Since its birth, Australia as a nation has developed and changed. Its influences, allegiances, leaders and customs are constantly evolving, and its relationship with Britain is no different. Since 1788 when the Australian colony was founded, Australia’s ties with Britain have been both strengthened and weakened. In recent years Britain’s importance to Australia and vice versa is often questioned and debated. It appears, although in previous years the relationship has been at an expiration point, Australia’s ties to Britain are reforming with future prosperities, however this is not to say that the British relationship is still as important. It seems both Britain and Australia are exploiting each other’s advantages – however with Australia’s
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The commonwealth was essentially a “family of old British colonies”, brought together by “National interest and sentiment”. This all changed in the 70s; Britain was no longer the “natural market” for Australian Exports, the source of new immigrants or the primary guarantor of defence. In fact, Britain alienated Australia and New Zealand by applying for membership of the EEC, further imposing restrictions on the free movement of commonwealth citizens into Britain. This was later reciprocated by Australia who joined the ANZUS treaty and also created legislation that meant British citizens needed a passport to access Australia. As a result, Japan and the USA became Australia’s main trading and investment partners and immigration flows from European countries such as Italy and Greece replaced the previous British inflow when the White Australia policy was demolished in 1973. Furthermore Britain’s roll as the “primary guarantor of Australia’s security” was dismissed and other alliances were formed. It was at this point that the once important British relationship, became “like passengers on a London omnibus”, ignored unless a crises emerged. The Australian-British relationship became the Australian-Asian relationship and Australia shifted its energy into creating and reviving its Asian ties. In this sense, it can be argued that the Australian-British …show more content…
Apprehensive fears that Australia will lose it’s roots, history and identity push citizens to fight to keep the British relationship strong. While previously, the decision to abandon Australia was made by the British and the split emerged from there, in light of recent years it appears the future of the relationship will be given to Australian discretion. Current “twin pressures” of the war on terror and globalisation have meant The Australian and Britain relationship has regained its importance and has had a renaissance. Globalisation has brought tens and thousands of young, often well qualified, Britons to Australia and Britain is now Australia’s fourth largest trading partner and second largest investor. This is combined with a recent turn to the British in Australian histiography . Thus, it appears that forthcoming the Australian – British relationship, Australia has a choice.
It appears the British relationship is still currently important, however it doesn’t have to be. Australia has enough allies to live solely without Britian- yet many want to keep it’s ties to the mother
The commonwealth was essentially a “family of old British colonies”, brought together by “National interest and sentiment”. This all changed in the 70s; Britain was no longer the “natural market” for Australian Exports, the source of new immigrants or the primary guarantor of defence. In fact, Britain alienated Australia and New Zealand by applying for membership of the EEC, further imposing restrictions on the free movement of commonwealth citizens into Britain. This was later reciprocated by Australia who joined the ANZUS treaty and also created legislation that meant British citizens needed a passport to access Australia. As a result, Japan and the USA became Australia’s main trading and investment partners and immigration flows from European countries such as Italy and Greece replaced the previous British inflow when the White Australia policy was demolished in 1973. Furthermore Britain’s roll as the “primary guarantor of Australia’s security” was dismissed and other alliances were formed. It was at this point that the once important British relationship, became “like passengers on a London omnibus”, ignored unless a crises emerged. The Australian-British relationship became the Australian-Asian relationship and Australia shifted its energy into creating and reviving its Asian ties. In this sense, it can be argued that the Australian-British …show more content…
Apprehensive fears that Australia will lose it’s roots, history and identity push citizens to fight to keep the British relationship strong. While previously, the decision to abandon Australia was made by the British and the split emerged from there, in light of recent years it appears the future of the relationship will be given to Australian discretion. Current “twin pressures” of the war on terror and globalisation have meant The Australian and Britain relationship has regained its importance and has had a renaissance. Globalisation has brought tens and thousands of young, often well qualified, Britons to Australia and Britain is now Australia’s fourth largest trading partner and second largest investor. This is combined with a recent turn to the British in Australian histiography . Thus, it appears that forthcoming the Australian – British relationship, Australia has a choice.
It appears the British relationship is still currently important, however it doesn’t have to be. Australia has enough allies to live solely without Britian- yet many want to keep it’s ties to the mother