NOT JUST ANY OLD WIN
Tony Abbott says “a win’s a win” but this wasn’t just any old win.
This was a “big decisive juicy win” as Bob Carr announced, with what can only be described as pure relish.
At the United Nations in New York last night, 140 out of 193 nations voted for Australia to have a seat on the UN Security Council, and Australia’s regard in the international community skyrocketed.
It’s a diplomatic coup, says Carr, which gives Australia the opportunity to shape, influence, nurture and advise in matters of global significance.
“Big deal!” tweeted Rupert Murdoch: “Australia gets temporary non- veto seat on Security Council. Cost big fortune in foreign aid all over the place No Aussies care”
Foreign Minister Bob Carr casts his vote for Australia’s winning bid for a seat at the UN Security Council at UN headquarters in New York. Image via news.com.au.
Carr said the move endorses Australia ”as a good global citizen”. The world is saying we respect Australian values, we respect Australian professionalism. We want Australia to help.”
The Security Council is the world’s most important body governing global peace and security, and the last time Australia sat on it was in 1985-86 when the Cold War was the world’s most serious geo-political issue.
Australia’s stint will begin on January 1 and will last for two years. During that time, we may elect a new Prime Minister in Tony Abbott, who has been critical of the $24 million spent over five years on the campaign to secure a seat on the Council.
Mr Abbott previously said he would dump the bid if he were elected Prime Minister, but he’s backflipped on that now.
Today he said: “I welcome the win. It was an expensive win and I think it probably owes as much to Kevin Rudd as to (Prime Minister) Julia Gillard, but nevertheless a win’s a win. Let’s hope we put the next two years on the security council to good use.”
Quite. Australia has its seat at the big round table on the world stage: what is it going to do with it? What constitutes “good use?”
Carr says Australia’s time in the Council would be a chance to promote issues that affect Australia, such as policies on asylum seekers, and issues around climate change in the Pacific, but also guide and advise the five permanent members of the Council on global matters.
International aid agency OXFAM had this to say before the vote: “Australia has the potential to play this constructive role. To rise to this challenge if elected, Australia needs to have a clear vision for what it wants to achieve.”
“If elected, Australia should focus on ensuring the council effectively and consistently protects people affected by conflict and insecurity no matter who they are or where they live. That does not mean responding in the same way everywhere, but it does mean responding with the same determination.
“To make this kind of contribution, Australia needs to have the courage and integrity to look beyond narrow foreign policy interests, towards solutions that can best maintain international peace and security for all.”
“It would mean taking bold steps to improve the transparency and accountability of the Security Council and the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions to protect people on the ground.
Certainly the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions have been questioned in the past, as the UN has repeatedly come under criticism as being a toothless tiger that acts too slowly.
But there are lofty ideals at stake here. As Carr, at his statesmanlike best, said this morning: “The UN isn’t going to lead humankind to heaven but, in the words of one of its great Secretary-Generals, it might just stop us descending into hell.”
And then there’s Rupert Murdoch’s opinion. He thinks Australians don’t care.
Do you care? Is this one big ego trip for Australia on the international stage, or have we arrived?
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35 Responses to this article
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Caroline B October 19, 2012
Of course it’s a big win! Don’t know what that American at the end is talking about – & actually Rupert, even you should surely understand that foreign aid is an absolutely basic obligation of a rich country like Australia.
It’s also not just about pushing Aust interests but recognising that we’re also part of a global community & need to work together to resolve global issues like the asylum issue, climate change, geo-political conflict etc.
Money well-spent I’d say….
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Wendy Green October 19, 2012
Well said, Caroline … ditto
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Sue October 19, 2012
I say who cares what Rupert Murdoch thinks! Of course we should play a role on the world stage and be an active part of the world community. Of course many Australians care about global issues.
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Sue October 19, 2012
How wrong is Rupert Murdoch. I am am Aussie and iI am relieved and delighted, and very impressed with Bob Carr as our spokesperson.
Rupert should give up tweeting as it shows what a miserable old prick he is. -
cuisle October 19, 2012
why is the opinion of a nasty old U.S. citizen commented on? This is the same old man who cares so much for Australia that he gave up his citizenship in order to make even more money.
