VCE Politics - Unit 2 AOS 1: Case Studies

Satisfaction with Democracy

A report from the Australian Electoral Study 2022 found that 70% of people are satisfied with Australia’s democracy, meaning they accept the political system. However, 70% of Australians do not trust government as they believe it doesn’t work for the people.

Climate 200 Donation

Climate 200, an organization that funds pro-climate independents and minor parties, helped mobilize $15,000 to over $500,000 for these candidates in the 2025 Australian Federal Election.

Australia Voter Turnout vs USA

Australia’s voter turnout in the 2025 Federal Election was 90.7% according to the Australian Electoral Commission. Labor had 94, Coalition 43. Minor parties 33.1% of vote.

The Voice 2023 Referendum

In 2023, the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum was held, where the “No” Vote won 60.1% to 39.9%.

AUKUS Transparency

In June 2025, 10 crossbench MPs and senators called for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Greens senator David Shoebridge states it “will provide important transparency”.

MP Allegra Spender said AUKUS won’t work “without wider community interrogation and engagement”

Military Capability Calls

Netherlands’ Chief of Defense General Onno Eichelsheim called Australia to increase defense spending so they can “get ready for something that you hope will never happen” (July 2025)

AUKUS Webinar

2024 Online Webinar "Subs & Secrets: AUKUS or Sovereignty" made the point that the "AUKUS deal was made in secret, with the Australian public having been mostly kept in the dark."

Australians Concerns

James Curran in an Australian Foreign Affairs article stated Australians are "largely uninterested in foreign and defense policy outside times of war" (2024)

Poll AUKUS

Lowy Institute 2024 poll found 65% of Australians remain somewhat or strongly in favor of AUKUS

Poll AUKUS Price

March 2023 Guardian Essential Poll found only 25% of Australians are happy to pay the price tag of $368bn to acquire submarines.

AUKUS Deal

In 2021, Australia, the USA, and the UK signed the AUKUS deal, a trilateral partnership composed of two pillars to bolster allied deterrence and defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.

Solomon Islands Support Package

June 2025, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy announced Australia will provide a $20 million support package for the Pacific Islands forum, which will provide things like dozens of vehicles and cyber security support.

AUKUS Inquiry

June 2025, 10 crossbench MPs and senators called for an urgent inquiry into AUKUS, stating there has been "limited opportunity for Parliamentary sovereignty" and it will "provide important transparency." Also say it won't work "without wider community interrogation and engagement."

AUKUS Bipartisan

2025, Foreign Minister Penny Wong states the pact is "multi-decade, multi-government"

China Military Buildup

2025, Richard Marles - (China) "biggest increase in military capability and build-up… by any country since the Second World War"

Australia Called to increase Defense Spending

2025, General Olmo Eichelsheim (Dutch Chief) - "If you can prepare for war, you can avoid war" "I think Australia has to increase its capabilities as well"

Greens Foreign Policy

2025 Greens Election Campaign - "Australia needs a foreign policy that prioritizes peace… not one driven by militarism"

Australian satisfaction with government and democracy

In 2022, 70% of Australians reported they are satisfied with democracy, but only 30% have trust in the government.

AUKUS Secretive

Much of the AUKUS negotiations were done in secret. Described by Greens in 2024 as "secret political agreements". Morrison said he worked on it for 18 months in secret before announcement in Sept 2021

AUKUS Labor and Liberal

An article by the Liberal Party in 2023 stated "Let the Labor Party and the Liberal Party stand together in our support of AUKUS"

China Stadium

China has invested about $120 million in helping the Solomon Islands host the Pacific Games, including helping build the main stadium in Honiara in 2023.

Albanese and Sogavare Meet

In 2022, Anthony Albanese met with the leader of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare saying "We're family."

Australia aid to Pacific

In 2022, Albanese stated that the aid provided to the pacific "does not come with strings attached."

Australian Pacific Influence Poll

A 2025 Poll by the Lowy Institute found that 35% of Australians believe Australia is the most influential player in the pacific.

Greens Foreign Aid

The Greens party have submitted statements in the lead up to the 2025 election that they wish to pressure Labor to increase their aid budget to 0.7% of GNI, thus supporting the Indo-Pacific.

Australia aid to Indo-Pacific

In 2025, the Australian government announced in its Federal Budget that 75% of aid would go to the Indo-Pacific region.

Penny Wong Coalition

Penny Wong in 2022 said the Coalition made "the worst Australian foreign policy blunder in the Pacific since the end of World War II."

AUKUS China View

March 2023, China accused the US, UK, and Australia of embarking on a "path of error and danger."

Solomon Islands

In 2023, Kamala Harris stated in an interview when bad actors seek to "undermine the rules-based order, we must stand united"

Aid Cuts

In March 2025, the Trump administration shut down the US Agency for International Development, and the UK announced 40% aid cuts. However, Australia did not follow and kept their aid spending.

the expression of democratic principles and practices in Australia’s political system, such as

free and fair elections, accountability and transparency, active participation,

the significance of a democratic political culture in contributing to political stability and change in Australia

such as participation in and engagement with democratic processes, trust in government, the existence of many political parties, political ideology,

the strengths and weaknesses of Australian political institutions and processes, such as

responsible government, the electoral system and representation,