But Australia faces additional regional and global challenges also crucial to our nation's future - climate change, questions of energy and food security, the rise of China and the rise of India. And we need a strong system of global and regional relationships and institutions to underpin stability.

If Australia wants an effective United Nations, we have to be comprehensively, not marginally, engaged.

I do not know whether I will be in this place for a short or a long time. That is for others to decide. But what I do know is that I have no intention of being here for the sake of just being here. Together with my colleagues it is my intention to make a difference .

As nations we should also commit afresh to righting past wrongs. In Australia we began this recently with the first Australians - the oldest continuing culture in human history. On behalf of the Australian Parliament, this year I offered an apology to indigenous Australians for the wrongs they had suffered in the past.

We have seen this complete right wing takeover of modern liberalism, and it is an ugly spectacle to behold.

Having a go at kids with a terminal illness is really beyond the pale, absolutely beyond the pale.

Attaining a PhD is just an excuse that all young women are using nowadays to avoid starting families.