LSE Public Lecture: Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister – “Australia and the UK: Global Partners in Shaping the Future Global Order”

Date: 7 April 2008
Host: LSE Film and Audio Team
Speaker: Rt Hon. Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia
Venue: London School of Economics and Political Science

Episode Overview

This episode features a public lecture by Kevin Rudd, the recently elected Prime Minister of Australia (as of 2008), during his visit to London. Speaking to an enthusiastic audience at LSE, Rudd discusses Australia’s foreign policy, the evolving global order, and avenues for deeper collaboration between Australia and the UK on major global challenges — including security, climate change, economic governance, and international development. The session also includes a lively Q&A, where Rudd fields questions on voting rights for Australians abroad, social security, multiculturalism, China relations, and more.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Australia’s Evolving Global Role

[04:14–08:15]

• Rudd frames Australia as both “strong at home and fully engaged abroad,” noting the country’s economic growth and integration in global markets.
• Priorities at home: macroeconomic management, an “education revolution,” and building 21st-century infrastructure (including broadband).
• Foreign policy “pillars”: alliance with the US, active United Nations membership, and “comprehensive engagement” in Asia-Pacific.
• Rudd positions Australia as a “middle power” practicing “creative diplomacy,” leveraging its strengths regionally and globally.

Quote:

“The new Australian government's mission is to build a modern Australia that is capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century. That means we have to be strong at home and fully, I repeat, fully engaged abroad.” — Kevin Rudd [08:09]

2. UK–Australia Partnership and Shared Interests

[09:00–13:15]

• Acknowledges historic and modern ties (war, migration, education, legal heritage).
• Australia and UK should leverage their positions: UK’s influence in Europe, Australia’s expertise in Asia.
• Calls for proactive global engagement beyond bilateral ties.

Humorous Note:

“...at least outside the legitimate and visceral hostilities of cricket, where very simply we are good and you are not so good.” — Kevin Rudd [09:51]

3. Global Security, Terrorism, and Afghanistan

[13:15–17:05]

• Joint work on counter-terrorism, information-sharing, and intelligence is essential.
• Australia’s significant deployment to Afghanistan’s south; working in tandem with the UK.
• Need for comprehensive strategies blending military and civil reconstruction.

4. Climate Change: “The Great Moral, Economic and Environmental Challenge”

[17:06–23:44]

• Rudd puts climate change at the core: emphasizes it is not only an environmental, but also an economic, security, and moral issue.
• Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol was his new government’s first act (within an hour of being sworn in).
• Describes a strong partnership announced with UK to work towards an “ambitious, equitable and environmentally effective” global climate agreement post-2012 (Copenhagen summit).
• Emphasis on:
  • Clean energy technology
  • Energy efficiency and renewables
  • Carbon capture and storage
  • Joint emissions trading analysis
  • Australia’s own targets: 60% emissions cut by 2050 (on 2000 levels), national emissions trading scheme by 2010, 20% power from renewables by 2020.

Quote:

“Climate change is not just an environmental challenge. It is also an economic challenge and a moral challenge. It is also a security challenge. Australia wants to be part of the global solution on climate change, not just part of the problem.” — Kevin Rudd [16:44]

5. Development and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

[23:45–26:44]

• Announcement: Australia signs on to UK’s Millennium Development Goals Call to Action.
• Focus on urgent issues like maternal mortality — “disturbing, absolutely appalling... every minute a woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth.”
• Climate and development challenges are interlinked; a significant portion of overseas aid is at risk due to global warming.
• Australia to increase official development assistance to 0.5% of GNI by 2015.

6. International Institutions, IMF and UN Reform

[26:45–30:25]

• Australia’s commitment to reform and cooperative action in the UN, Security Council enlargement (supports Japan and India as permanent members), push for a non-permanent seat in 2013-14.
• Advocates for reform in global financial institutions — IMF quotas to reflect modern economic realities, especially increasing the representation of China, India, Brazil, and other emerging economies.

Quote:

“International institutions help to build rules and norms of international behaviour... The Security Council needs to better reflect the world of the 21st century.” — Kevin Rudd [27:39]

7. Financial Crisis and Intelligent Regulation

[30:26–34:30]

• Addresses current global financial turmoil; highlights Australia’s regulatory approach as robust, referencing Financial Times commentary.
• Emphasizes necessity of “intelligent regulation” — effective rules without overreaction, increased transparency and disclosure.
• Calls for coordinated response, particularly via the Financial Stability Forum and IMF.

