Leilani Tuala-Warren

Aug 3, 2024 | samoaobserver.ws | Leilani Tuala-Warren |Nick Agar |Hilda Heine |Catherine Wilson

In its 2024 National Defence Strategy, the Australian government outlined a requirement to hold adversaries at greater risk at an increased distance from Australian territory – that is, the Australian Defence Force was given the task of developing the capability to hit targets at great distances. In the accompanying Integrated Investment program, “targeting and long-range strike” was allocated 8% of capability investment in the decade to 2034.

Aug 1, 2024 | samoaobserver.ws | Leilani Tuala-Warren |Nick Agar |Leisha Lister |Indira Rosenthal

Australia’s flora and fauna are a unique and treasured part of how we engage with the world, playing a central role in tourism campaigns and diplomatic initiatives, and in generating goodwill at a personal level across the international community. Living in Canberra, I’m lucky enough that the sight of a kangaroo or wallaby has become rather passé, there are wombats and echidnas aplenty, and there’s even a well-known spot where you might lay eyes on a platypus.

Aug 1, 2024 | samoaobserver.ws | Nick Agar |Leisha Lister |Leilani Tuala-Warren |Indira Rosenthal

Holding citizens legally accountable for their actions while overseas has been a source of diplomatic tension since ancient times. This is perhaps no more true than in today's highly connected, globalised world. In 2020, China introduced legislation in Hong Kong, commonly referred to as the “National Security Law”, that establishes a range of criminal offences, including inciting or supporting the “undermining” of the “basic system” of China.