Security In Australia Essay

In this essay I will be talking about the impact of the fall of Singapore on Australia’s immediate security, and also be giving a brief background of important events during that time.

The major event resulting in the USA becoming such a prominent figure relationship-wise to Australia is what is known as the Battle of the Coral Sea. In May 1942 Japan’s naval force tried to take Port Moresby, the last line of defence before Australia itself. However the United States naval force in conjunction with the Australian ships, Australia and Hobart, forced the

The ANZUS treaty provided Australia with a “protector” especially from communism as it states in article 4 of the ANZUS treaty, “Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on any of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes.” This clearly states that if Australia or New Zealand, being in the Pacific were attacked the United States would come to their aid.

The foreign, military and economic policies of states, the intersections of these policies in areas of change or dispute, and the general structure of relations which they create, are all analysed in terms of aspirations to achieve national and/or international security. Security is most commonly associated with the alleviation of threats to cherished values (Williams; 2008). However this is a definition that is undesirably vague and a reflection of the inherent nature of security as an ‘essentially contested concept’ (Gallie; 1962). Security in the modern day context has many key concepts associated with it: uncertainty, war, terrorism, genocide and mass killing, ethnic conflict, coercion,

Australia’s presence in the ANZUS and SEATO alliances has been very important in our past. The ANZUS agreement which involved Australia, New Zealand and The United States said that they would “*come to one another’s aid in the event of an attack*” (Retro Active 2 p166 paragraph 1). This was formed in 1951. The SEATO alliance (South-East Asia Collective Defense Treaty), which was the one our involvement in Vietnam was based around involved Australia, Britain, United States, France and New Zealand. They all agreed that they would help protect Laos, Cambodia,

Another major aspect this limb deals with is that of Australia’s relationship with the United Nations and other major international organisations .

The US-Australian alliance requires some explanation. At its basis, it pertains to the ANZUS treaty signed between Australia, New Zealand, and the

Australia is considered among important allies of United States. In the Vietnam war Australia sent a force of 50 000. Being situated in Southern Hemisphere of Southeast Asia, Australia has to face exceptional defense challenges much more than neighboring partner. Historically Australia seems to be willing to accept the major role in military interventions in the surrounding area as can be seen in East Timor.

The Cold War era (1945-1989) was conflicted with the dominance of, overall, the two superpowers, the U.S.S.R and the U.S, with political and social ideology taking centre stage. Australia's involvement during this time, was paramount and reinstated its long term allegiance with the United States when entering South Vietnam. After WWII had finished, the Soviet Union showed aggression towards the U.S as the competition for world superiority began, and led to the capitalist/democratic nations particularly aligned with the United States fearing the spread of communism. Countries including Australia signed treaties and agreements to stop this regime and the only resolution, in the end, was war.Q

The ANZUS treaty (Australian, New Zealand United States) was an agreement signed by all three treaties in 1951 to protect the pacific if another attacks like the Japanese were to occur. This treaty was very important for Australia's defence, as in WW2 the Japanese almost invaded Australia but the United States saved Australia from being invaded. Australia was willing to send troops to support America because Australian politicians believed if they helped now the US would help if Australia were ever to be attacked as this idea is shown in Allan Renouf’s letter; “To achieve such a habitual closeness of relations with the United states and sense of mutual alliance that in our time and need, after we have shown all reasonable restraint and good sense, the United States would have little option but to respond as we would want.” In 1954 the SEATO treaty was signed to block further communism in SEA. This treaty was used by the United States to keep fighting and to gain further support from other Southeast Asian countries and Australia as SEATO was like a Tiger without teeth this shown in this quote by Diplomat Sir James Cable; "a fig leaf for the nakedness of American

These alliances included Australia’s close relationship with the US and the SEATO treaty in which Australia signed in 1965 with countries in the South East Asian region that haven’t fallen under the influence of communism, which includes; New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan, as well as USA, Britain and France. This treaty was formed so that each member would come to the member’s aid if they were ever attacked by communist troops. Therefore, Menzies sent troops to fight in Vietnam due to our close relationship with the United States and helping them whenever there needed help, as well as, fighting against the communist in countries that were being

However, it did not explicitly state that either nation had a responsibility to supply aid, as a consultation was all that was necessary (Article III ANZUS treaty document 1951). Society in Australia viewed it as an opportunity for the nations to amend the previous military conflict, creating a stronger bond between the two countries, and thus a lower security threat in Australia (May Hill’s diary, 1942). Post-signing of the document, military conflict began to subside, however it still continues on a reduced degree to this day.

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It lies in the Southern Hemisphere between 11° and 44° south latitude and 113° and 154° east longitude. The entire area of land is about the same size as the continental United States, or about one and a half times the size of Europe. The mainland of Australia has an area of 2,967,909 square miles. The country is divided into six states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia.

The United States of America is Australia’s most important ally today. When considering what makes an ally so great, we must take into consideration a number of factors. Defence, trade, diplomatic and relationships with other countries. This essay will look at why The United States of America (U.S.) is Australia’s strongest Ally.

In the 21st century, technology is the key to the future, many problems also come with the benefits of the internet. Terrorism poses a threat to the society and internet is their common place of operation since everything could remain anonymous. This is where government surveillance comes in place though it may sound like a good idea at the start but it actually it may not actually be. The government surveillance we currently have in Australia collect data from every phone call and even every browsing history we have. Our life is currently watched by the so-called ‘intelligence services’ 24 hours every day. So the problem comes in, should the Australian government be surveillance civilians? When most of the civilians have no connection to terrorism