Australia and the pacific: A history

Abstract

<p>Near the end of Ian Hoskins excellent history of Australia and the Pacific he notes that Australia can be seen as the 'prodigal son' of the Pacific, having charted a path that has separated itself from the peoples and concerns of its oceanic neighbours. From one perspective, this can be called Australian 'exceptionalism' or 'mateship', and is reflected in the enormous wealth and technological prowess that has paved the way for Australian dominance of southwestern Pacific. From another perspective this aloofness has been exhibited by mistreatment of non-European peoples, visions of an imperial Australia in the Pacific and a collective amnesia that Australia is a Pacific state. This history is exemplified by the mistreatment of Aboriginal Australians, the indentured labour from the Pacific Islands that underpinned the Australian sugar industry in the 19<top>th</top> century (Blackbirds), the White Australia policy, colonial administration in Papua New Guinea, and the present-day lack of concern about Australia's enormous greenhouse gas contributions that pose an existential threat to its Pacific Island neighbours.</p>