The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been in the media frequently recently because of the four Genocide Convention cases before it. The cases have been brought against a variety of countries, Myanmar, Russia, Israel and Germany, and for a variety of reasons. This talk from two Australian international law experts will give an overview of the current Genocide Convention cases before the ICJ. After introducing the ICJ and its role, the talk will provide a clear outline of the current ICJ cases brought under the Genocide Convention, breaking down the complex legal process and arguments into a straightforward explanation for the lawyer and non-lawyer alike. This event is organised in collaboration with the Centre for Muslims States and Societies of the University of Western Australia.

Since Ireland was partitioned in 1920 its reunification has seemed impossible. Many still feel that way, partly because of the bloody legacy of past conflict. In the North, however, the demographic majority of Ulster Protestants is lost, and Ulster unionists are no longer the largest voting bloc: in the 2023 local government elections their combined support fell below 40 per cent, compared to the combined Northern nationalist vote of 44 per cent. Referendums on reunification may be on the horizon but even those who want reunification are not prepared. Distinguished political scientist Brendan O'Leary—profoundly engaged with the Irish question for nearly four decades—addresses what needs to be done to ensure adequate preparation, drawing on his books and research he has led on public opinion conducted under the auspices of ARINS, a joint initiative of the University of Notre Dame and the Royal Irish Academy.

Please join us at this special event at which our distinguished guest speaker Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC KC FASSA FAIIA will provide his insights on the evolution of Australia's regional security environment. He served as Australia's long term Foreign Minister during a period when much of the then existing regional security architecture was revamped, including the creation of APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum. In his post political career he has continued to have close engagement with decision makers in the region, including as the President and CEO of the International Crisis Group (ICG) from 2000-2009. This makes Gareth Evans uniquely well placed to understand how the dynamics of the region have developed and its potential future trajectories. His close working relationships with leaders from Australia's immediate neighbours in Southeast Asia have also provided him with an appreciation of the views from these key countries, which are often not heard as much as they should in Australia and in major capitals. He will share his thinking on how best Australia should respond to the new and significant challenges in the region.

At this event Professor Kadambot H.M. Siddique talked about Future Smart Foods and Global Food Security.  Professor Siddique's PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded here Asia and the Pacific continue to suffer from a high prevalence of malnutrition. An estimated 479 million undernourished people, 58 % of the worldwide total, live in this region. Chronic undernutrition is due to the persistent inability to meet minimum micronutrient and macronutrient requirements, or the frequent recurrence of acute malnutrition episodes, or a combination of both. Food-based approaches that address malnutrition, especially micronutrient deficiencies, are embedded in evidence-based healthy diet patterns. But they are disconnected from the current agricultural production system. Neglected and underutilized species (NUS) are fundamental to improving dietary and production diversity. These species are nutrient-dense, climate-resilient, profitable, adaptable, and locally available. The Future Smart Food Initiative, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Regional Initiative on Zero Hunger, aims to harness the enormous benefits that NUS offer in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. Recognizing that NUS covers crop, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture and forest, FAO sets crop as an entry point among NUS to address hunger and malnutrition. Many NUS can tolerate various stresses, which would make production systems not only more diverse but more sustainable and climate resilient. Their resistance to climate change implies that NUS can provide food when other crops fail. Future Smart Food - Rediscovering hidden treasures of neglected and underutilized species for Zero Hunger in Asia, edited by Xuan Li and Kadambot H.M. Siddique, was published by the FAO in 2018.

At our March Event, Professor Samina Yasmeen (AM) talked about how Pakistan is passing through a critical juncture in its history as an independent state. Since the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government led by Imran Khan was removed by a coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) in April 2022, the country has been sliding into a dysfunctional state. Economic decline with prospects of debt default, growing inequality, and the threat of renewed militancy, require serious thinking by Pakistan's political leaders. But politicians have engaged in a war of counter narratives to either regain or retain power.  And this takes place against the backdrop of the Pakistan military's ever-present role in politics. The nature of these narratives suggests either an inability or unwillingness of Pakistan's leaders to focus on addressing the issues that could determine Pakistan's future. The presentation will look at these dimensions and explore what could be done to bring Pakistan back from the brink of self-induced implosion. 

