Australia launches formal bid for UN Security Council seat

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has formally launched a bid for Australia to hold a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council in 2029 and 2030. Although the vote will not take place until mid-2028, lobbying efforts are set to intensify as the prime minister attends the UN General Assembly in New York.

Albanese argued that Australia's international engagement has a direct impact on everyday concerns at home, including the cost of living and inflation, and said a council seat would allow the country to help shape global issues that matter to Australians.

Past record

Australia has previously served on the Security Council five times since the UN's founding after the Second World War, most recently in 2013-2014, when it led the international response to the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 by Russian-backed forces. Albanese pointed to that period as proof of what the country could achieve with another term, citing the Middle East conflict and Australia's involvement in the coalition supporting Ukraine as areas where it could play a role.

Competition and backing

So far, only Australia and Finland have declared bids for the two available seats from the Western Europe and Others bloc, though other countries could still enter the race. Even running unopposed, Australia would need the support of two-thirds of the UN's 193 member states. Albanese said he was hopeful of backing from Pacific and south-east Asian nations, and the campaign will highlight Australia's climate action in the Pacific as well as its world-first ban on social media use for people under 16.

Separately, Albanese announced that Siobhan McKenna, former head of broadcasting at News Corp, will become Australia's next consul general to New York, taking up the post later this year. McKenna currently chairs Australia Post and has previously chaired the NBN broadband network.