Unlike the US or the UK, Australia has historically seriously under-invested in public diplomacy to the detriment of its image, reputation and influence in international affairs . Hence the continuation of an Australian TV Network is a positive development providing that high quality programs from new and emerging voices can be sustained without too much political interference by the Foreign Minister, the PM, other Ministers and their policy advisers.

Mr. Rudd and DFAT should take a closer look at the full range of public diplomacy investments around the world (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and benchmark Australia with the best in the world. Based on this research, Australia should develop a contemporary, cutting edge and and effective portfolio of public diplomacy initiatives involving strategic communication, entertainment, cultural diplomacy and meaningful engagement projects using web 2.0. Australia's public diplomacy should capitalise on the best talent in journalism from ABC and SBS as well as from open sources in the research and community sector who can contribute quality content.

Australia's diaspora and its large multi-ethnic communities like the Macedonians can help in the public diplomacy communication process if they are given a chance.

"His strategy to dramatically upgrade Australia’s standing in middle power diplomacy through a rebirth of the Government owned international television service, Australia Network, puts this beyond doubt."

No it doesn't. With no time to waste, I stopped reading at this point.

The only diplomatic passage Australia has left to do is to sack the who lot of the pathetic morons , and deport them out of the country , Passports stamped ; Never to return;
I mean all of the stupid idiotic parasitic self-serving intellectual frauds and imposters that have the Tánaistí and be called politicians; with a few hundred thousand Servile scribblers and State Minions behind them.

Without pay or Bank books.

They have caused such a massive discourse to Social trends and killed Economic activity, and plundered a Nation to a point where the only word to describe the crime is treason and Horrendous violators of individual human rights.

Then we can start Diplomatic discussion on a serious note. Until then, Australia and the state of Politics , along with everything else is seemingly an International joke in very poor taste at that.

All-;

...Your comment sounds a bit excessive, but could Australia be described as “Democratic”? There are many answer "no" to that question. Straightening out the flaws to Democracy is always in order; but sadly, voting is never effectively one of them All-

I wish I was overstating the facts Diver Dan, but unfortunately the democratic Demagogies and Democracy is as attractive as an Invading Army being the majority , But with all things considered , the Armies would have caused less damage , in fact .
It is Socialism in all its manifestations and intellectual depravity and Ignorance in abundance for the pillage and plundering, But Australian Politics and Democracy has morphed two steps further left of Dumb and Dumber, There is not a word invented yet that would adequately describe it.

Not even the most Ardent Socialists in History had intentionally destroyed society, Not even The Socialist Left of Germany WW1 and Socialist Right WW2;
It was the Ideas that were not compatible based on false doctrines spurious theories that were designed for a specific purpose , But our Democracy had the wealth of Continent No other despot in the History of Mankind could have ever dreamed of , let alone procure Neo Nobel Elites with an I Q of dead ants on a scale as what ours has, and so thoroughly and bleightantly obvious.
And look what they have left for the future. When the truth be known , Not much.