In partnership with AIIA Tasmania, AIIA WA was pleased to host a Webinar-only discussion on Malaysian politics following the elections held on 19 November 2022, which resulted in a hung parliament and a patchwork coalition led by long term opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim. The 2018 ground-breaking election, at which the Barisan Nasional (National Alliance) lost government for the first time since the nation's independence in 1957, heralded the start of a new form of politics in Malaysia. Shifting coalitions of members of parliament resulted in three different Prime Ministers during the parliamentary term. This panel discussion explored the reasons for the elections results, how the Anwar led coalition was able to form government, how the first 100 days have gone, and what  these early days say about the longevity of his leadership. As an avowed internationalist and a reputation as a global thinker, the panel will also look at Anwar's foreign policy priorities and what his influence is likely to be in the region. The panel was moderated by President of AIIA WA Brendan Augustin with Dr James Chin, a leading scholar of contemporary Malaysian politics and a Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania  and Vice President of AIIA Tasmania; and Jahabar Sadiq, who runs the online news portal, Malaysian Insight, and has been a journalist covering Malaysia and region since 1988. Both are regular guests on international news outlets reporting on developments in Malaysia.  

In December 2019 Australians were shocked by the "Forever Fires" that raged through 12 million hectares in Australia's South East. Since then, prospects that once seemed abstract have materialised in rapid succession: a global pandemic, massive floods, and the biggest military conflict in Europe since WW2. These events changed how we live, the way our economies are managed, and (arguably) governments. At this event, former US Consul General Robin McClellan and Professors Mark Beeson and Gordon Flake to talked about what effect these changes might have for international relations in 2023.

As our first event in 2023, in collaboration with the Forrest Research Foundation, we had the pleasure to host Dato' Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, until recently the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia talking to us about the evolution of politics in Malaysia in an address titled "New Politics 2.0: Multiracial and Moderate Malaysian Democracy". In the discussion after his address he  also shared his reflections on his time as the Foreign Minister of this key regional country.  As a founding member, Malaysia continues to play a key leadership role in ASEAN and the country is very actively engaged in broader regional and global issues. Malaysia and Australia share a relationship that is anchored in history but is also dynamic, contemporary and broad-based, including: exceptional people to people links; the second most important economic relationship for Australia in Southeast Asia; and a long-standing defence partner, both during conflicts and peacetime through the Five Power Defence Arrangement and the Malaysia Australia Joint Defence Program . In January 2021, the prime ministers of the two countries elevated the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)​.

It is now clear that the fracture in US-China relations goes very deep. It is not driven by disagreements about trade, freedom of navigation, or even human rights. It is driven by fundamental and seemingly irreconcilable differences between Washington and Beijing about the nature of the international order and their respective roles in it. Washington seeks to preserve its place as the primary power globally, and in East Asia. Beijing seeks to take its place as the primary power in East Asia, and as at least an equal player in a multipolar global order.  There is little doubt about which side we in Australia would wish to win this contest. But our policy should not be based purely on wishes. It must take careful account of which side we should expect to win. This is now the key question facing Australian foreign policymakers – and it is among the most important questions we have ever faced. Judging that question requires us to consider the global context [including the crisis in Ukraine], the regional balance of military and diplomatic advantage between America and China, the underlying relativities of wealth and power, and the balance of resolve between them.   In this presentation, Hugh White argued that a sober analysis of these factors strongly suggests that China will win the contest and emerge as the primary power in East Asia and the Western Pacific. That has immense and unsettling implications for Australia's foreign and defence policies today and into the future.

At this event, Kamahl shared, through a discussion with the AIIA WA President Brendan Augustin, his reflections and perspectives on how Australia's image of itself - and how others have seen us - has changed in the nearly 70 years that he has lived here. Kamahl arrived in Adelaide as a 19-year-old student from Malaya (now Malaysia) in 1953. He was part of a first wave of students from Asia who were being allowed to come to study - but strictly not remain - in the country, which was still applying the White Australia policy which had been in place since Federation in 1901. His improbable journey from an awkward international student in a strange land to becoming among the first persons of Asian heritage to emerge in the Australian entertainment industry, at a time when he was at risk of being deported due to the immigration policy, is a remarkable story. Overcoming significant barriers, which prevented many other performers of non-European background to establish themselves, he went on to build a successful career in Australia and across the world, selling more than 20 million records, including achieving number one hits in countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium. As an Asian immigrant who broke into the world of popular culture at a time of race-based immigration policies and who then became a representative of Australia and Australian culture to the world, provides Kamahl with a truly unique vantage point to look at this journey of Australia's image since the 1950s, which he played an important role in shaping. He will also share his experience of Australia's practice of Cultural Diplomacy, having represented his adopted nation to the world, and explore his ideas on what more as a country we can be doing to provide to the world a more contemporary view of Australia – a place vastly different to one in which he arrived in 1953.

