On Monday night the Federal Government killed off the tender process for the Australia Network contract. But debate continues over who should host the service...The Australia Network contract is part of Australia's suite of soft power public diplomacy.

Mr. Marles, who was accompanied by the Australian High Commissioner to Seychelles, Ms. Sandra Vegting, also announced a donation of 20,000 Australian dollars to develop a multi-purpose indoor sports facility as part of the Australian Sports Diplomacy initiative.

The broadcasts are a powerful tool of public diplomacy, furthering and promoting our foreign policy and national interests through the dissemination of ideas, information, values and beliefs and building greater understanding among the billions of people who live to our north, east and west.

The Australian screen industry is extending its reach into the USA, following a new International Engagement Program...with G'Day USA...which seeks to strengthen trade, investment, business, innovation and cultural relations between Australia and the United States.

The Commonwealth, too, has an opportunity by virtue of its strengths to carve out a new role for itself in the world...It is not an alliance or a trading area.... But it is a soft power network that represents the realities of our changing world and is underused. We intend to seize this opportunity in Perth.

Australia should grasp the chance to play a critical role in fostering so-called soft power connections between India and China, thereby boosting its international standing as well as regional harmony. That is the rationale behind the new Soft Power Advocacy and Research Centre at Macquarie University, launched last week.

ASEAN elites speak very highly of New Zealand's soft power, New Zealand's role is bigger and better when it's with Australia.

As Australia changes, perceptions in the region will catch up, particularly if we improve our public and cultural diplomacy and our international broadcasting. We have to show that we believe projecting Australia in Asian countries is not a waste of time and money.