Albanese condemns antisemitism amid protests outside Lowy event

Mr Albanese insisted Australia’s foreign policy “is not just a catalogue of things that happen to us”.

“What Australia says and does on the world stage matters – to our security, our prosperity, to the strength and stability of the region we call home.”

The prime minister spoke after a week of controversial foreign policy decision-making that included supporting a UN vote against the Gaza conflict that Israel condemned as one-sided and seemingly rejecting US calls to send a navy warship to the Red Sea.

The speech – much of it a laundry list of foreign policy waypoints during Labor’s first 19 months in office and shout-outs to allies in the Pacific, India, South Korea, Japan and the US – sought to build on his predecessor’s achievements on the world stage.

He ran through John Curtin’s decision to recall Australian forces from the Middle East to fight the Japanese in World War II, Gough Whitlam’s diplomacy with China, the pivot by Bob Hawke and Paul Keating to South-East Asia, and Kevin Rudd’s “elevation of the G20 forum”.

Mr Albanese said the challenge of his generation was to reinforce and expand on those wins.

“This means modernising those existing frameworks and forums so they can empower us in new economic, security and energy progress,” he said.

Impediments to trade

On China, which remains his government’s primary challenge, Mr Albanese said he has sought to “stabilise” the relationship by following a careful, methodical and respectful approach.

“We are clear-eyed about the situation,” he said. “We remain two nations with very different values and political systems.

“I’ve said before that China does not see itself as a status quo power. It seeks a region and world that is much more accommodating of its ambitions and its interests,” he said.

Mr Albanese noted that much of China’s “extraordinary and unparalleled” economic success was built on the region’s commitment to peace, freedom of navigation and respect for sovereignty.

Trade pressures eased following the PM’s visit to Beijing and Shanghai last month, even as China becomes embroiled in new regional quarrels, such as with the Philippines.

“We’ve put a focus on rebuilding dialogue,” Mr Albanese said. “This doesn’t mean compromising any of Australia’s core interests or values.

“I’m pleased most of the impediments to trade have now been removed. Opportunities for our farmers, producers and exporters in barley, hay, coal, timber and wine are back on track.”

‘No place for prejudice’

While he touched briefly on Australia’s role in the war in Ukraine, Mr Albanese’s speech focused on the crisis in the Middle East, which has seen Labor targeted by the opposition and the Jewish community for its condemnation of Israeli military excess, as well as criticism from some that the government has not done enough to support Palestinians.

Mr Albanese reiterated the government’s stance that it mourns the loss of “every innocent life in this conflict: Israeli and Palestinian”.

“We will continue to make it clear there is no place for prejudice or hatred, antisemitism or Islamophobia, here in our society.

“Australia recognises that Israel has the right to defend itself and the way it does so matters. Which is why we have called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law.

“This means civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, and humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in desperate need.”

‘Hamas is the enemy’

Mr Albanese said the recent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel should be resumed. “We have said all along, this cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages – immediately and unconditionally. It must stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.

“And I reiterate what I said in Parliament in October: Hamas is the enemy, not the Palestinian people.”

“There can be no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza – and Gaza must not be used as a future platform for terrorism.

“None of us should abandon hope in the ultimate goal: a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living securely and prosperously within internationally recognised borders.”

Mr Albanese returned to the theme of why his focus will remain in Asia.

“Without any doubt, Australia’s future security and prosperity will be defined by the strength and success of our engagement in the region we call home.”

“John Curtin’s decision to recall Australian forces from the Middle East for combat against Japan in New Guinea is widely held to represent the beginning of Australia setting our own foreign policy.

“It also represents the first anchoring of Australian strategic policy in Asia and the Pacific.

“When Curtin spoke of ‘the Battle for Australia’, he made it clear that we had to fight to secure our continent and our home.

“That anchoring of Australian strategic policy in our region has been a core tenet of Labor defence and foreign policy ever since.”

He added that Australia has at times taken for granted its relationship with Asian neighbours.

“For too long the economies of ASEAN have not been central to Australia’s economic thinking.

“Business investment in the region has been stagnant, people-to-people connections under-resourced and trade well short of its potential.

“This weakens our presence and our relevance.”

Australia will host an ASEAN summit in Melbourne next March, he said.

Mr Albanese concluded by saying investments in capabilities such as the AUKUS alliance are not about trying to “hold back a changing world or isolate ourselves from it”.

“We are investing in Australia’s ability to shape the future – and to share in the benefits of change.”