6 February 2026
In a submission to a Parliamentary Inquiry, the Australian Peace and Security Forum (APSF) has called for the appointment of a Minister for Peace and International Development to send a strong signal to the Indo-Pacific region and to the international community about the priority Australia affords conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
“Such an appointment at this time would give an important signal to the region and the international community that Australia remains committed to peacebuilding and development”, explained Russell Rollason, Secretary of APSF. “Appointment of a minister for peace and international development would also provide a focus for Australia’s participation on the UN Peacebuilding Commission and our campaign for election to the UN Security Council,” he said.
The APSF submission to the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade inquiry into ‘the role of Australia’s international development program in preventing conflict’ advocates for specialist streams within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and for conflict prevention to be one. APSF calls for Australia to urgently increase its international development assistance (aid) budget and for Australia’s priorities in the region to include specific investment in peacebuilding and conflict prevention programmes.
The submission also argues that “Australia’s international development, trade and defence policies must be consistent and coherent.” APSF is concerned that they are currently working against each other. The Australia Government can no longer ignore that a defence and trade strategy aiming to place Australian in the top ten of international arms sales is in conflict with an international development policy that seeks to support conflict prevention. For example, Australia exports weapons to countries that support opposite sides in the war in Sudan.
“This inquiry must address consistency and coherence in Australia’s international policies as a foundation to effective contributions to conflict prevention,” said Mr Rollason.
APSF calls for the Government to develop a comprehensive peace and security strategy that establishes national objectives and policies for the broad range of interlocking issues in defence, climate and environmental security, human and economic security. Such a strategy could help deliver peace and security internationally and for all Australians
The APSF submission is available for download from the Committee’s website:
Contact: Russell Rollason AM Secretary APSF Mobile 0436 378 377