Is Australia politically significant?

Question

Does anyone actually care what the Australian government has to say, or are they virtually insignificant?

Answer 1

They are a free soverign nation and an impotant ally to the U.S. economically and militarily. Yes anyone with any common sence cares what the Australians think and do.

Answer 2

It is to Australians.

Answer 3

they recently removed all their troops from iraq, but evidently no one gives a hoot.

Answer 4

They are a significant player in Pacific Rim politics as well as taking an important role in the Commonwealth.

Previously in the US they were cited as a major political power by the current US administration during former PM John Howard's support of the Iraq invasion. Now that new PM, Kevin Rudd, has distanced himself and Australia from this, and is pulling troops out, this same US administration has decided Australia is not as important as originally stated.