Quote:

“Modern social Democrats believe in open markets, but they also believe in the effective regulation of those markets. We are very much the party of intelligent regulation.” — Kevin Rudd [33:07]

8. Concluding Vision: Shared Global Responsibility

[34:30–35:50]

• Australia and Britain described as “forces for good” in a world with few countries playing positive global roles.
• 21st-century bilateral partnership built not just on history, but on joint commitment to meet new global challenges.

Q&A Highlights

Social Security, Voting Rights, and Australians Abroad

[32:14–39:08]

• UK-Australia Social Security agreement: Negotiations ongoing.
• Overseas voting: Acknowledges the need for enfranchisement; Senator Faulkner reviewing voting arrangements for the one million+ Australians abroad.
• Indigenous apology: Applause to be directed to Indigenous Australians; the apology is “a bridge towards... bridging the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians on education outcomes, health outcomes and infant mortality.”

Torch Relay, China, and the Olympics

[39:08–41:12]

• On the Beijing Olympic torch relay: Australian security will oversee the event; does not support Olympic boycotts; his own attendance at the opening ceremony is subject to domestic commitments.

China: Trade, Energy, Climate, and Strategic Relations

[39:28–48:18]

• On Australia’s “strategic relationship” with China: Balances free-market engagement in energy/resource trade with long-term partnership, parallels with relations to Japan.
• Stresses that no global solution on climate change is possible without US, China, and India “on the bus.”
• China has accepted climate science — opening scope for engagement and negotiation.
• Australia’s approach: “do whatever I can to get China on the bus... If we all pull together in defence of our common interests as inhabitants of this planet, then we will leave a decent legacy and the reverse is too horrible to contemplate.” [47:48]

Multiculturalism and the Australian Republic

[39:28–48:18]

• Rudd hails “tolerant diversity,” describing Australia as “enormously enriched” by immigration.
• Multiculturalism seen as “a great strength”; suggests vigilance to maintain both tolerance and the rule of law.
• On a republic: Not a government priority at present, but debate will continue, especially at the upcoming 2020 Summit.

Western Engagement with China and Tibet

[49:10–51:45]

• On Western understanding of China: Recognizes both China’s dramatic economic/social progress since 1978, and ongoing human rights issues.
• On Tibet:
  • Calls for renewed direct Chinese dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives.
  • Advocates for honest discussion — acknowledging both China's achievements and its shortcomings.
• Pragmatic approach: “Dealing with China on Tibet and dealing with China on broader human rights questions is a very complex business. It's very difficult. Let's not pretend that it's easy.” — Kevin Rudd [49:47]

Call to Overseas Australians

[53:01–54:34]

• Asserts the importance of engaging Australians overseas in policymaking, especially via the 2020 Summit and other forums.
• Playfully reminds expatriates: “We do need you back home, too... There's a lot of things to do, big challenges... But if you choose to stay here, I'll be speaking to Gordon about making sure some of your visas are revoked and you've got to...” [54:13]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I'm from Australia and I'm here to help.” — Kevin Rudd’s opening line, displaying his characteristic dry humor [04:14]
• On early legislative acts: “We did this [Kyoto Protocol] within one hour of being sworn in.” [17:43]
• “Let’s be very blunt about it... Dealing with China on Tibet and dealing with China on broader human rights questions is a very complex business.” [49:46]
• On cricket: “We are good and you are not so good. Well, I'm an empiricist...” [09:51]
• On multilateralism: “Modern Australia and modern Britain both see ourselves as committed global citizens... both Australia and Britain are forces for good in the world.” [35:26]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 04:14 | Rudd begins address (humor, shared history) | | 08:09 | Australia’s modern policy direction | | 13:15 | Counter-terrorism & Afghanistan | | 16:44 | Framing climate change as a security/moral issue | | 17:43 | Ratification of Kyoto Protocol | | 23:44 | Development goals and aid | | 27:39 | UN and Security Council reforms | | 33:07 | “Intelligent regulation” in finance | | 34:30 | Vision for UK-Australia joint action | | 32:14 | Q&A commences | | 39:28 | Australia and China: trade, strategy, climate | | 49:46 | Approach to Tibet/human rights dialogue | | 54:13 | Call to Australians overseas to come home |

Overall Tone:
Engaging, occasionally humorous, but substantial — Rudd combines policy depth with accessibility, directly addressing both the LSE community and the broader international audience.

For Further Reference:

• LSE: Public lectures and events podcast episode archive
• 2020 Summit (Australian policy consultation)
• UK-Australia bilateral policy statements (April 2008)