Laws in Australia are often created to protect the country from perceived threats from outside of the nation. Australia as a nation has significantly grown in population, allies and fears. Australia’s population growth is mainly due to immigration after the Second World War affecting contemporary Australia. The nation was also able to build itself an image in the international community when Australia was able to have a say in its foreign policies and allies. With a growing population and foreign policies, the country developed fears and threats from the outside community which impacted the way the country is governed during high periods of tension such as the Cold War and now the rise of terrorism. Modern Australia was built upon these factors
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This fear drives the nation's foreign policy as well as the creation of alliances with other countries. Australia’s fear of abandonment stems from the fact that the country has been left out in the past, especially after the Second World War such as the Cairo Declaration on November 1943, which left Australia and New Zealand out of something that could potentially affect them. As a result of this Australia and New Zealand created the ANZAC Pact in 1944, the first alliance Australia has entered without Britain. The pact permitted Australia and New Zealand to participate in matters involving them. The ANZAC Pact established Australia’s international image after the Statute of Westminster which allowed Australia to govern itself. In July 1945, Australia was once again left out again with peace talks with Japan. With Britain’s imperial power declining Australia sought out another rising country for protection, America this lead to the signing of the ANZUS Pact in September 1951. The Pact ensures that Australia supports the United States during times of American military activity. Australia, however, has expanded its alliance during this era with the construction of SEATO during 1954 although the partnership was dissolved in 1977. In present Australia has developed its alliance with Asia. Although with this it is suggested that America only seeks an agreement with Australia to continue its presence and influence in Southeast Asia. Hence, why it is argued that Australia should focus on engaging and creating alliances in the Asian Pacific and engage with them on an equal scale rather than relying on the USA. This is due to the geographic location of Australia which is crucial to defence and foreign policy. This being said criticism on Australia’s involvement in wars such as the Vietnam war was unnecessary, and Australia’s involvement was
This fear drives the nation's foreign policy as well as the creation of alliances with other countries. Australia’s fear of abandonment stems from the fact that the country has been left out in the past, especially after the Second World War such as the Cairo Declaration on November 1943, which left Australia and New Zealand out of something that could potentially affect them. As a result of this Australia and New Zealand created the ANZAC Pact in 1944, the first alliance Australia has entered without Britain. The pact permitted Australia and New Zealand to participate in matters involving them. The ANZAC Pact established Australia’s international image after the Statute of Westminster which allowed Australia to govern itself. In July 1945, Australia was once again left out again with peace talks with Japan. With Britain’s imperial power declining Australia sought out another rising country for protection, America this lead to the signing of the ANZUS Pact in September 1951. The Pact ensures that Australia supports the United States during times of American military activity. Australia, however, has expanded its alliance during this era with the construction of SEATO during 1954 although the partnership was dissolved in 1977. In present Australia has developed its alliance with Asia. Although with this it is suggested that America only seeks an agreement with Australia to continue its presence and influence in Southeast Asia. Hence, why it is argued that Australia should focus on engaging and creating alliances in the Asian Pacific and engage with them on an equal scale rather than relying on the USA. This is due to the geographic location of Australia which is crucial to defence and foreign policy. This being said criticism on Australia’s involvement in wars such as the Vietnam war was unnecessary, and Australia’s involvement was