Politics unit 4 - AOS 2 - Australia

Quote on security of Missile interceptor

Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister - “growing our sovereignty and helping to keep Australian’s safe”

When was the Missile Defence Test?

9th of July, 2026

Economic statistic for missile defence

ADF expecting to spend between $7 and $10 Billion over the next 10 years on missile defence

AUKUS introduction

2021 - 8 SSN, 5 domestically, 3 US

economic power in AUKUS

projected cost is $368B over 30 years, Fed gov announced $4.6B funding for AUKUS shipyards in Adelaide

Trade and AUKUS

2 $800 mil AUD defence payments to US so far, most recent in July 2025

Pro - AUKUS ev

Anthony Albanese, March 2023 - “AUKUS is the biggest single leap in defence capability in our history”, “It’s about building a future made in Australia, with record investments in […] skills, jobs and infrastructure.”

Anti - AUKUS

Paul Keating, 2023 - called labours decision the “worst international decision” in over a century, and is “the last shackle in the long chain the US has laid out to contain China”

US and AUKUS

Trump, July 2025 - “we’re proceeding with AUKUS […] we’re very long-time partners and allies and friends.”

China and AUKUS

Feb, 2023 - AUKUS is fuelled by “Cold War thinking”, “fuelling military confrontation” and creating “additional nuclear proliferation risks”

Australia’s economy is worth:

2025 - USD $1.8 T, 14th in the world

Aus maintains: (economic power/trade)

Free trade agreements with 14 other IP (RCEP) states, worlds largest free trade agreement by GDP (US $26.3 T)

Aus key trading partners

-China, $126 B export, $74.5 B import

more on RCEP

-covers 10 of Aus top 15 trading partners

-over time, RCEP will eliminate tariffs on up to 91% of Aus goods exports to key markets such as Indonesia, SK and Japan

RCEP specific year that stuff happened

-accounts for over $500 B in 2-way trade in 2022

aus security investment

14 may 2024 - budget boost of $569.4 M to border security for “operation sovereign borders'“

PIF foreign ministers meeting

7th of august 2026, Wong described ICBM “destabilising to the region”

Naoero and Kiribati

2024, 2019

QUAD

annual foreign ministers meetings since 2019

maritime surveillance collaboration, quad critical minerals initiative framework

China on QUAD

Mao Ning, May 26, 2026 - “cooperation between states should promote regional prosperity and stability, and should not target any 3rd party”

PIF facts

2026 forum to be held in Palau, Aug 30 to Sep 4, 18 members

offshore detention stats

since 2012, 4388 people

$14.35 B in 14 years

14 deaths

UN offshore detention

20 jan, 2021- 47 UN member states raised concerns in Aus in UPR of human rights

sport diplomacy

DFAT Australia’s sport diplomacy strategy 2032+

PacificAusSports

NRL

$600m invested in a 10 year period, over half going to PNG chiefs, who will debut in 2028 as apart of aus 19th franchise expansion team

sport diplomacy expert

Stuart Murray - Aus is a “middle power” in aid, trade and security, “we’re and absolute superpower” in sport, “its also apart of our image and brand”

ODA

aus responsible for 40% of aid in IP from 2008-2021

will provide $5.2 B in aid, 2026-2027, over 75% going to IP states

PNG independence

this year $570 mil in budget support

$400 mil in pacific policing strat

James Marape, 2023 “I do not want forever to be a recipient of aid and grants.”

China US relations

2023 Australia defence strategic review “intense China- US relations are the defining feature of our region and time.”

security alignment with US

Richard Marles, Sep 2026, in referral to recent security agreement with US “we think that’s really important in [….] providing peace and stability in the IP, and that’s very much in Australia’s national interest.”

Economic stability with China

Albo, following July 2025 visit “a stable and constructive relationship with china is in Australia’s national interest” “we will cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interests.”