The number of Australians fighting for the ISIL terrorist group in Syria and Iraq doubled in the past year but was not expected to continue to grow so rapidly, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.
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Bishop, on her tour to New York for United Nations meeting this week, said that it is important for Australia to think seriously about worldwide cooperation to handle global security challenges.
The 2029-30 term is the first available opportunity to nominate for a seat that is uncontested, giving Australia the greatest chance of success and minimising the cost, she added.
In 2012 Abbott condemned the then prime minister, Julia Gillard, for “swanning around in New York talking to Africans” about the security council bid rather than going to Jakarta to talk about border protection policies.
Malaysia Airlines MH17 was down by a suspected ground-to-air missile over Ukraine in July past year, killing all 298 on board including 38 Australian citizens and residents.
“Australia served with distinction throughout our last two-year term, which ended in December 2014”, Ms Bishop said in a statement.
The United Nations Security Council includes 10 non-permanent members, with five elected each year.
Franç ois Cré peau, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, last week postponed an official visit to Australia because of what he said was a lack of cooperation from the government and worries the people who spoke to him about conditions faced by asylum seekers could risk imprisonment.
“Australia chaired the al-Qaida, Taliban and Iran sanctions committees and coordinated the council’s work on Afghanistan”.
The new powers will apply to dual citizens who fight with or support groups such as IS, or Daesh, as well as so-called “lone wolves”, whether in Australia or on foreign soil. Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said Australia would have to get moving quickly on the bid.
“If chosen, Australia can use our time period to aid Australia’s primary nationwide peace of mind hobbies, whereas compplimenting our internationaly effect with a simple productive grant in the peace of mind council’s agenda”, she let it be known.
Ms Plibersek told ABC’s Radio National on Wednesday morning that Labor would not “play the game” in response to the bid, which came after strong opposition from the Coalition during Labor’s time in government.
“We are an worldwide leader in advancing the rights of women and girls, strengthening governance and democratic institutions, and promoting freedom of expression”, she said.
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But, Ms Bishop said she had thought Australia should be on the Security Council “from time to time”.
