14 December 2016

News Report: Australia to Publish 1st 'White Paper' in More Than Decade - Foreign Minister

Image: Flickr User - UN Geneva
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that Australia will publish its first white paper in more than 10 years in 2017 to present a new vision of foreign policy.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Australia will publish its first white paper in more than 10 years in 2017 to present a new vision of foreign policy, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Tuesday.

"I am determined to ensure the 2017 white paper has proposals that can be implemented, that has a dynamism about it that can carry forward over about 10 years," Bishop said, as quoted by the ABC broadcaster. 

She added that the move was expected to take place in the second half of 2017 and would not offend other countries, but would put Canberra "in good stead" with its partners. 

According to the minister, the document would not predict "the future or events," such as Brexit. 

The previous Australia's white paper was published on 2003 by the government of then Prime Minister John Howard during the tenure of Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.