Policy E6: International Relations

The Australian Greens believe that:

1.      Australia must act diplomatically to promote democracy, peace and security, ecological sustainability and human rights.

2.      Australian foreign policy should benefit both the Australian people and the people of the countries with which we engage.

3.      the principles of the United Nations Charter and Declaration of Human Rights, and adherence to effective global environmental governance, must underpin foreign policy.

4.      all peoples have the right to self-determination.

5.      developing nations have the right to economic independence and to sovereignty.

6.      lasting solutions to conflicts both between and within nations depend on delivering social, environmental and economic justice to the peoples involved, and on ensuring they can exercise their civil and political rights.

7.      lasting resolution of conflicts requires a commitment to non-violent means of political engagement.

8.      use and promotion of violence against civilians, whether perpetrated by a state, an organisation or individuals, should be rejected as a means to achieve political ends.

9.      women should be fully included in all aspects of international relations and peacemaking initiatives.

10. peaceful, cooperative and long lasting relationships between Australia and the governments of other countries, based on mutual respect.

11. an independent foreign and defence policy for Australia.

12. increased accountability and transparency in foreign policy.

13. fair international relations with other peoples and governments in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Charter and international law.

14. all countries to act through the United Nations to prevent acts of genocide and to ensure that people’s human rights are not violated by governments.

15. trading relationships with other nations which benefit both countries, ensure just rewards for local producers and help to alleviate poverty.

16. development models in Pacific countries based on sustainable, environmentally sound local development, with the participants determining the pace of change.

17. closer involvement and cooperation with the countries of South East Asia.

18. the continued strengthening of the process of democratisation of Asia and societies throughout the world.

19. self determination for the people of West Papua.

20. Australia, the international community and the UN to work cooperatively with East Timor to complete the development and nation-building tasks.

21. a peaceful solution to the long running conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and lasting peace and stability to the Middle East as a region.

22. an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq and the expropriation of its resources.

23. the promotion amongst Australians of a broad understanding of the multicultural nature and history of countries in our region and the rights, needs and aspirations of their people.

24. support the growth within our region of localised participatory democracy that can strengthen social cohesion and foster the active participation of disenfranchised communities, particularly women and young people, in decision making.

25. require trade agreements to be multilateral, reviewable by Parliament and to include clauses on the observance of human rights and labour laws, health and safety standards and environmental standards, to ensure that trade is not conducted at the expense of manufacturing and rural workers’ or consumers’ rights or of environmental sustainability.

26. ensure Australia acts decisively within UN supported operations to prevent acts of genocide and crimes against humanity and to bring perpetrators to trial in the International Criminal Court.

27. provide ongoing commitment to the Regional Non-Aggression Pact.

28. in conjunction with regional partners, develop a regional environmental protocol to protect the environment.

29. ensure that Australia applies the principle of equal but differentiated responsibility as enshrined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in negotiating post-Kyoto Protocol commitments.

30. support the inclusion of a category for environmental refugees in the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Refugee Convention.

31. increase the number of places within the Humanitarian Migration Program to include environmental refugees.

32. provide access to Australia’s labour market for Pacific island workers.

33. engage with the ASEAN group and Pacific Forum to work towards economic and health solutions for the region to assist those living in poverty and to improve their health care.

34. provide support for the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the work of regional and national human rights organisations, including Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

35. seek support within the United Nations for a democratic process of self determination under autonomous governance in the West Papua Region.

36. support the rights of the Palestinian peoples to statehood through the creation of a viable state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel, based on the pre 1967 borders and the right of all peoples in the region to peace.

37. immediately withdraw Australian forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.

38. continue to provide aid for the task of reconstructing East Timor.

39. support the right of developing nations to economic independence and their sovereignty over natural resources such as oil, including East Timor’s sovereignty over oil and gas in the Timor Gap.

Associated Resolutions

Australian Greens Resolution on Israel/Palestine