What Have We Become?

John Howard's UN report card is in:

The United Nations Association of Australia has written a report strongly criticising Australia's recent record on international issues.

The report gives Australia a 'C' on human rights, nuclear disarmament and aid, while on climate change and migration Australia gets a 'D'.

A former ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Woolcott, says Australia's reputation within the UN has suffered over the past few decades.

"Of course it's been greatly influenced by Iraq, I mean the Iraq situation has rather frayed existing alliances," he said.

"Then there's the issue of style, there's a tendency of Australia's part now which partly stems from Iraq, to lecture more and listen less. I think that we can do better and we should do more."