Reimagining Australia's international relations.
A platform for collaboration between the development, diplomacy and defence communities.
USAID Freeze
The decision to freeze almost AUD$100b in United States development assistance is having a devastating impact on the lives of tens of millions of the world's most vulnerable and works against efforts to build peace, safety and economic stability.
AP4D Executive Director Melissa Conley Tyler describes in The Conversation how the decision has global ramifications beyond US politics: "On the most important issue for the majority of the world – development – the US decided to withdraw, destroying in a few days what has taken decades to build".
Speaking with ABC News TV and Radio National, Melissa called it an "astonishingly self-defeating move" that critically undermines US credibility and, as she told The Guardian, cedes ground to China. AP4D commentary has featured in more than a dozen outlets including The Mandarin, The Diplomat, Jakarta Post, The Wire, Apple TV, China Global South Project, Evening Report, El Nacional, ZNews, Báo Mới, Open Forum and The Newstalkers, as well as the Safer World for All campaign.
Our people
The AP4D Advisory Group is co-chaired by Michael Wesley and ACFID Interim CEO Matthew Maury.
Recent commentary by Advisory Group members includes:
Jennifer Parker on Australia's naval capability, AUKUS, the countries that will define 2025, US-Russia relations under Trump, the Panama Canal, the war in Ukraine and Australia's naval strategy and capabilities.
William Stoltz on China's cyber espionage, "secret statecraft" and social cohesion.
Hayley Channer on Trump's inauguration speech, Australia's economic security and 2025 geopolitical trends.
Matthew Maury on the US foreign aid pause, its impact and potential opportunities for Australia.
Fitriani on Indonesia joining BRICS, how to fight deepfakes and Quad disinformation.
Susannah Patton on power in international affairs.
Michael Wesley on Pacific geopolitics.
Bridi Rice on the year ahead.
Huong Le Thu on Vietnam's navigating of the US-China trade war.
Our program
More than 33,000 civilians were killed in armed conflicts during 2023, which was also the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has described this lack of compliance and accountability with international humanitarian law and protection of civilians as an “age of impunity”.
Join us on Friday 28 February, 1:00-2:00pm (Canberra time) for the online launch of a new paper, ‘What does it look like for Australia to promote compliance with international humanitarian law and protection of civilians’, the result of consultations with more than 70 humanitarian experts and practitioners from Australia and the region.
Hear from an expert panel, including:
- Lorraine Finlay, Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner
- David Tuck, Australian Head of Mission, International Committee of the Red Cross
- Dr Sarah McCosker, Founding Partner at Lexbridge Lawyers
- Keya Saha-Chaudhury, Asia-Pacific Regional Representative at the International Council of Voluntary Agencies
- Nicola Rosenblum, Executive Director of the Australian Civil-Military Centre
Earlier this month the government released Australia's International Gender Equality Strategy which commits to "advancing gender equality both at home and internationally" across all tools of statecraft. We are glad to see key themes from AP4D's submission reflected in the strategy, including on the need for coherence and applying a gender lens to climate action.
A stable and peaceful region is at the heart of the security and prosperity of both Australia and its neighbours. Advancing gender equality, fostering women’s leadership and addressing gender-based violence is a vital driver of regional flourishing.
Interested in learning more? AP4D has produced a paper on what it looks like for Australia to be a Strategic Partner on Women, Peace and Security with the Pacific, and last year co-hosted a webinar on Women in Development, Diplomacy and Defence.
In the news
AP4D has been featured in:
- The Interpreter
- Australian Outlook
- Pearls and Irritations
- The Strategist
- Inside Story
- Report of the Statutory Review of the Online Safety Act
AP4D staff have spoken at:
- Parliamentary briefing on the USAID freeze
- The East Asia Institute ROK-Japan-Australia Trilateral Conference
- India-Australia Bilateral Trade and Maritime Security Track 1.5 Dialogue
