Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

are of little importance compared to the so-called ‘liberal multilateralist agenda’. The opposition wants to downgrade the American alliance—apparently these key bilateral relationships are not so important anymore—and instead wants to play some sort of parlour game with a hotchpotch of like-minded international activists.

This kind of hazy lazy commitment to liberal multilateralism is of course very popular with the Labor Party. But on this side of the House we are guided by a different principle; we are guided by the principle of promoting Australia’s national interest. Actually, on this side of the House we are on Australia’s side; and on that side of the House you are liberal multilateralists, apparently. That is yet another reason why staying with the stability and certainty of the coalition government is the wise thing to do.

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