20 - Australian Diplomacy 1976–1980

Summary

For a time after the Liberal-National Country Party government headed by Mr Malcolm Fraser took office at the end of 1975, it carried on in large degree the foreign policy of the Whitlam Labor governments which had preceded it. The Fraser government did not admit this but it was implicit from its conduct that it was prepared to build upon the foundation which its predecessors had laid when they had brought foreign policy up to date with conditions in the world. Hence, for example, the Fraser government did not attempt to change the new and good relationship which had been established with China, and in fact the first working visit which Prime Minister Fraser made abroad included China.