Australia will bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council for 2029-2030, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Sept 21, launching Canberra’s campaign for one of two seats allocated to its regional bloc.
Speaking in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Reuters reported that Albanese said Australia could play a meaningful role in shaping international responses to issues affecting Australians if elected.
“Australia punches above our weight…and we can have an impact on the world,” Albanese said.
Albanese revealed that Canberra expected “very strong support” from Pacific island nations and Southeast Asia, while his relationships with other world leaders would also support the campaign.
He said rapid advances in artificial intelligence and the impact of climate change would be among the major global challenges by the end of the decade, making a Security Council role important to Australia’s national interests.
Australia last served on the council from 2013 to 2014. Its latest bid will face Finland, which is also seeking the 2029-2030 seat from the Western European and Others Group.
The Security Council has 10 elected members serving two-year terms, with five seats contested each year. Voting for the 2029-2030 term is expected to take place by secret ballot in 2028.
The council’s five permanent members are the US, China, France, Russia and the UK.
