Editing History of Australia (section)

== Australia in a globalised world: 1996–2022 ==
{{Main article|Howard government}}

===Howard government: 1996–2007===
[[File:John Howard May 2006.jpg|thumb|right|[[John Howard]], the 25th [[Prime Minister of Australia]] held office from 1996 to 2007, the second-longest tenure in history]]
[[File:2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony 4.JPEG|thumb|[[2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|Opening ceremony]] of the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney.]]

[[John Howard]] with a Liberal–National Party coalition served as [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] from 1996 until 2007, winning re-election in 1998, 2001 and 2004 to become the second-longest serving prime minister after Menzies. The Howard government introduced a nationwide [[Gun laws in Australia|gun control scheme]] following a [[Port Arthur massacre (Australia)|mass shooting at Port Arthur]]. The coalition introduced [[Workplace Relations Act 1996|industrial relations reforms in 1996]] which promoted individual contracts and enterprise bargaining. In 2006, it introduced the [[WorkChoices]] legislation, which made it easier for small businesses to terminate employment. After the 1996 election, Howard and treasurer [[Peter Costello]] proposed a [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|Goods and Services Tax]] (GST) which they successfully took to the electorate in 1998 and implemented in July 2000.<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web|title=Primeministers.naa.gov.au|url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/howard/in-office.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315150934/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/howard/in-office.aspx|archive-date=15 March 2011|access-date=14 July 2011|publisher=Primeministers.naa.gov.au}}</ref>

The government responded to the populist anti-immigration policies of [[Pauline Hanson]] and her [[One Nation Party|One Nation party]] by publicly criticising elites and political correctness and emphasising Australian values.<ref>Walter (2013). pp. 169, 178</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Grattan|first=Michelle|title=Australian Prime Ministers|year=2016|pages=452–3|chapter=John Winston Howard}}</ref> The coalition initially cut immigration intakes, abolished the [[Office of Multicultural Affairs]] and other multicultural agencies, and introduced citizenship tests for migrants.<ref>Bashford and MacIntyre (eds) (2013). pp 178, 205–7</ref> Following a sharp increase in unauthorised arrivals by boat from 1999, the government opened new mandatory detention centres in remote areas of Australia and issued temporary visas for those found to be refugees. Following the [[Children Overboard affair]] and the [[Tampa Affair]] in 2001, the government introduced the [[Pacific Solution]], which involved moving unauthorised immigrants to detention centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea while their refugee status was determined, as well as a policy of turning back vessels intercepted at sea.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Goot|first=Murray|title=The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume 2, The Commonwealth of Australia|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2013|isbn=9781107011540|editor-last=Bashford|editor-first=Alison|location=Melbourne|pages=203–4|chapter=The new millenium|editor-last2=MacIntyre|editor-first2=Stuart}}</ref>

In Indigenous affairs the Prime Minister rejected calls for a treaty with Indigenous Australians and an apology for past actions which had harmed them. Instead, the government pursued a policy of "practical reconciliation" involving specific measures to improve Indigenous education, health, employment and housing. In response to the High Court's decision in ''[[Wik Peoples v Queensland]]'', in 1996, the government amended native title legislation to limit native title claims. In 2007, following the release of the "[[Little Children are Sacred]]" report detailing widespread abuse in Aboriginal communities, the Howard government launched the [[Northern Territory National Emergency Response|Northern Territory Intervention]] in order to create a safe environment for Indigenous children. The government's response was criticised by the co-chairs of the report, but was supported by the Labor opposition.<ref>Bashford and MacIntyre (eds) The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume 2. (2013). pp. 182, 207–09.</ref>

Honouring an election commitment, the Howard government set up a people's convention on an Australian republic. The resulting 1999 referendum on a republic failed. Howard, a monarchist, became the only Australian Prime Minister to publicly oppose a constitutional amendment he had put to the people.<ref>Walter, James (2013). p 179</ref><ref>Grattan, Michelle (2016). "John Winston Howard". p. 457</ref>

