Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is advocating for Australia to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2029-30 term. In his inaugural address at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Albanese reiterated Australia's ambition to join the council as a non-permanent member, with elections scheduled for June 2028.

"The United Nations is much more than an arena for the great powers to veto each other's ambitions," Albanese stated. He emphasized that the UN serves as a platform for middle powers and smaller nations to express and achieve their goals.

The Security Council consists of five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Additionally, ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. Currently, the non-permanent members include Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.

The council is tasked with maintaining international peace and security, which includes imposing economic sanctions and investigating disputes that could lead to conflict. However, the ability of any of the five permanent members to veto decisions often hampers the council's effectiveness on contentious issues.

Australia last held a seat on the council during the 2013-14 term, where it played a significant role in addressing the aftermath of the MH17 tragedy. Since 1946, Australia has served on the council five times. A successful bid for a seat would enhance Australia's influence on the global stage, but it requires a lengthy diplomatic campaign. This current effort began in 2015 under former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Donald Rothwell, a professor of International Law at the Australian National University, believes Australia has a strong chance of re-election due to its contributions during its last term. "Because Australia was on the council in 2014, following the downing of MH17, Australia was able to directly advance the positions within the Security Council," Rothwell noted. He described the previous term as a significant diplomatic achievement for Australia.

Albanese's address marks the official launch of Australia's campaign at the UN. Rothwell indicated that the campaign will require vigorous diplomatic efforts and a clear articulation of Australia's objectives on the council. "It's effectively an election platform, saying that if they're successful, they would seek to use that mandate to advance certain agendas," he explained.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has stated that its focus will be on continuing its previous legacy. The department highlighted Australia's leadership in managing the security transition in Afghanistan and addressing human rights issues in North Korea. It also noted that Australia led negotiations on a resolution concerning small arms and light weapons, the first of its kind.

In a joint statement, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash expressed support for the bid, calling it a "worthy objective." They stated, "The Coalition will always back Australia's national interest and we stand ready to work with the government in any way we can to help support Australia's bid for a seat at the table."

The previous campaign for a Security Council seat, initiated by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, reportedly cost around $25 million.