The 1980s brought far-reaching and often unsettling changes to Australia. In retrospect, it was a time of transition from the earlier postwar decades when Australia could, with little effort, bank on high international prices for its commodity exports and when its security seemed to be safely locked into the American alliance. It became increasingly evident that the accustomed benefits of isolation from international turbulence, and the comfortable economic and security margin over its Asian neighbours were all drawing to a close.