Albanese outlines foreign policy of 'patience and perseverance' in a messy world
Anthony Albanese's headland foreign policy speech on Tuesday night underlines the stark contrast in approach to predecessor Scott Morrison.
When the last Australian prime minister gave the annual Lowy Lecture, it was an explosive speech. In 2019, Scott Morrison warned against "negative globalism" that could restrict his government from acting on its election promises, and announced a review into how Australia could engage multilateral organisations to better serve its interest.
When Anthony Albanese delivered the same lecture at the Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday night four years later, it was a less sensational affair. The speech was in line with the government's consistent and measured approach to foreign policy, even if it may be criticised by some for not saying enough.
While Morrison’s speech committed Australia to playing a more active role in “setting global standards”, Albanese laid out a plan of “investing in our deterrence and our diplomacy” that will require “patience and perseverance.”
While Morrison spoke of “shared values” with other liberal democracies, Albanese’s only reference to values was managing the “different values and political systems” between Australia and China.
