Anthony Albanese kicks off UN Security Council bid in New York

Australia will seek to capitalise on the landmark under-16s social media ban when Anthony Albanese launches his government’s bid for a seat on the UN Security Council.

Mr Albanese will officially launch Australia’s bid while in New York on Sunday following a meeting in Silicon Valley with Apple chairman Tim Cook.

If successful, Australia will serve a two-year term on the Security Council from 2029-30, during which Australia’s UN representative will likely vote on resolutions involving issues of international security, peacekeeping missions, and global sanctions.

Mr Albanese said his government’s vision was simple: “We listen with respect, we partner as equals and we protect what matters most”.

“The hopes of Australians are the hopes of people everywhere – to live in peace and to build a better future. That is the voice that Australia will bring to the Security Council,” Mr Albanese said.

“Australia played a pivotal role in the founding of the United Nations – because we have always understood how important it is for small and mid-sized nations to have their voices heard on the challenges facing our world.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia’s vision was “a world where all countries have freedom to decide their own future”.

“A safer world is one governed by rules, not power and force alone,” she said.

“As an active and ambitious middle power, we have a practical contribution to make to international peace and security.

“Australia’s focus on the UN Security Council will be conflict prevention, the protection of civilians and defending the rules that protect us all.”

The campaign, dubbed “We listen. We partner. We protect.”, will seek to leverage international attention following the launch late-last year of the world-first under-16s social media ban, as well as action on artificial intelligence.

Australia will also seek to highlight its “international climate credentials” to demonstrate its capacity to elevate smaller world voices, namely in the Pacific, and ensure climate security remains on the international agenda – an increasingly tough challenge with the presidency of climate-sceptic Donald Trump in the US.

Further, Australia would seek to uphold maritime issues, such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as work to strengthen peacebuilding and the upholding of international law, including UN Charter.

Australia would seek to support “bold but practical reform” at the UN.