[[File:Australian soldiers Dili 2000.jpg|thumb|left|The [[International Force East Timor#Countries contributing to INTERFET|Australian-led]] coalition [[International Force East Timor|INTERFET]] during the [[1999 East Timorese crisis|East Timor crisis]] from 1999 to 2002]]
[[File:Australian soldiers arrive at Honiara, Solomon Islands in July 2003.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Australian-led multinational force in response to the [[History of Solomon Islands#Ethnic violence (1999–2003)|Solomon Islands conflict]] (1999–2003).<br> [[Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands|Operation RAMSI]] (2003–2017) became Australia's largest effort in [[Politics of Solomon Islands|democracy]] and [[nation-building]]]]

In 1999, Australia led a [[International Force for East Timor|United Nations force into East Timor]] to help establish democracy and independence for that nation, following political violence. Australia also committed to other peacekeeping and stabilisation operations: notably in [[Autonomous Region of Bougainville|Bougainville]], including [[Operation Bel Isi]] (1998–2003); as well as [[Operation Helpem Fren]] and the Australian-led [[Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands]] (RAMSI) in the early 2000s; and the [[2006 East Timorese crisis]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Official History of Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post–Cold War Operations &#124; Australian War Memorial|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/peacekeeping/volumes/four.asp|access-date=14 July 2011|publisher=Awm.gov.au|archive-date=23 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623112657/http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/peacekeeping/volumes/four.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US and the subsequent War on Terror, Australia committed troops to the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan War]] and the [[Iraq War]]. These events, along with the [[2002 Bali bombings|2002 Bali Bombings]] and other terrorist incidents, led to the creation of a National Security Committee and further anti-terrorist legislation.<ref name="autogenerated3" />

In foreign affairs, the government advocated a policy of  "Asia first, but not Asia only", emphasising traditional links to the Commonwealth and the US. Relations with Indonesia became strained over East Timor but generally improved after the Bali bombings. Australia's support of US policy during the War on Terror was followed by an [[Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement|Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement]] in 2004. Trade agreements with Singapore and Thailand were also secured and relations with China improved. Australia joined the US in refusing to ratify the [[Kyoto Protocol]] on greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that it would harm Australia's economy and would be ineffective without the participation of China and India.<ref>Goot, Murray (2013), In Bashford and MacIntye (eds) Cambridge History of Australia, Vol 2. pp. 200–02</ref>

After initial cuts, the immigration intake increased steadily, with a bias towards skilled workers to meet the needs of a rapidly growing economy. Immigration also became more diverse, with the proportion of immigrants from South Asia increasing from 8 per cent in 1996–97 to 20 per cent in 2007–08. Inbound tourism also grew, helped by the Sydney Olympic games in 2000.<ref>Groot, Murray (2013). pp 191, 195, 205</ref>

The economy continued its uninterrupted expansion since the early 1990s recession, with record jobs growth and the lowest unemployment rates since the 1970s. Exports, imports and foreign investment grew, and China became Australia's second largest trading partner after Japan. The coalition delivered budget surpluses in most years which, along with the proceeds of government asset sales, were partly invested in a [[Future Fund]] to reduce the national debt. Income inequality and private debt increased as the economy expanded, with the biggest increase in incomes accruing to the top 10 per cent of income earners.<ref>Goot, Murray (2013), pp 188–94</ref>

By 2007, the Howard government was consistently trailing the Labor opposition in opinion polls, with key issues being rising interest rates, the unpopular Work Choices industrial relations reforms, and climate change policy. There were also leadership tensions between Howard and Costello, and opinion polls indicated a desire for a generational change in leadership. Labor won the [[2007 Australian federal election|November 2007 election]] with a swing of more than 5 per cent and Howard became only the second sitting prime minister to lose his seat in an election.<ref>Grattan, Michelle (2013). "John Winston Howard". pp 462–67</ref>

===Labor governments: 2007–2013===
{{Main articles|Rudd government (2007–2010)|Gillard government|Rudd government (2013)}}
[[File:Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.JPG|thumb|[[Kevin Rudd]] and [[Julia Gillard]] in 2006. Gillard went on to become Australia's first female Prime Minister.]]