As head of Australia's consular service, Ian Kemish played a central role in the nation's response to some of the most dramatic events of the early twenty-first century, including the September 11 attacks and the Bali bombings. He led the small band of Australian consuls as they confronted the new challenges of global jihadism, supporting families who lost loved ones, and negotiated the release of Australians unjustly detained abroad. In The Consul, Kemish offers a unique and personal perspective on Australia's foreign affairs challenges of the last two decades, from hostage diplomacy to natural disasters and evacuations from war zones. This timely and engaging book also asks us to consider how world events have changed the way we travel now and in the future.

At our July event Robbie Gaspar and Chris Ciriello, two sportsmen who have been involved in sports at elite levels in Indonesia, Malaysia and India, shared their views on Australian sports diplomacy Australia's recognition as a sporting nation has delivered soft power dividends over many years. But few of these dividends have been delivered in Asia.  Arguably, because Australia is focused on particular sports which, with the exception of cricket in South Asia, do not have a large spectator base in Asia.  Chris and Robbie will discuss  the prospects for Australia’s sporting brand to be better utilised to build relations in these key countries and the region more broadly.

More than a decade ago, Michael Sheldrick helped co-found an Australian initiative known as Global Citizen after being one of the first recipients of the AIIA WA Bursary for Studies in Asia Program.  In March 2020, at the request of the World Health Organisation, Global Citizen turned its attention to supporting Covid-19 relief efforts worldwide. Within weeks, the organisation produced its biggest show ever reaching 150 countries, with over 100 musicians.  It raised $127 million for Covid-19 relief.  In the 2 years since, Global Citizen has raised billions of dollars to address problems ranging from voter registration, vaccine inequity, climate change and, most recently, Ukrainian refugee efforts. From vaccine nationalism to the war in Ukraine, it is clear that our current approaches to global cooperation are failing.  In this presentation, Michael proposes new approaches for addressing the key challenges of our time. He draws on insights from the last decade working alongside the UN, governments including that of President Zelenskyy, and grassroots organizations from Poland to Nigeria.

At our May Event, AIIA WA  hosted a panel discussion to mark the 20th anniversary of the independence of Timor-Leste.  Less than 600km from Australia’s North, Timor-Leste has featured prominently in Australia’s foreign policy for many decades: from its annexation by Indonesia in 1975, its struggle for independence, and its development since. Two of AIIA WA’s past presidents, Sue Boyd and John Goodlad, and our current president, Brendan Augustin, have all had significant involvement in Australia’s relationship with Timor-Leste from the mid 70’s through to the present.Sue, John, and Brendan discussed their personal experiences in this relationship and their views on the key issues pertaining to it.

On 2 April 2022, Australia and India signed the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI ECTA), after more than ten years of negotiations.  In this event, Dr Jeffrey Wilson, one of Australia’s pre-eminent trade and investment policy experts, provides his analysis on the prospects for the new agreement to move the dial in the economic relationship. Despite strong historical and cultural ties, India has long underperformed as an economic partner for Australia. This has been due to a lack of complementarities between the two economies; differing economic strategies, and the legacy of past business experience. The Australian Government’s goal is to make India a top three export market by 2035, and third largest destination in Asia for outbound investment. A key driver for this ambition is the risk posed by Australia’s strong reliance on trade with China during an era of geopolitical uncertainty. India provides an opportunity to diversify our trade as the “world’s fastest growing major economy”. But how can this agenda be realised given past experience, and how can we leverage the free trade agreement for developing new economic ties?

