Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the integration of political analyses concerning Australia's behavior and actions as an 'international citizen' operating within the framework of 'achieving the common good', as a member of international bodies and organizations spearheaded by developed nations all over the world. The paper draws on analyses made by Peter Mares, Peter Singer and Tom Gregg, Patrick Kilby, and Matt McDonald and posits that Australia, in general, has not been a 'good' international citizen. This assumption is made based on Australia's policies and actions towards important issues, particularly on laws and policies regarding refugee seekers, aid programs on poverty, and global climate change. More specifically, the paper also discusses how Australia has not been a good citizen towards improving policies on refugee seekers and addressing concerns about the climate change and how, it has not been fully responsive to the needs of poor, developing countries through its aid programs.

Outline:
Mares and Singer: Australia 'Working its Way Around' the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees
Kilby on AusAID: Australia's Aid Program not Responsive to Needs of Poor, Developing Countries
McDonald on Australia's Concept of Retributive and Distributive Justice in the Context of Global Climate Change
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"These issues prompted other destination countries in Europe and North America to start rethinking about the way they accept asylum seekers entering their borders. Mares cited an example wherein both Australia and the United States developed a system in dealing with asylum seekers, with the objective of preventing them from "achieving their 'desired migration outcome'" (234). That is, inasmuch as destination countries would like to help asylum seekers, there is also the possibility that asylum seeking has become a "means" through which an individual from a war-stricken (oftentimes also a poor, developing country) would enter a developed nation via this easier route, legal or otherwise. And because the Convention only offers protection to asylum seekers and does not provide much protection or assurance to the destination countries, systems similar to the ones developed by Australia and the US were developed to address the countries' need for migration security and border protection. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kilby, P. (2007). "The Australian aid program: dealing with poverty?" Australian Journal of International Affairs, 114-129.
• Mares, P. (2002). Borderline: Australia's response to refugees and asylum seekers in the wake of the Tampa. Sydney: UNSW Press.
• McDonald, M. (2005). "Fair weather friend? Ethics and Australia's approach to global climate change." Australian Journal of Politics and History, 216-234.
• Singer, P. and T. Gregg. (2004). How ethical is Australia? Melbourne: Griffin Press.

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