The [[Rudd government (2007–2010)|Rudd government]] moved quickly to ratify the Kyoto protocols, dismantle the previous government's Work Choices industrial relations reforms, and issue an apology to Aboriginal Australians for past policies, particularly the [[Stolen Generations|removal of Aboriginal children from their families]].<ref name="NAA-2021b">{{Cite web|title=Australia's Prime Ministers, Kevin Rudd: During Office|url=https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/kevin-rudd/during-office|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414071427/https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/kevin-rudd/during-office|archive-date=14 April 2021|access-date=14 April 2021|website=National Archives of Australia}}</ref> The government was soon confronted by the [[2008 financial crisis]] and the [[Great Recession]], responding with a series of economic stimulus measures worth A$75 billion. Although economic growth slowed in 2008, Australia was one of the few advanced economies in the world to avoid recession.<ref>Goot, Murray (2013). pp 188–89</ref>

The Rudd government proposed an [[Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme|emissions trading scheme]] (ETS) to address climate change, but the legislation was twice rejected in the Senate. After the failed December 2009 [[2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference|UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen]], the government decided to postpone its ETS until 2013, a decision which saw Labor lose some electoral support to the Greens.<ref>Goot, Murray (2003). pp 202–03</ref> The government's proposed a [[Resource Super Profits Tax|Resources Super Profits Tax]] adversely affected Labor's support in the resource-rich states of Queensland and Western Australia.<ref>Grattan, Michelle (2016) "Kevin Michael Rudd." In ''Australian Prime Ministers.'' p 484</ref>

[[File:Australian SOTG wait for extraction 2011.jpg|thumb|left|Australian special forces wait for extraction during the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]]]

The government changed its predecessor's asylum seeker policy by closing the Nauru processing centre, abolished temporary protection visas and improving the legal rights and processing time for applicants for asylum. However, unauthorised arrivals by boat increased sharply from 2009 and the number in mandatory detention stretched capacity. The new leader of the opposition, [[Tony Abbott|Tony Abbot]], promised that a coalition government would "stop the boats."<ref>Goot, Murray (2013). pp 204–5</ref><ref name="Grattan-2016a">Grattan, Michelle (2016). "Kevin Michael Rudd." p 483-8</ref>

In June 2010, with the government behind the opposition in polls and Rudd's popularity falling, the Labor caucus replaced Rudd with [[Julia Gillard]] as leader: Australia's first female prime minister.<ref name="Grattan-2016a" /> The new leader was able to negotiate concessions on a new mining tax with large mining companies but failed to reach agreement with East Timor on a proposed migration processing centre there.<ref>Wallace, Chris (2016)  "Julia Eileen Gillard". In Grattan (ed) Australian Prime Ministers. p 498.</ref>

Following the [[2010 Australian federal election|August 2010 federal election]], Gillard formed a minority Labor government with the support of the [[Australian Greens]] and three independents.<ref name="NAA-2021a">{{Cite web|title=Australia's Prime Ministers, Julia Gillard: During Office|url=https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/julia-gillard/during-office|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414071428/https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/julia-gillard/during-office|archive-date=14 April 2021|access-date=14 April 2021|website=National Archives of Australia}}</ref> The Gillard government passed enabling legislation for a [[National Broadband Network]], a [[Carbon tax in Australia|carbon pricing scheme]], a mining tax, a [[National Disability Insurance Scheme]], and school funding reforms.<ref name="NAA-2021a" /> The government negotiated an agreement with Malaysia to process some asylum seekers there but the plan was struck down by the High Court. In response, the government reopened offshore processing centres on Manus Island and Nauru.<ref>Goot, Murray (2013) pp 204–05</ref>

Following mounting leadership speculation and poor polling for the government, Rudd defeated Gillard in a leadership ballot in June 2013 and returned as prime minister, promising to replace the carbon tax with an emissions trading scheme and to ensure that people arriving without authority by boat would not be settled in Australia.<ref>Grattan, Michelle (2013). "Kevin Michael Rudd". In Australian Prime Ministers. p 488.</ref> The opposition, promising to "stop the boats," abolish the carbon tax and mining tax, and reduce the Budget deficit and government debt, won the [[2013 Australian federal election|September 2013 election]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Grattan|first=Michelle|title=Australian Prime Ministers|year=2016|pages=512–13|chapter=Anthony John Abbott}}</ref>

