Plus \u00e7a change. At the turn of the millennium, Australia was in the throes of \u201cone of its periodic bouts of angst over its place in the Asia-Pacific and the wider world\u201d. It was doubting the reliability of its ally the US, wrestling with the issue of Indigenous reconciliation, and attracting criticism for its under commitment to addressing the climate crisis.<\/p>\n
And it was trying to organise a game of cricket against the English.<\/p>\n
Just released papers from Britain\u2019s National Archives<\/a> shed light on intergovernmental correspondence between the governments of Australia and the UK before a prime ministerial visit to London in 2000 to mark Australia Week, and the centenary of the Australian constitution.<\/p>\n Correspondence between the governments of the conservative prime minister John Howard<\/a> and the UK Labour leader Tony Blair reveal a suite of problems still being grappled with in Australia a quarter of a century later.<\/p>\n \u201cPersonality notes\u201d written for Blair describe Howard as a leader who had \u201cstarted well\u201d as prime minister, particularly on gun control after the Port Arthur massacre, but who \u201cappeared to lose his way\u201d during his first term. <\/p>\n Importantly for the UK, it saw Howard as an \u201cinstinctive monarchist \u2026 well-disposed towards Britain\u201d. The sketch says Howard was a \u201cstrong family man\u201d, significantly influenced by his wife, Janette, that he was a \u201cfanatical follower\u201d of cricket, and a \u201cgreat admirer\u201d of Sir Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi.<\/p>\n In a scene-setting cable dated June 2000 prepared for Blair, the UK high commissioner noted: \u201cAustralia is going through one of its periodic bouts of angst over its place in the Asia-Pacific and the wider world\u201d.<\/p>\n It said Australia took \u201cenormous national pride\u201d in its intervention in Timor-Leste the year before (despite significant damage to its relationship with Indonesia), saying that the Australian-led peacekeeping mission \u201craised Australia\u2019s stock in Asia\u201d.<\/p>\n However, \u201ccritics argue that it simply hardened a view widely held in Asia that Australia is ambivalent, even antagonist, towards Asia\u201d.<\/p>\n Timor-Leste, the cable noted, had also strained Canberra\u2019s relations with Washington DC.<\/p>\n \u201cThe [US\u2019s] perceived reluctance to assist Australia is seen as an indication that the US could not be relied on automatically in circumstances that are of little interest to it.<\/p>\n \u201cMore broadly, some are doubting that the US will retain interest in the alliance unless Australia increases its commitment, in terms of defence spending.<\/p>\n \u201cThe litmus test is Taiwan: having to choose between the US and China is the nightmare scenario on Australia\u2019s strategic and diplomatic horizon. Few doubt Australia would choose the US but the calculations are becoming less clearcut.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2025, the US defense secretary has insisted Australia lift defence spending to 3.5% of its GDP, while Trump administration officials have demanded assurances from Australia it would support the US in any conflict over Taiwan.<\/p>\n On climate, Blair was briefed that although Australia had signed the Kyoto protocol to cut emissions, it had not ratified the treaty.<\/p>\n The British government suspected Howard would not raise the matter during the two leaders\u2019 meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Howard doesn\u2019t mention it, you should raise climate change,\u201d Blair\u2019s brief states. \u201cThe Australians are in the awkward squad on Kyoto (alongside eg the Russians and the US): you should tell Howard how important we think the issues are, and encourage Australia to do more.\u201d<\/p>\n