This week in Australian foreign affairs: additional sanctions on Russia and Labor’s plan for a stronger Pacific family.

On 22 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne announced additional sanctions on Russia. The new sanctions target 147 individuals including Russian senators, and family members of President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov. Payne stated that “we will continue to increase costs on Russia, in coordination with partners, targeting those who bear responsibility for Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression in Ukraine.” She reiterated that the Australian Government strongly supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called on Russia “to withdraw its military forces immediately from Ukraine.”

Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese, alongside other Shadow Cabinet Ministers including Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, issued a media release on “Labor’s plan for a stronger Pacific family” on 26 April. The Ministers stated that “[a]n Albanese Labor Government will restore Australia’s place as the partner of choice for the countries in the Pacific” and that “Scott Morrison has dropped the ball in the Pacific, and as a result Australia is less secure.” Amongst the election promises announced by Labor are a new Australia-Pacific Defence School, doubling funding for the Pacific Maritime Security Program, delivering an Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy, and reinstating regular bipartisan Parliamentary Pacific visits.

Isabella Keith is a weekly columnist for Australian Outlook. She is also an undergraduate student at the Australian National University studying Law and Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Isabella’s research interests include international law and comparative constitutional law.

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