As Anthony Albanese is sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister, what will be the course of Australia’s foreign policy? How will it impact the India-Australia relations? The India-Australia relations have grown significantly under the Morrison government, will we see any change in the trajectory of the bilateral ties with the coming of the Labor Party and with the new administration? Immediately after coming to power, Prime Minister Albanese took off for the Quad summit to Tokyo and this has led many to believe that this government too will be taking the Quad very seriously and the Indo-Pacific will be taking a precedence in their foreign policy. The recent visit of the Australian Defence Minister, Richard Marles, to India to further strengthen the India-Australia defence and security ties also gives out a hint that this comprehensive strategic partnership is very important for the Labor government. This Panel discussion will try the answer questions on what are the main objectives and priorities of the new government’s foreign policy? Which region, geography will occupy the utmost focus? How will the Indo-Pacific, the Quad figure in their foreign policy thinking? What will be the future of the India-Australia relations? How will the various aspects besides strategic cooperation of India-Australia relations be impacted and grow like the educational exchanges, people to people links?
