Australia faces extraordinary challenges to its security and prosperity, all while the government endures a constrained fiscal environment and global economic uncertainty. At the same time, shifting economic, diplomatic and military weight in the Indo-Pacific means that Australia’s influence will decline in relative terms.

This all demands a more coherent and coordinated statecraft from Australia, one that operates most efficiently and is able to do more with relatively less by realising the multiplying effects of various instruments and actors working together in concert. Such an all tools approach to statecraft will best position Australia to realise its vision for a region characterised by stability, prosperity, resilience and freedom from coercion.

This starts with a sophisticated understanding of the tools of statecraft, including the sheer breadth of such instruments. Indeed, many of Australia’s most effective instruments exist beyond the conventional domains of diplomacy, development and defence. Government can exercise varying degrees of control over different instruments ranging from complete government control to being a catalyst or influential actor. A sophisticated approach also means recognising that Australia will need to evolve its tools of statecraft over time as the demands on its international policy change.

A more coherent statecraft means that Australian must be able to coordinate its tools and, where necessary, develop fully integrated strategies. This will not only help avoid conflicting efforts but also promote an international policy that brings multiple forces to bear on complex problems. Australia has done this well before, often in urgent crisis situations.