=== Liberal-National Coalition governments (2013–2022) ===
{{Main articles|Abbott government|Turnbull government|Morrison government}}
The return of the [[Liberal-National Coalition]] to power after six years in opposition initially failed to restore stability to the office of prime minister. Prime Minister [[Tony Abbott]]'s rival [[Malcolm Turnbull]] challenged for and won the leadership of the Liberals within Abbott's first term. After Turnbull narrowly returned the coalition to office in 2016, Party dissatisfaction with his leadership saw him replaced by [[Scott Morrison]] in 2018.

==== Abbott government (2013–2015) ====
[[File:Abbott and Robb signing the Free Trade Agreement with Chinese President Xi and Minister for Commerce Gao Hucheng November 2014.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister [[Tony Abbott]] signing the [[China–Australia Free Trade Agreement]] with President [[Xi Jinping]], November 2014]]

Prime Minister [[Abbott government|Tony Abbott's government]] began implementing its policies on unauthorised maritime arrivals, including [[Operation Sovereign Borders]], boat turnbacks, the reintroduction of temporary protection visas, and the resettlement in third countries of those found to be refugees. The number of people arriving by boat fell from 20,587 in 2013 to none in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Janet|date=17 January 2017|title=Boat arrivals and boat 'turnbacks' in Australia since 1976: a quick guide to the statistics|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/about_parliament/parliamentary_departments/parliamentary_library/pubs/rp/rp1617/quick_guides/boatturnbacks|access-date=17 April 2021|website=Parliament of Australia, Parliamentary Library}}</ref><ref>Grattan, Michelle (2016), "Anthony John Abbott". In ''Australian Prime Ministers''. pp 513–15</ref> The government continued Australia's economic engagement with Asia, signing trade agreements with [[China–Australia Free Trade Agreement|China]], [[Australia Korea Free Trade Agreement|South Korea]] and [[Japan–Australia Economic Partnership Agreement|Japan]]. The government also embraced the [[International military intervention against ISIL|intervention against Islamic State in Iraq]] and Syria, joining the air campaign, sending special forces and providing training for the Iraqi army.<ref name="Grattan-2016b">{{Cite book|last=Grattan|first=Michelle|title=Australian Prime Ministers|year=2016|pages=513–15|chapter=Anthony John Abbott}}</ref>

The government's May 2014 Budget proved unpopular, with the perception that it had involved breaking a number of election promises.<ref>Grattan, Michelle (2016). "Anthony John Abbott". ''Australian Prime Ministers''. pp.&nbsp;514</ref> The government secured the passage of legislation abolishing the carbon tax (July 2014) and the mining tax (September 2014).<ref name="Grattan-2016b" />

The Prime Minister announced a number of decisions – most notably the reintroduction of knighthoods and a knighthood for [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] – which had not been approved by cabinet and which were widely criticised in the media.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Uhlmann|first=Chris|date=27 January 2015|title=ony Abbott under fire from Cabinet colleagues over decision to grant knighthood to Prince Philip|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-26/abbott-defends-knighthood-for-prince-philip/6046380?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment|access-date=12 September 2021|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia}}</ref><ref>Macintyre, Stuart (2020). p. 319</ref> By September 2015 the government had lost 30 [[Newspoll]]s in a row and [[Malcolm Turnbull]] successfully challenged for the leadership.<ref>Grattan, Michelle (2016). "Anthony John Abbott". ''Australian Prime Ministers''. pp.&nbsp;516–20</ref>

==== Turnbull government (2015–2018) ====
[[File:Turnbull selfie with Xi Trump Quang.jpg|thumb|[[Malcolm Turnbull]] takes a selfie with [[Trần Đại Quang]], [[Donald Trump]] and [[Xi Jinping]], November 2017.]]

