International Affairs and Global Cooperation

Australia must act diplomatically to promote peace, democracy, ecological sustainability, equity and justice, and human rights.

Principles

The Australian Greens believe that:

International Affairs

  1. Australia must act diplomatically to promote peace, democracy, ecological sustainability, equity and justice, and human rights.
  2. With the oldest governance structures in the world, First Nations peoples should drive foreign policy. This should include recognition and active support for the UNDRIP principle of self-determination
  3. Truth, Justice and Healing for First Nations peoples and the acknowledgement of the continuing impact of the frontier wars is crucial to enabling Australia to play a role in creating a peaceful and nonviolent global community.
  4. The climate crisis and nuclear weapons represent two of the greatest threats to meaningful world peace, and therefore human and environmental wellbeing.
  5. Serious effort to overcome inequality based on class, racist and gender structures in Australian society is necessary to change the basis of Australian international and diplomatic relations.
  6. Australia should emphasise preventative diplomacy and security of people in its international relations, recognising that the most pressing global risks must be approached collectively.
  7. Australian international relations should operate on international law and principles of social and ecological justice.
  8. Australian international relations should benefit both the Australian people and the peoples of nations with which we engage..
  9. Australian international relations' and defence personnel should be inclusive and reflect Australia's diversity.
  10. In line with international law, all peoples have the right to self-determination.
  11. Peace can only be achieved with a community-led approach to conflict prevention, peacemaking, and post-conflict resolution that includes civil society organisations such as ethnic or women's groups. The approach must not be undermined by interference from corporate or imperialist powers.
  12. All children must be equally and universally protected under international law in the context of conflict, regardless of ethnic or cultural background. 
  13. The meaningful economic and political independence of all nations must be supported and respected, particularly those of the Global South.
  14. The international financial institutions that govern aid, development, trade and transnational financial movements must contribute to global economic justice. 

Global Cooperation

  1. The principles of the United Nations Charter and Declaration of Human Rights, and adherence to effective global environmental governance, must underpin Australian international relations policy.
  2. The role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security must be recognised and respected by all nations, as must the need for UN reform.
  3. Australia’s engagement and decision-making at the United Nations should always support consistent application of international and humanitarian law in all nations equally.
  4. Australia must act constructively within UN-supported operations and also use humanitarian or non-military measures to prevent and oppose acts of genocide and violations of international human rights law to bring perpetrators before the International Criminal Court or International Court of Justice as appropriate.
  5. The liberation of women is crucial to just and effective projects of global governance.

Aims

The Australian Greens want:

International Affairs

  1. A fully-resourced  anti-colonial, anti-racist, anti-patriarchal and feminist structure to foreign affairs and policy.
  2. Australian governments to take urgent climate action to reduce the destabilising risks of climate-related disasters.
  3. Independent, transparent and accountable foreign and defence policies based on mutual respect.
  4. Peaceful, fair and just international relations with other peoples and governments in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law.
  5. To promote the leadership role of women, LGBTIQA+ people, disabled people, First Nations peoples, and multicultural communities in decision making in all stages of peace processes, agreements and transitional governance structures 
  6. Women to be fully included in all aspects of international relations.
  7. Australia to participate actively in non-military multilateral organisations as the primary way of addressing global challenges.
  8. Mutually beneficial trading relationships with other nations that ensure fair rewards for local producers.
  9. Global regulation of international finance including a global agreement on corporate tax rates and the elimination of tax havens.
  10. To establish closer cooperation with countries in our region, and support localised participatory democracy to strengthen social cohesion and foster the active participation of disenfranchised communities, particularly women, young people and minority groups
  11. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to be fully resourced to engage diplomatically with other nations, including increasing the number of posts and diplomats stationed abroad.
  12. Australian public service agencies that engage internationally continually to assess their representivity and institute affirmative action policies to improve cultural and gender diversity.
  13. An increase in the number of First Nations people in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  14. A reallocation and reduction in Australian military expenditure consistent with the defensive security needs of Australia and the peace-keeping role of Australian forces.

Global Cooperation

  1. Australia and all nations to give effect to their human rights treaty obligations in domestic law and to cooperate in good faith with the United Nations’ human rights machinery.
  2. The Australian Government to campaign for all countries to sign, ratify and implement all other outstanding international human rights and disarmament agreements.
  3. Australia to withdraw from the AUKUS agreement.
  4. Australia to withdraw from the ANZUS treaty.
  5. Early parliamentary engagement in Australia's negotiations of treaties, with agreements being reviewable by parliament.
  6. The development of regional non-aggression and disarmament pacts to replace the ANZUS treaty and the AUKUS agreement to end military escalation in the Indo-Pacific region.
  7. To ensure that regional defence agreements support an independent and peaceful role for Australia in the region and are consistent with our international and human rights obligations
  8. To engage with South East Asian and Pacific countries, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group and Pacific Islands Forum, to work towards improved social, educational, health and environmental outcomes.
  9. Australia to support the United Nations Charter and to commit sustained and adequate financial support for the United Nations.
  10. The democratisation of the UN: to reform the Security Council; to implement greater transparency; and to empower the General Assembly to override the veto powers of the permanent members of the Security Council
  11. Full support for, and adequate resourcing of, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
  12. For all nations to have international law consistently applied to them for referrals and judgments at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice.
  13. Justice and reparations for people whose rights have been violated according to international humanitarian law.

(International Affairs & Global Cooperation Policy as amended by National Conference June 2024.)

Resolutions