Implementation of Fortress Australia Policy during COVID-19 Pandemic amid the Contestation between Australian Political Parties and Its Socio-Political Impacts

Rayinda Carissa Suryatno, Dr. Dafri Agussalim, M. A.

2023 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

Meningkatnya jumlah kasus infeksi akibat COVID-19 secara tiba-tiba telah mengubah keadaan banyak negara, termasuk Australia. Pemerintah Australia membentuk “Kabinet Nasional” yang terdiri dari Perdana Menteri, perdana menteri, menteri utama, dan otoritas negara lainnya untuk fokus memerangi virus ini. Kabinet Australia menerapkan strategi lockdown yang disebut 'Fortress Australia Policy' yang menuai penilaian dan kritik karena keberhasilan fungsinya dalam meminimalkan angka kematian di Australia, namun dianggap merusak agenda internasionalis Australia, melanggar hak asasi manusia, dan merendahkan kepentingan demokrasi nasional karena lamanya waktu pemberlakuannya. Kebijakan tersebut memicu kontestasi politik antar partai politik besar di Australia yakni partai Buruh dan Koalisi Liberal yang turut memicu banyak komentar dari masing-masing partai yang berdampak pada kampanye pemilu PM 2022. Pada saat yang sama, kebijakan ini memerlukan upaya kolektif dari pemerintah dan para ahli medis serta profesional, untuk menunjukkan mengapa pendapat mereka sangat penting dalam kejadian ini. Tulisan ini menjelaskan bagaimana Fortress Australia Policy telah melemahkan citra Scott Morrison dan memperkuat profil Anthony Albanese sehingga menghasilkan kemenangan bagi partai Buruh dalam pemilu. Dengan menggunakan teori proses pengambilan keputusan dan pendekatan aktor rasional, tulisan ini akan melihat bagaimana skenario terbaik menjadi alasan utama terjadinya konvergensi di dalam pemerintahan sehingga mendukung Fortress Australia Policy. 

The sudden proliferation of infected cases due to COVID-19 has changed the trajectories of many countries, Australia included. Australian government created “The National Cabinet” consisting of the Prime Minister, premiers, chief ministers, and other state authorities to focus on combating the virus. The cabinet implemented a lockdown strategy called the ‘Fortress Australia Policy’ which brought appraisals and critiques due to its successful function in minimizing the mortality rates in Australia, however, was seen to be damaging Australia’s internationalist agenda, breaching human rights, and diminishing the local democracy due to its protracted amount of time during its enactment. The policy sparked political contestations between major political parties in Australia, namely, the Labor and Liberal-Coalition parties, which also instigated many comments from each party that affected the campaigns for the 2022 PM election. At the same time, this policy brought collective effort from the government and medical experts as well as professionals, showing why their opinions were paramount during this occurrence. This paper elucidates how the Fortress Australia Policy had weakened Scott Morrison’s image and bolstered Anthony Albanese's profile resulting in the victory for the Labor party during the election. By using decision-making process theory and rational actor approach, this paper will see how the best-case scenario was the main reason why there was a convergence found within the government, therefore sanctioning the Fortress Australia Policy. 

Kata Kunci : Fortress Australia Policy, National Cabinet, 2022 Prime Minister Election, The Labor Party, The Liberal-Coalition Party, Scott Morrison, Anthony Albanese