Military - US/Australia Alliance

1. Stephen Smith is the defence minister of the Australian Government.


2. The Brookings institution  is a non for profit public policy organisation based in Washington DC, America were Mr Smith also gave his speech. The Brookings Institution It works on three key policy's: 

• Strengthen American democracy;
• Foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and
• Secure a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system

3. The Australia/US alliance is very important to Australia's Strategic and Security arrangements. Australia's national interest for the US to be active and engaged in the Asia-Pacific, as the region became the world's centre of gravity and as economic, political, military and strategic influence shifted. - Mr Smith

4. This alliance is important as because Australia is so far away from everything else as it is situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean if was to become in trouble war related they would be in alot of trouble without the help of another big nation such as the US so therefore this alliance is very important to Australia.

5. Australia have made several contributions to this alliance in the last 50 years. They have been to many wars that the US has been involved in such as the war in Iraq, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Pakistan and many other others. Australia have also assisted in systems related to intelligence collection, ballistic-missile early warning, submarine communications, and satellite-based communications.

6. This minister said that '9000 Australian companies did business in the US. They pay an average wage of $US70,000 ($63,490) per employee per annum and include your largest shopping-centre owner and two of your largest 20 banks' 

7. The minister added this to prove the point that Australia do not just use the US for security they do business with them as a nation and to illustrate that Australia adds value to the US in this area.

8. China is the country central to Australia's relationships in the region

9. Australia is trying to create a better relationship with China through dialogue and practical activities.

10. Yes I do think that this relation is important to Australia as that China is quickly becoming a strong nation and if Australia can build a good relationship with China that this will only benefit Australia in the future.