VCE Politics - Unit 2 AOS 1: Case Studies

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.

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.

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.

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."

Voice Referendum

2023 The Voice Referendum received a majority “No” vote of 60.1% to 39.9%

Federal Election 2025

2025 Australian Federal Election had 90.7% turnout. Labor had 94 seats, LNP 43. Minor parties had 33.1% of vote.

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.