieff The final week of June saw the return of Kevin Rudd as Australian prime minister, ending Julia Gillard’s three year reign and suddenly making the upcoming federal election contestable for the Australian Labor Party again. Gillard was…
By Harsh V. Pant America’s “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific continues to dominate the limelight even though the official phrase in Washington is now “strategic re-balancing.” Much of this “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific is a continuation and expansion of policies already…
Who is he? Gary Gray was previously Australia’s special minister of state. He was elected to represent Brand in Western Australia in the House of Representatives during 2007 when current Ambassador to the United States Kim Beazley vacated the seat.…
By Jason Schulman The Australian government announced drastic changes to its foreign aid budget in December 2012, saying it will reallocate $375 million to fund onshore processing of asylum seekers in the country. The government on February 8 clarified exactly…
Who is he? Prime Minister Julia Gillard selected Robert “Bob” Carr to fill a vacancy in the Australian Senate in March 2012 and appointed him foreign minister. Earlier in his career, Carr was the premier of New South Wales from…
Who is she? Nicola Roxon was the attorney-general of Australia from December 2011 to February 2, 2013, when she announced her resignation. Roxon will complete her term as a member of the Australian House of Representatives, but will not seek…
Who is she? Dr. Margot McCarthy is currently Australia’s national security advisor (NSA), a position created in 2008 under previous prime minister Kevin Rudd. In this role, she leads the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s National Security and…
By Alastair Furnival With the Australian election now announced for September 14, Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be hoping the bad news is done in the first week: an ex-government member of parliament placed on 149 charges of misusing trade…
