The durable pull of globalisation in Australia
As Australia recovers from the shocks of the COVID-19 era, the country’s political culture has shown a surprising resilience in its pro-globalisation stance. The consensus is not a digital fossil of the pre-pandemic era; rather, it reflects a pragmatic recalibration that treats openness to trade, investment, and skilled migration as core drivers of growth, resilience, and stability. From policy design to public perception, globalisation remains embedded in the national project, even as the world’s economy becomes more nuanced and regional power dynamics shift.
Lessons from the pandemic and economic recalibration
The fortress mindset of Fortress Australia was a temporary shield, but it did not erase the deeper economic logic favouring global integration. The pandemic exposed dependencies—supply chains, medical equipment, and critical technologies—that are most efficiently managed through collaboration with international partners. When borders reopened and life resumed, the policy debate moved from blanket restrictions to targeted openness, recognizing that Australia’s prosperity depends on access to global markets and talent.
Trade, services, and investment openness
Australia’s export-led economy and its service sectors—education, tourism, professional services—rely on predictable rules of engagement with global partners. Trade liberalisation, even if selective, continues to be defended as a means to keep prices competitive for consumers and to ensure Australian businesses stay competitive on the world stage. Policy makers argue that diversified markets, robust regulatory standards, and strong enforcement are better foundations for long-term growth than autarkic strategies.
Immigration and skilled mobility
Immigration remains a crucial pillar of Australia’s economic model. While border controls during emergencies were politically salient, the broader policy direction emphasises skilled migration as a source of innovation, flexibility, and demographic balance. The pro-globalisation consensus is reinforced by the understanding that a steady inflow of talent supports industries at the frontier of science, technology, and services—areas where Australia seeks to compete globally.
Political economy and regional strategy
Australia’s stance is also shaped by its regional orientation. The country’s economic integration with Asia-Pacific partners, coupled with a strategic alliance framework with the United States, anchors a broader pro-globalisation project. Rather than choosing between global engagement and domestic protection, Australian policy has tended to blend openness with prudent safeguards, ensuring national interests are protected while capitalising on international opportunities.
Relations with the US, China, and Southeast Asia
The United States remains a key security and economic partner, while Australia’s approach to China has grown more calibrated. Engagement with Southeast Asia, regional institutions, and trade agreements demonstrates a belief that a rules-based order and regional connectivity underpin stability and growth. This multilayered diplomacy supports a globalised economic model that can adapt to shifting geopolitical realities.
Public opinion and policy design
Public attitudes have shown nuance rather than abrupt embrace or rejection of globalisation. Surveys suggest Australians value openness alongside safeguards—economic security, reliable supply chains, and transparent governance. The policy design process, with its emphasis on evidence, accountability, and bipartisan cooperation, helps sustain a pro-globalisation trajectory even as political winds change. In short, the consensus endures because it is built on institutional resilience, not just popular sentiment.
Implications for the future
Australia’s pro-globalisation consensus is not an invitation to laissez-faire economics; it is a careful balancing act. It recognises that openness has costs and risks, but also clear rewards in productivity, innovation, and living standards. As global blocs redraw their trade rules and technology shifts continue to rewire industries, Australia’s strategy appears to favour proactive engagement—strengthening competitive industries, safeguarding critical supply chains, and expanding inclusive pathways for talent. The result is a durable but adaptable model: open enough to prosper, prudent enough to endure.
