In recent days, Australia’s ‘”deputy Sheriff” role has been on full display again in our foreign policy. The prime minister’s extraordinary gaff at the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum, when caught out joshing along with US Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, would have been noted not just among Pacific Island leaders, who would be entitled to feel belittled by Australia, but also across the region.

It was not just the prime minister’s gushing in the presences of great and powerful friends, but the extraordinary arrogance of Campbell telling Anthony Albanese that he had “cleared the lane” for Australia so we should now “take it”.

The sheriff had spoken, and Australia’s leader was seeking brownie points, and “halvies”, for having delivered. It was interesting that Campbell said he was acting at the request of Australia’s ambassador to Washington, rather than our foreign minister. This was a rare and telling insight into whom Campbell believes makes foreign policy for Australia’s most important relationship.

As if the Tonga Incident were not enough, Foreign Minister Penny Wong felt it necessary to reassure the US in her keynote speech at the AFR’s Asia Summit last week that alliance maintenance was Australia’s highest priority when approaching the Asian region. As if it were ever in any doubt.

It is well known that DFAT doesn’t like to re-type the page of its talking points as, for example, can be seen from the minister still saying the government is “stabilising” the relationship with China, even though we have had reciprocal........

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