Who’s a hypocrite? -
Lindy October 19, 2012
Well Rupert Murdoch, didn’t the Howard Government spent 35 Million on a failed bid. I’m sick and tired of everything being rubished be it good news or bad. I had the misfortune of watching Julie Bishop being interviewed by the ABC’s chief political reporter Lyndal someone on this subject and it was just negative negative negative. This so called chief political reporter has trouble spitting out her words and worse than that she asked a question about boat tow back and asked it by saying that Mr. abbott didn’t raise it but Ms. Bishop and Scott Morrison did blah blah and gave Ms. Bishop a free kick. What happened to the non bias of the ABC? I used to like the Drum because although they had people from different political persuasion they now seem to have a preponderance of male, right wing people. I find this to be the case with most of the ABC news and political programmes and today’s news is getting more and more unbiased. Let’s say well done and stop this continual negativity or at least stop giving it a voice.
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Carole October 19, 2012
Having this seat also provides us with an incredible opportunity to make a difference for women and girls. let’s be strategic and ensure feminist ideals are represented in our policy.
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Brendan October 19, 2012
Can we phone tap now we are on the security council? Maybe Rupe’s a bit jealous.
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Andrew Page-Robertson October 19, 2012
I think its a positive step to get the Seat, even if just to spare us all the inevitable mud-slinging and delight from some quarters that would have ensued if we had lost the bid.
I think the comment from Oxfam is excellent, should be compulsory reading for every Member of Parliament. Perhaps it might prod them a little into considering why it was we elected them in the first place, and if they are doing any good for any of us at all, other than pandering to their own egos.
With regards to silly old Rupert, well long may he reign! I love his Tweets, they get more and more ridiculous by the day, always bring a chuckle. Can’t wait for the Penguin collection of the best of them to be published (it won’t come from Harper-Collins I suspect).-
debbiep October 19, 2012
I agree with you Andrew Re: Positive step and all should read Oxfams review.
As for the rest, I hope this becomes More proof that Both Rupert Murdock and Tony Abbott are not people we should be listening 2.
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Katie October 19, 2012
If Rupetr’s against it, it must be all right
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Jacqueline October 19, 2012
Agree. What an arrogant old American he is.
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LORRAINE COLLOLOY October 19, 2012
You Go Girl to Julia!!what a win for Australia I am pleased.,
Does this count as a Lie or just a contradiction from Tony Abbot, now he is supporting the action and the win..He is visualising himself on an ego trip addressing The U.N
as PM of Australia. must go and Chuck Up!!?/// -
Janet G October 19, 2012
I think it is a good thing and was money well spent. However, I hope it will not be used to sanction any more wars on ‘rogue states’ simply because our American friends want them. Rather than the sleep of reason, I hope Australia brings more reason. In that way, we can prevent tens of thousands of people leaving their homes because of insecurity,
As for Rupert, the faster that his family put on his dressing gown and give him a cuppa and a TV the better.
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Annie Also October 19, 2012
Really pleased with this and I am pleased that if some of the ‘lobbying’ meant money for the poor in Africa then that is fine and good and honourable. I do have to give a nod to Mr Rudd for setting this up but also glad that PM and Carr continued the groundwork.
Hopefully we may be raise our own bar too, in the way we deal with asylum seekers now we are on the world ‘stage’.
Agree totally with Oxfam. -
Tony W October 19, 2012
Bishop complained UN seat is a waste of money and “at no stage has the govt really said what it hopes to achieve.” Pretty rich coming from a party whose only vision for Australia is NO.
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Leesa October 19, 2012
Yes I care and no Rupert has no idea what aussies think. My only concern is given our treatment of people seeking escape from torn countries will we be a voice for human rights or a voice for avoidence? Re tony…what a jerk… first he derides it as a waste of money now changes his tune yet still tries to score political points. As I said…Jerk!
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lynda October 19, 2012
Lets just hope they give the gurnsey to Rudd, then we can get a decent representative in our electorate……Just watch how much money they give to other countries when we have pensioners and returned service people in this country who cannot afford to eat, our schools and hospitals are a mess AFP cutbacks and the crims are out of control!!………..Yes exactly what we needed to spend our money on
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Amandar October 19, 2012
Excellent win.
