The legacy of Marise Payne should give Penny Wong pause

Marise Payne’s tenure as Australia’s foreign affairs minister was rightly marked with criticism. Australia’s international and strategic interests went backwards during her time. But was she really Australia’s worst foreign affairs minister as some commentators assert?

It’s important to consider the root cause of the damage done to Australia’s national interests: the belligerent interference and harm done by former PM Scott Morrison and then-Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton.

Australia’s standing in the international arena and our strategic foreign policy interests clearly degraded while Payne was foreign affairs minister between 2018 and 2022. From deteriorating relations with China to strained ties with key allies and the Pacific, things went backwards. But to label her as Australia’s worst foreign affairs minister based solely on those would be an oversimplification. It would presume she was in control and had agency on foreign policy. This was clearly not the case.

Payne allowed herself to be bullied as a minister into outsourcing foreign policy to Dutton and Morrison. On key national interest issues, Payne was silent and seemed almost embarrassed as decisions were made elsewhere. This damaged Australia’s capacity to project coherent and effective foreign policy. Payne’s subservience to Morrison and Dutton contributed to the overshadowing of her role. It allowed them to run the show.

Good foreign affairs ministers are those who engage in nuanced, diplomatic negotiations, free from the interference of domestic political agendas. Unfortunately, Payne’s tenure was consistently marked by instances where for personal or party political reasons she was overshadowed by the ambitions of others. This weakened Australia’s diplomatic relations and sent troubling messages to the international community about our commitment to principled foreign policy.

A lesson for current foreign affairs minister Penny Wong is to ensure she doesn’t fall victim to the same dynamic.

Foreign policy should be driven by a clear vision that aligns with long-term national interests. It’s essential for foreign affairs ministers to articulate and advocate for this vision, even in the face of personal or internal political pressures. While compromise and collaboration are integral parts of governance, foreign affairs ministers must display the courage to assert their authority when it comes to matters of national significance. Payne didn’t do this. And there are signs that Wong isn’t either — particularly on critical issues such as climate change and AUKUS.

The foreign policy of Australia, as a major fossil-fuel exporter and nation highly vulnerable to climate change, must align with international efforts and the science on combating the climate crisis. Wong must demonstrate stronger leadership on ending fossil-fuel dependency. She must ensure and advocate clearly that Australia’s stance aligns with our national interests in rapid decarbonisation and an end to fossil-fuel exports and subsidies, irrespective of domestic political considerations.

Morrison clearly rushed into the AUKUS alliance but it also appears to have been blindly followed by Labor for domestic political reasons. While promising enhanced security, it actually carries significant risks and costs.

Ensuring that Australia’s foreign policy interests are grounded in a strategic vision that safeguards our long-term security doesn’t mean blindly continuing with AUKUS. Resonating arguments against it are that it not only represents a massive waste of money but also creates a significant security risk to Australia by provoking China and straining relations with our South-East Asian neighbours, with whom we have shared interests concerning China.

But Wong seems to be still toeing the Labor line and allowing the Defence Department and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to run the show. This is a high price to pay — for the budget and for our national interests.

Good foreign affairs ministers have vision, assertiveness and the courage to act in the best interests of the nation, rather than in response to personal and party-political pressures. Payne’s legacy is a reminder of these essential qualities.

Her tenure should not be dismissed as solely the result of her inadequacy. Indeed, it serves as a reminder of the importance of insulating foreign policy from domestic politics. Only when foreign affairs ministers are brave and empowered enough to have the autonomy and authority to lead can Australia truly advance its interests and standing on the global stage. Payne’s experience should be food for thought for Wong.

This piece was republished with permission from Pearls and Irritations.