Australia’s security agencies have become increasingly politicised under the Howard Government. Whistleblower and former intelligence official Andrew Wilkie has put forward a four-point plan to ensure the independence of Australian security agencies.

The tsunamis in the Indian Ocean reflect the issues States are going to face as sea levels rise. 80% of the Maldives are less than one meter above sea level, and if the sea rises 1.5 meters in Bangladesh 17 million people will be affected. The tsunamis that hit these places offer an opportunity’ for

Policies towards North Korea under Bush have been shaped by an imperial and cold war framework, compared to the economic relationship sort by South Korea through the Sunshine policy. Great power interests have split Korea in half and this piece recommends that internal Korean relations must be normalized before any international action is taken.

North Korea since there withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has been labelled a ‘rogue State.’ While the US has continued a policy of containment South Korea wants to reopen ties to North Korea through the ‘’Sunshine’’ policy. This piece recommends Australia follows the South Korean example and reengages with, not excludes, North Korea.