Oceania

With a fundamentally different playing field today, the United States and its Western partners should adapt, if not adopt, the strategies of the Cold War. 

The biggest current question facing Australia may not be whether it can trust the U.S., but whether it can have the confidence to trust itself.

The real political shift in Australia is the public’s increasing attraction to independent candidates.

Incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has the weight of history on his side. But modern day politics is volatile, and the voters are cranky.

Australia’s reliance on the U.S. has only grown deeper since 2000. But that may be about to change. 

A so-called Australian immigration crisis is a central election issue, but it's based on misconceptions easily debunked by any examination of the evidence.

Australians facing steep insurance premium hikes in a world of disasters are sharing a global problem. The solutions are out there, but they are complex.

A new report outlines the importance of strengthening civics education in Australia.

Australians are swamped by misinformation every day, but they're smart enough to know they need help to better navigate an untrustworthy online world.

With the U.S. and Europe – both traditional allies of New Zealand – now deeply divided, whatever path Wellington chooses will directly affect present and future security arrangements.

Thus far, Australian leaders seem unable to address the implications of the fact that U.S. values and interests may in fact no longer be congruent with Australia’s own.

Political influencers on platforms like YouTube and TikTok are already a force likely to shape how elections are covered, even if they don’t swing votes.

Labor's messaging on economic management doesn't resonate with voters more concerned about their hip pocket. There are already signs it's trying to change tune.

Political inaction and big tech’s reluctance to protect users leave Australians vulnerable to a murky world of digital misinformation going into the election.

The Pacific Islands are vulnerable to cyberattacks – perhaps none more so than Tuvalu, which aims to become the first digital nation.

The ASIO chief’s Annual Threat Assessment painted a dark picture of the next five years, warning of “more security surprises” in Australia.

Washington should take note.

From spending caps to lower thresholds for donation disclosures, the reforms are the most comprehensive changes to Australia’s electoral system in four decades.

In a world where the great powers are disinterested in trust and responsibility, there’s a lot now on the table for middle powers like Australia to pursue.

Australia, and the rest of the nations in the Indo-Pacific, have major stakes in how this situation unfolds.

We have entered an era where strongmen leaders exercising brute force provides an irresistible emotional thrill. It’s a spectacle that no furry animal or sporting endeavor could match. 

With an eye toward winning Chinese Australian votes, Peter Dutton is simultaneously attempting a softening on some fronts – while retaining the “hard man” image on others.

Canberra may hope that if Trump and his team don’t know Australia exists, then the next four years might go a little smoother. But there's a $230 billion problem.