The new Turnbull government announced a National Innovation and Science Agenda and delivered a Budget featuring cuts to company tax.{{sfnp |Turnbull |2020 |pp=179–181, 321–323 }} However, the [[2016 Australian federal election|elections of July 2016]] saw the government returned with a majority on only one and a minority in the Senate. Following a national postal plebiscite, the government legalised [[Same-sex marriage in Australia|same-sex marriage]] in December 2017.{{sfnp |Turnbull |2020 |pp=516–519 }}

In foreign affairs, Australia signed a refugee exchange deal with the US in September 2016, allowing those in detention on Manus Island and Nauru to be settled in the US.{{sfnp |Turnbull |2020 |p=400 }} There was increased tension with China over its policies in the South China Sea, Australia's new laws targeting foreign influence in domestic politics, and a ban, on national security grounds, on Chinese companies supplying Australia's [[5G]] communications network.{{sfnp |Turnbull |2020 |pp=422–435 }}{{primary source inline |reason=independent source needed for "on national security grounds" bit |date=April 2025}}

In 2017, the United States, Japan, India and Australia agreed to revive the [[Quadrilateral Security Dialogue]] in order to counter Chinese ambitions in the [[South China Sea]].<ref name="power_scmp2">{{cite news|last1=Power|first1=John|date=24 February 2021|title=What is the Quad, and how will it impact US-China relations under the Biden administration?|work=South China Morning Post|url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/explained/article/3122933/what-quad-and-how-will-it-impact-us-china-relations-under-biden|access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref> Australia signed a modified [[Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership|Trans-Pacific Partnership]] trade agreement with 10 other nations in March 2018 after the US withdrew from the original agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)|url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in-force/cptpp/comprehensive-and-progressive-agreement-for-trans-pacific-partnership|access-date=18 April 2021|website=Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430135331/https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in-force/cptpp/comprehensive-and-progressive-agreement-for-trans-pacific-partnership|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The government lost five by-elections in July 2018. When, in August, the government made a commitment to meet Australia's [[emissions target]] under the [[Paris Agreement]], a number of coalition members rebelled. The controversy harmed the government, which had already lost more than 30 consecutive Newspolls. The parliamentary Liberal Party elected Scott Morrison as its new leader and he was sworn in as prime minister.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bongiorno|first=Frank|title=From Turnbull to Morrison: The trust divide|publisher=Melbourne University Press|year=2019|isbn=9780522876130|editor-last=Evans|editor-first=Mark|location=Melbourne|pages=325–26|chapter=A tale of two leaders: Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison in Historical perspective|editor-last2=Grattan|editor-first2=Michelle|editor-last3=McCaffrie|editor-first3=Brendan}}</ref>

==== Morrison government (2018–2022) ====
[[File:Qld Border Closure - Coolangatta Boundary St.jpg|thumb|A barricade in [[Coolangatta]] enforcing the border closure between Queensland and New South Wales in April 2020 that was implemented by the Queensland Government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rendall|first1=Jessica|last2=Cansdale|first2=Dominic|title=Buses checked and motorists denied entry to Queensland amid border crackdown|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-03/coronavirus-border-closures-queensland-nsw-coolangatta/12116226|access-date=23 September 2021|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=2 April 2020|language=en-AU}}</ref>]]

The [[Morrison government]] committed to remaining in the Paris Agreement, but promised a greater focus on reduction of energy prices.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Murphy|first=Katherine|date=3 September 2018|title=Scott Morrison contradicts energy advice, saying Paris targets can be met 'at a canter'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/sep/05/scott-morrison-contradicts-energy-advice-saying-paris-targets-can-be-met-at-a-canter|access-date=19 April 2021|website=The Guardian Australia}}</ref> In foreign affairs the government signed the [[Indonesia–Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement]] (IA-CEPA) in March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Septiari|first=Dian|date=4 March 2019|title=IA-CEPA deal to take IR-Australia ties to new level|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/03/04/ia-cepa-deal-to-take-ri-australia-ties-to-new-level.html|access-date=19 April 2021|website=The Kakarta Post}}</ref> The government was returned at the elections of May 2019 with a three-seat majority.

