Australian policymakers have increasingly spoken of the need to use all the tools of statecraft in international engagement. This includes statements by the prime minister, defence minister, foreign ministers (current, former and shadow), minister for development, chief of the defence force and others. So, what does ‘all …
In 1943, Thomas Watson, the chair of IBM, famously said, ‘I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.’ Senior engineers at the corporation dismissed the future use of microchips. Scepticism of emerging …
With Richard Woolcott, you always had to take the smooth with the smooth. No rough edges for this wattle-proud Australian who was one of our greatest diplomats. His smarts and his steel always presented in …
It’s too soon to declare an end to China’s economic war against Australia, but the signs are all pointing in that direction, with the meeting between trade ministers of the two countries this week coinciding …
In a chapter of a book marking the 75th anniversary of Australian representation in the US, I noted that a key challenge for any ambassador is keeping up with direct communications between ministers and principals. …
