Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s empowerment of his foreign and defence ministers, and the balancing of constructive diplomacy with military deterrence policy, have helped the government deliver a highly effective first year in international security and foreign affairs.

Another critical element in the success has been the effort towards consistency, which is a vital aspect of the way any country projects itself into the world. Consistency means allies and partners can rely on us, while adversaries know they can’t bully us into rolling over.