"Globalism ", "nationalism ", and " regionalism " were important themes in the rationale of the pre-1996 Labor government in Australia for involvement in peacekeeping, but the latter two have become increasingly important. Since 1996, the conservative Coalition government has focused primarily on "nationalism" and "regionalism"; East Timor was the most significant peacekeeping operation ever undertaken by Australia. In normal circumstances, the major domestic influences on Australian approaches to peacekeeping emanate from the foreign policy and defence bureaucracies and from the foreign minister. At the international level, pressures relating to regional developments and the involvement of the United States and the United Nations are important.

Looking back on 20 years since the Mabo decision, it is clear that we have made significant progress. But the promise of Mabo has not yet been realised.
For more information on native title, see ANTaR’s Factsheet: ’20 years on: The Facts on Native Title’.

UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has asked Canada to assume leadership of United Nations peacekeeping troops when the US completes its withdrawal by the end of Feb 1995. Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy has promised to investigates Canada's chance of success before committing troops.

If the United Nations is to run Somalia, it must be given broad, clear authority to do so

Focuses on international intervention toward the independence of East Timor from Indonesia in 1999. Historical background on the political status of East Timor; May 1999 agreement between Portugal and Indonesia for the future of East Timor; Role of the United Nations in supervising the ballot toward the autonomy of East Timor; Problems with international intervention; Interest of Australia in East Timor.

THE Australian Defence Force has been busy supporting the United Nation’s peacekeeping efforts in South Sudan.

The United Nations moved to double its peacekeeping force in South Sudan to 12,500 troops yesterday in a desperate bid to avert all-out civil war in the world's newest nation.