Australia, due to its special geographical location, is believed that it is a country in the Asia-Pacific. In 1970, Australia ended the White Australia policy, which plays an important part in the escalation of non European immigrants (Firth, 2005, p. 39-45). This alteration created a closer links with countries in Asia-Pacific region, where Australia has received a large number of immigrants from (Hugo, 2005, p. 4). The question is being raised, how does Australia playing the roles as being part of Asia? This essay will aim to show the strength of Australia, a strong economy and in human rights, in the Asia-Pacific region and if any of its weaknesses. Areas such as the influence of national political, economic relations, the important events that Australia has been involved in such as TAFTA, its support to the influenza and relationship with Indonesia and East Timor, will be discuss within.
IMPORTANCE OF THE REGION
Asia is very important that it not only affects and impacts on Australia but the rest of the world. As Smith (2010) defined in one of his speech in Madrid, Spain, the overall economic development of Asia has grown faster than all other continents for years, however, further changes affect not only related to economic factors and demographics but also owes to the importance of military tactics and political. In providing 'legs to stand' for Asia-Pacific, the United States has provided this 'platform' for stability over the last century. The U.S. will continue to hold this position because it has the most powerful strategic leadership in the region (Frost, 2009, p. 15).
FACTS ON ASIA-PACIFIC AND RELATION WITH AUSTRALIA:
Asia-Pacific includes 48 countries and territories and its approximate population is four billion, about 60 percent of world population (Fast Facts, 2008, p. 2). As being a part in the region, Australia chaired the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting countries as well as it is an important member of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). Around about 70 per cent of Australia's total trade is accounted in the economy of the countries that are part of the APEC forum (Fast Facts, 2008, p. 3). The neighboring countries of Australia, South Korea, China and Japan are three of the largest item in the export market (El-Kahal, 2002, p. 23-25). According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (''About Australia: successful global trader'', 2008, p. 2), Asia-Pacific's largest export is minerals and fuels, following by service, manufacturing as well as agricultural goods.
Australia is engaged to Asia and especially the Asia-Pacific region has been the main foreign policy of the country for many years. With a population of about 21.5 million, Australia is in the top 15 economies in the world. Australia, with no doubt the leader in human rights in the region, for example refugees are easy to get accepted to Australia and there is no death penalty as crime punishment. Australia is committed to Asia-Pacific region is not new to the foreign policy makers (Smith, 2010). For example, China has been recognized in 1873. One might consider this as an important approach to note that China is not as powerful as it is today, especially with its socialist regime. Also in 1989, Prime Minister Keating first proposed an APEC Leaders' Summit (Keating, 2000).
Most recently, in 2008 and 2009, Australia's financial support for East Asia was almost $ 1 billion, and that is a large contribution, thus showing that Australia is one of the important development partners in Asia-Pacific. It also supports the creation of successful foreign policy, which therefore can support the national security, economic growth and social development. The Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement shows that Australia values ASEAN a lot, this is a broadest trade agreement the country has ever deal by the time and is also the most extensive ever negotiated by ASEAN.
RELATIONSHIP WITH THAILAND:
TAFTA (Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement), was signed by January 1, 2005, is one of the key markets for Australia that would lead to lower taxes on all goods and services imports from Australia. Under TAFTA, Thailand has also agreed to eliminate significant strict visa conditions including work permits and non-discriminatory conditions with Australians related business purposes. This application will allow Australian companies to invest more freely and safely in the Thai market. Related to the reduced tax rate of this agreement will give Australian companies a good opportunity to export goods and their services in an amount greater than before, leading the unemployment rate in Australia to fall.
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDONESIA:
Australia has pledged a long-term development plan in partnership with Indonesia. Development plans have been put into action in 2009-2010 when a large number of aid money, about $452 million, has been sent to Indonesia, which also offers a huge range of opportunities for economic and technical development for this country. Indonesia is a middle-income country and is growing at a faster rate with the relationship with Australia. Important dates to mark down in relations between Indonesia and Australia is February 19, 2009, as ministers (both Indonesian and Australian) had a re-affirmed their commitment to face the challenges created by the global economic crisis (''Indonesia country brief'', 2009).
HEALTH SUPPORT TO ASIA-PACIFIC:
Australia has been great with support Asia for influenza disease. According to a report published by Scott (2009, p. 558), Howard government spent a package of $100 million over four years to combat influenza and predictions of other diseases spread across the Asia-Pacific. It is important to note that at the time, Australia is also considered safety on its own people from these diseases, not only those of other countries. However, to aid countries of Asia-Pacific region with the spread, prevention and treatment of this infectious disease, Australia is also help to protect itself. Because Australia is near the Asian region and as mentioned above a large number of immigrants migrate to Australia, there is a high possibility that they can spread to Australia itself.
Regardless of the fact that most investment spending has been on improving health systems, funds and services in Australia, approximately $156 million has been allocated for capacity development particularly in the Asian region Asia-Pacific region. Wilson (2008, p44-48) quoted that ''for developed countries like Australia, it's their interest that countries in high-risked regions comply with the regulations, to provide an early warning so that the developed countries can take appropriate measures to protect their populations.'' Thus, it is fair to say that Australia not only helping Asia-Pacific region against the diseases and to be respected but also ensure the security of its own medical and public protection.
RELATIONSHIP WITH EAST TIMOR:
The Australian Government has been engaged in East Timor since 1985. What happened in East Timor is a sorry history of aggression, it did not start with ''the militia rampage following the 1999 independence ballot and for more than two decades after Indonesia's 1975 invasion, the Timorese suffered.'' (Flitton, 2008) Hundreds of people lost their lives in East Timor; however, Australia was the first to send humanitarian aid in their early days.
It is interesting to note that while Australia has sent troops to the region, it has successfully maintained its peace with Indonesia. It might be due to the fact that Australia did not close the eyes to the country when it was in need of helps, so that it can manage to appear to send and provide humanitarian aid to East Timor, therefore, also achieved the respect from its neighbour's countries.
Australia is one of the most developed countries in the Asia-Pacific, so it should naturally have an impact and act in the region. It received a large number of migrants from Asia and the Pacific; as a result Australia places a high importance on security in terms of health and the stability of other governments, which can lead to a larger number of immigrants by political instability and violence or the diseases in their countries that they seek to avoid. This may be one explanation why Australia is involved in the situation in East Timor and also why it has been very actively involved with treatment and prevention of spread of infectious diseases throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It also concluded that as a result of the importance to maintain a strong economic position for Australia, it is willing to deal with countries in its local to create a solid trade base and steady government agreement. Australia has managed to deal with the two key countries: New Zealand and Thailand, to be granted Free Trade Agreement, which has ensured a long term relationship with these countries. In addition to this agreement, as a the result of good relations with Indonesia, which was created by the large number of aid sent by Australia, there is a huge chance for a Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia.
