Julia Gillard's address to the US Congress gives a partial answer to my earlier question (what is Prime Minister Gillard's approach to foreign policy?) and, luckily, makes no mention of asylum-seeker processing centres in East Timor or elsewhere.
It seems PM Gillard is associating herself with the mainstream of Australia's foreign policy traditions:
- Strong on the alliance, including our alliance-linked contribution to Afghanistan and the importance of values in foreign relations.
- Strong on free trade, particularly in agriculture, and in favour of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
- Pro China engagement (she is visiting China soon) with some reservations.
- In favour of the G-20 and East Asian regionalism.
When it comes to this speech on Australian foreign policy, one cannot claim that the Gillard Government is being dominated by its junior coalition partner, the Greens.
(Above, part one of Gillard's speech. Here are parts two and three.)
