The Pax Australiana refers to times when the Empire of Australia steps in to promote the global peace by stopping wars started by others. This has typically occurred when the Empire believes its interests are at stake (as in the war between the Kingdom of Papua and China in the 15th century) or when the Empress of Australia feels a personal connection to the fight (as in the French Empire’s invasion of Switzerland in 1812).

The Pax Australiana is also sometimes derisively referred to as the “big stick peace”, a term coined by Theodore Roosevelt.