"On 27 December [1941], with his government a mere 12 weeks old, [Prime Minister John] Curtin stood Australian foreign policy on its head by declaring that the country now 'looked to America' for protection from the Japanese. Until this ringing pronouncement, Australia, in truth, barely had a foreign policy. . . . Its foreign policy amounted to little more than adding a squeaky 'me too' to whatever Britain decided."
This quote, from Peter Grose's "An Awkward Truth" (Allen & Unwin; 2009) succinctly characterizes the reality of Australia's place in the world, not only in the years leading up to World War II, but also since. In many senses, Australia, following the United States unquestioningly into Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, has simply substituted one "me too-ism" for another.
The overriding belief in Australia is that the U.S. saved Australia from Japanese attack and occupation, and that this symbolizes a special relationship, similar to the one that Washington presumably courts with London. In effect, however, this special Australia-U.S. relationship is one of deference on the part of the distant and ever-obliging little partner.