As 2024 begins the world is beset with a series of crises. A refugee crisis continues to engulf advanced nations from Europe to the USA and to Australia as millions risk death and disaster to flee war and poverty. US competition with China edges closer to confrontation and through the AUKUS agreement Australia has been pulled even closer to a USA whose own stability is looking increasingly fragile. Wars in Gaza and Ukraine pose a particular threat to world peace and stability. Climate change continues to loom over the globe with higher temperatures, more unstable weather patterns and catastrophic rain events.