At our March event, Professor Peter Newman AO, an author of the next IPCC mitigation report, showed how producing solar energy and green hydrogen is likely to transform Western Australia’s economy in a geopolitically significant way.  The slides used in this presentation can be downloaded here The existing geopolitical order of manufacturing was based firstly in places near coal in Europe and America and then to wherever coal and gas could be shipped easily. That world is changing. Solar and wind energy are now cheaper than any other form of power and it is needed for all parts of the zero carbon economy. Solar and wind-based electricity are needed to make Green Hydrogen which is the only real option to decarbonise process industries. Thus solar power and hydrogen will be the basis of processing minerals and hence down-stream manufacturing. Hydrogen is fundamentally difficult to store and shipping will be extremely expensive.  This is a thermodynamic necessity with geopolitical implications. The world will move towards the production of solar power and green hydrogen near to where minerals are mined. WA has huge potential to generate solar and wind power in regional areas near mineral deposits required for this new zero carbon economy.  Solar and wind are already being procured for local mining and in the production of Green Hydrogen for use locally. This shift in geopolitics needs to be understood.  Professor Newman will show how Western Australia could become a major source of processed minerals (green steel and green aluminium), food products, and even manufacturing of batteries and electric vehicles. The potential to transform our economy from that of a primary commodities exporter to that of a high quality zero carbon producer will need a completely new set of partnerships between governments and industry.

To start our 2022 program, the WA Branch of the Australian Institute of International Affairs hosted a discussion with Ian Kortlang who reflected on his 50 year career in the making of Australian foreign and domestic policy.  From his first deployment to Vietnam in 1970 as an officer in the Australian Army to diplomatic postings in Asia, Africa and Europe, to senior domestic advisory roles in State and Federal politics and a long  - and still ongoing - successful career as a political strategist for domestic and international clients, Kort has had a unique vantage point from which to observe how Australian domestic politics has intersected with its foreign policy evolution.  During the discussion, in the form of Q and A with AIIA WA President, Brendan Augustin, he will share his firsthand political insider insights of this interplay, including letting us have a glimpse into how domestic policy battles can influence Australia’s international relations – and its reputation

At our traditional Christmas event we were pleased to have John R Goodlad as our end-of-year speaker.  In this special lecture, John took his lead from the Ian Drury and the Blockheads song “Reasons to be Cheerful” expanded on what is going right in the world as we enter 2022.  John reflected on noteworthy positive developments to show that it is not all darkness and gloom when it comes to international relations.     John is our Immediate Past President and was a Member of the National Committee of the AIIA for 9 years. He has represented the Institute on various occasions including a lecture at NATO Headquarters,  leading a delegation to the Republic of Korea and participation in at the second track Australia-New Zealand/ASEAN talks in Kuala Lumpur in 2019. He is a former Australian diplomat who served in Thailand and Indonesia and he has a keen interest in the immediate region and Australia’s place in the world. John is the Honorary Consul for Colombia in Western Australia and is on the Committee of the Consular Corps of WA Inc. John is also a Master of International Law from the Australian National University.  He speaks fluent Thai and Indonesian, and some Mandarin, French and Spanish.

At our October event, Dr Jie Chen reviewed the tumultuous political transformation of Hong Kong after the 1997 handover from Britain to China.  While Deng Xiaoping had pledged “one country, two systems” for the governance of the former British colony, the implementation of the principle was always lopsided. For example, the central government failed to honour the promise of universal  suffrage for both Chief Executive and Legislative Council.  Popular dissatisfaction, particularly manifest in the Umbrella Movement of 2014 and anti-extradition protests in 2019, triggered systematic and brutal crackdowns by the Xi Jinping leadership and led to the imposition of the National Security Law in 2020. This presentation explains why Beijing’s approach has shifted from a relatively liberal policy towards a vehement existential assault on democratic institutions, civil society and rule of law – celebrated by mainland patriots as the achievement of the “real return” of Hong Kong. The presentation ended with some comments on Hong Kong’s future including the struggle of what remains of the democracy movement.

On 16 September the leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States announced the creation of an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS”.  Through AUKUS, the three governments reinforced their commitment to support each other’s security and defense interests; and as its first initiative the three leaders committed to support Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. In the minutes, hours and days that followed governments, the press and commentators from around the world have been reacting to this announcement, which some have characterised as the most important defence and security policy decision Australia has made in over 50 years. Rarely – if ever - has an Australian policy decision received such global attention. France, whose contract to supply Australia non-nuclear-powered submarines was cancelled, has reacted strongly and is rallying its European neighbours to its cause. China and other regional countries, such as Malaysia, have warned that the decision could create a new arms race in the Indo-Pacific. Commentators are making assessments of what this means for the United States’ posture in the Indo-Pacific; its relations with China; and its ability devote increasingly scarce diplomatic and military resources to other regions such as the Middle East and Europe. During this Webinar, moderated by the new President of AIIA WA, Brendan Augustin, our distinguished panel share their views on the rationale for this historic announcement and the possible ramifications for Australia, our region and the world.