United States presidential candidate Donald Trump sees the continued dominance of the US dollar in international transactions as a matter of national security. ‘If we lost the dollar as the world currency, I think that …
Articles by: "David Uren"
The people of Papua New Guinea have derived no measurable benefit from the resource boom, unlike the populations of all other resource-rich nations. A World Bank study shows that while the PNG economy achieved rapid, …
Australia’s 20-year-long economic party, funded by China, may be drawing to a close, with consequences for federal and state budgets, superannuation returns and living standards generally. The iron ore price is the most obvious pointer …
Have depressed rare earths prices been engineered by the Chinese state to snuff out non-Chinese rivals before they get going? Or do they simply reflect a weak market, with demand rising more slowly than was …
Treasury has stepped up enforcement of Australia’s foreign investment regime, however it continues to try to balance protecting national interests and encouraging investment inflows. Data suggests some foreign investors, noting national security provisions in the …
Australia’s exports to the nations that supported it during China’s three-year campaign of economic punishment are tumbling, as China reasserts its position as Australia’s dominant export market. Exports to Japan have dropped by a third …
Risks to the future of the Whyalla steel mill should be prompting the federal government to develop contingency plans to ensure Australia’s continued capacity to manufacture basic steel products. The Whyalla mill is Australia’s only …
The Australian federal budget shows defence will receive a significant increase in funding over the next decade under the new National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Plan. The budget papers, issued on 14 May, include …
Australia is losing its ability to manufacture basic materials, with recent plant closures spelling the end to local production of polyethylene and the industrial gas helium, while the future of Australian nickel refining is in …
Defence will continue to operate within a tight financial straightjacket as it executes the massive redirection demanded by last year’s Defence Strategic Review and the AUKUS program, with cuts to existing projects expected to make …
The vulnerability of Australia’s trade routes to military coercion was highlighted by both last year’s Defence Strategic Update and by government commentary on the rationale for AUKUS. In his critique of ASPI’s new report, The …
If push comes to shove between China and the United States, Australia’s international trade with Asia is at risk of becoming collateral damage. The sea routes through Indonesia and to Asia around the east of …