Pfftt to Rupert. He is grossly out of touch and probably p’d because his printers had to hold the press and run the good news story.
Oohhhh that’s right, the print media, while champing at the bitp to run stories with Abbott and co. bagging the proposal, appear to have forgotten how to write up a labour win. Have you noticed how many papers have the win as a lead item? You have to go digging to find the announcement.
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Toni October 20, 2012
Rupert is a poor sad old rich man who has had too much power for way to long. Lets not give him the publicity that he craves to keep the wheels turning on his media empire – he is ttotall our ot touch with contemprary Australia…and he doesn’t even live here. Well done Julie and Bob Carr. Our acceptance onto the UN shows that Australia, despite is very small population is a country of integrity and compassion who will fairly represent, and lobby for the best for all people from all nations on this planet. We know that we are all part of the global village and have a responsbilty for future peace and environmental sustainability. Julia. I support you and believe that you are doing the right thing.
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ellenni October 20, 2012
melbourne born rupert murdoch left australia ages ago.
little old oz should be proud of all these achievements. its an acknowledgement from the big boys in the playground. whether we make a difference is another issue but at least we are there and everyone will know it.
tony gave it the thumbs up because there is a very good chance his party will be there, but please without him. -
Mike Murray October 20, 2012
Congratulations to the US for getting another vote on the Security Council.
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Carole/m October 20, 2012
Tha arrogance of Murdoch claiming to speak for all Australians while his newspapers ,other media he owns and the right wing politicians who grovel before him , continue to talk our country down.
Australia is a beacon in the world, economically and socially.
We are no longer “little old Oz”, of course this is a Big Plus for Australia.
The treacherous ( disloyal) put down of Australia and the Australian Economy by the right wing needs to be stopped.
The daily negative stance of Abott / Bishop et al, is seeping into the way many Australians are thinking about their country and I am thoroughly sick of it.
We have a Huge future ahead of us, let’s not let the Abbotts and the Murdochs talk us down.
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SarahMac October 20, 2012
Of course it’s a big deal and as if Rupert Murdoch would know what Australians think, the arrogance!
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Saskia October 20, 2012
The role at the UN holds no real power, no power of veto, will cost millions, no one else knows we are on it, we share this ‘prestige’ with Rwanda (who got more votes than us), and will allow no scope to change a thing.
So yeah, this is a classic, rolled gold, bonza ALP achievement!
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Ella October 21, 2012
Sakias -if the seat on the UN council is of so little importance, why did the Howard government spend 35 million trying to attain it? No more negative pontification, just answer the question?
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Ella October 21, 2012
Sorry Saskia, for mangelling your name.
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Mike Murray October 20, 2012
Hey, people! No one has disputed my assertion about the USA in a couple of messages above. Can I assume that you’re all aware that we’re just a lackie to the USA? Or can someone give a valid argument to show that we are not? Please!
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Carole/m October 21, 2012
Gee Mike, maybe there’s a message there for you.
The people on this site are far too smart to be sucked into your boring old anti Australian crap. -
Carole/m October 21, 2012
@Saskia
Maybe, just maybe, the other 192 Members of the United Nations and especially the 150+ who voted for Australia , might just know we are now on the Security Council.I believe this is how it goes:-
There are 193 members of the United Nations.
There are 5 permanent members:-
China / France / Russia / UK / USA
These are the only countries that have a Veto.There are 10 Non Permanent members of the Security Council, Australia is one of them.
To suggest that this is not an important win for our country is at the very least, sour grapes but let’s face it, ” par for course” for the ongoing negativity which is promoted by Abbott and the right wing and there anti Australian stance.
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Carole/m October 21, 2012
Should read ” 5 permanent members of the Security Council”.
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lynda October 21, 2012
Just a travelling cocktail party…..what do they ever achieve???
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louise flentje October 22, 2012
Congratulations to the Labor Team esp Bob Carr for lots of hard work and sensible talk.
We need to stop giving those working against Australia’s legitimacy; Alan Jones, Tony Abbot and his Negative Crew, and the Murdochs NO MORE AIR TIME!!!! They are not Legitimate speakers for Australians. The best thing they can do for us all is to MOVE ON…..GO AWAY!!!!