In 2017, a convention of 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates had issued the [[Uluru Statement from the Heart]], calling for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians and a "voice to parliament". In 2019, the government announced a process to ensure that Indigenous Australians would be heard at all levels of government.<ref>SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision) 2020, Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2020, Productivity Commission, Canberra. Section 1.11</ref>

In 2020, the government was confronted with the world [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]] and the subsequent recession, Australia's first in 29 years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explainers: Recession|url=https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/recession.html|access-date=19 April 2021|website=Reserve Bank of Australia}}</ref> The government banned foreign nationals entering Australia and formed a [[National Cabinet]] to address the crisis.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 March 2020|title=Advice on Coronavirus|url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/advice-coronavirus|url-status=dead|access-date=19 April 2021|website=Prime Minister of Australia|archive-date=8 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408045851/https://www.pm.gov.au/media/advice-coronavirus}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=19 March 2020|title=Australia blocks arrival of all non-citizens, non-residents in expanded coronavirus travel ban|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-19/coronavirus-non-resident-travel-ban-australia/12071640|access-date=19 April 2021|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia}}</ref> The national cabinet announced restrictions on non-essential business, travel and gatherings of people. These restrictions were eased from May, although individual states and territories reimposed restrictions in response to particular outbreaks of COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 May 2020|title=Update on Coronavirus measures|url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-08may20|url-status=dead|access-date=19 April 2021|website=Prime Minister of Australia|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419061216/https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-08may20}}</ref><ref name="ABS-2021">{{Cite web|date=17 March 2021|title=One year of COVID-19: Aussie jobs, business and the economy|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/one-year-covid-19-aussie-jobs-business-and-economy|access-date=19 April 2021|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics}}</ref>

The Australian government made provision for $267 billion in economic stimulus measures, and $16.6 billion in health measures in response to COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 March 2021|title=Policy responses to COVID-19, Australia|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19#A|access-date=19 April 2021|publisher=International Monetary Fund}}</ref> As a result of the COVID-19 recession, the unemployment rate peaked at 7.5 per cent in July 2020 before falling to 5.6 per cent in March 2021.<ref name="ABS-2021" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=15 April 2021|title=Hours worked recover to pre-COVID level|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/hours-worked-recover-pre-covid-level|access-date=19 April 2021|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=17 April 2021|title=Mortality analysis|url=https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality|access-date=19 April 2021|website=Johns Hopkins University, Coronavirus Resource Centre}}</ref>

[[File:Prime Minister Boris Johnson G7 Leaders Summit Day Two (51785562781).jpg|thumb|alt=AUKUS founders|Scott Morrison with fellow [[AUKUS]] founders Prime Minister Boris Johnston of the UK and US President [[Joe Biden]].]]

In June 2021, Australia and the United Kingdom announced that they had struck a preliminary deal on a [[Australia–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement|free-trade agreement]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 June 2021|title=Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement|url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/negotiations/aukfta|access-date=4 September 2021|website=Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|archive-date=3 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903232046/https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/negotiations/aukfta|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 16 September 2021, the government announced that Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States had agreed to the creation of an enhanced trilateral security partnership, dubbed [[AUKUS]]. The first initiative under AUKUS would be for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarine technology. As a result of the agreement, Australia cancelled its 2016 contract for the diesel-electric [[Attack-class submarine|''Attack''-class submarine]] with the French company Naval Group.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Senator the Hon Marise Payne|date=16 September 2021|title=Australia to pursue nuclear-powered submarines through new trilateral enhanced security partnership|url=https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/australia-pursue-nuclear-powered-submarines-through-new-trilateral-enhanced-security-partnership|access-date=24 September 2021|website=Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924023807/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/australia-pursue-nuclear-powered-submarines-through-new-trilateral-enhanced-security-partnership|url-status=dead}}</ref> The decision drew rebukes from China and France.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dalzell|first=Stephanie|date=17 September 2021|title=China condemns AUKUS pact, Tony Abbott flags a 'common danger', Kevin Rudd urges caution|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-16/aukus-china-foreign-ministry-condemns-agreement-abbott-rudd/100468900|access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=18 September 2021|title=France withdraws ambassadors to Australia and US over submarines deal|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-18/france-withdraws-ambassadors-over-submarines-deal/100473106|access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref>