Australia and the Security Council: flying without wings

The Australian delegation from the Department of Foreign Affairs to the UNHCR said in November 2012 that it wanted Sri Lanka "...to reduce and eliminate all cases of abuse, torture or mistreatment by police and security forces...and all cases of abductions and disappearances." Yet when meeting with President Rajapaksa late in December last year Carr said that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka was fine. Clearly that is not what his department believes. Carr is going to have to learn to listen. He is not in state politics now, spin will not suffice for short term gain. He is in the big league with some pretty tough players and he will need to rely on the experience of his professional diplomats.

Julia Gillard does not have much of a feel for international relations, as fickle as he has been, she will need to rely on Carr and the experience of his department, if Australia is not to look and act like an American red neck state wandering on the international stage.

The leader of the opposition, Tony Abbott, and his foreign affairs spokesperson, Julie Bishop, have shown little greater aptitude for international relations than the Prime Minister. The foreign policy expertise of the Liberal Party and indeed on both sides of politics lies with Malcolm Turnbull. With the range and complexities of problems facing the international community in the foreseeable future and with Australia having sought and gained a seat on the Security Council, it cannot afford to approach this significant responsibility with anything other than committed professionalism. Spin and amateurism will cause harm, where otherwise a great deal of good could be achieved.

Bruce Haigh is a political commentator and a former diplomat, who served in Sri Lanka.