report Mapping our future in the asian CenturyAsiAlink AsiA society nAtionAl Forum 2010

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ContentsLetter from the Chairmen

Overview from the ConvenorsPlenary session: The Asian Century

The Prime Minister’s AddressThe Opposition Leader’s Address

Dialogue with the Heads of Mission

breakout session seCtor reports

BusinessDiplomacy and Security

EducationHealth and Development

The Arts

SummaryMedia

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TheForumoutcomescapturedthreecommonthemes:

1 ThatadvancingAustralia’sincreasinglycomplexrelationshipsinthecountriesoftheAsianregionrequiresmorequalifiedAustralians–andthatGovernmentsandallsectorsmustinvestlong-terminequippingAustralianswithskillsandunderstandingsfortheAsianCentury.

2 ThatwemustactcollegiallyinourAsiarelationshipsinordertosolvecommonproblemsandtoachievesuccessfuloutcomes.Thisrequiresgreaterresourcinganddevelopmentofpeople-to-peoplelinksandanemphasison“networksofmutuality”.

3 ThatthewiderAustralianpublicstillneedstobebroughtintoanational“conversation”abouttheimperativeofAustralia-Asiaengagement.

report Mapping our future in the asian CenturyAsiAlink AsiA society nAtionAl Forum 2010

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glyn davis sid Myer

the foruM in session

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AnelectionyearisaparticularlyimportanttimeforreflectiononAustralia’sAsiapolicyandourrelationsintheregion.On25May2010,AsialinkandtheAsiaSocietyAustralAsiaCentrehostedtheNationalForumatParliamentHouse,Canberra.ThisfollowedtwosimilarAsialinkeventsoverthepastdecade,alsoheldinelectionyears.

WeweregratefultothenPrimeMinister,theHonKevinRudd,andtheOppositionLeader,theHonTonyAbbott,fordeliveringimportantkeynoteaddresses–bothexpressingstrongsupportforAustralia’sstrengthenedengagementwithAsia.Anenduringbi-partisannationalcommitmenttonurturingourvitalrelationshipsintheAsianregion,andtoensuringAustralianshavetheskillstocommunicateandnegotiatefutureAsianissues,willbeessentialforaprosperousandsecureAustralia.

TheAsialinkAsiaSocietyNationalForumfacilitatesanon-government,informedcontributiontoAustralia’slong-termAsiaplanning.Leadersfromacrosssectorsreviewthiscountry’sprogressandchallengesinAsia,anddeliberateonfuturestrategies;insomecasesnewmechanismsareproposedtoadvanceaneffectiveAustralianengagementwithAsia.

In2010,asthisreportindicates,wehavemadesignificantheadwayinMapping our future in the Asian Century,butthereismoreworktobedone.Wearedelightedtopresenttoyouour2010NationalForumreportwithitsrecommendationsforactioninthekeysectorsofbusiness,diplomacyandsecurity,education,healthanddevelopment,andthearts.

Mr sid Myer professor glyn davis aCChairman,Asialinkand ViceChancellorAsiaSocietyAustralAsiaCentre TheUniversityofMelbourne

letter froM the ChairMen

4

overview froM the Convenors

the 2010 Asialink Asia society national Forum, Mapping our future in the Asian Century, brought together 130 specialists and stakeholders from business, the arts, government, academia and the health and development areas.

Boththeplenaryandbreakoutsessionswerestructuredasconversationsratherthanspeaker-audienceevents.

ApartfrommajorspeechesbythethenPrimeMinister,TheHon.KevinRudd,andOppositionLeader,TheHon.TonyAbbott,theHighCommissionerforIndiaandtheAmbassadorsforChina,Indonesia,JapanandtheRepublicofKoreaparticipatedinapaneldiscussion(facilitatedbyProfessorMilner).

ParticipantsintheForumhadtheopportunityforcross-referencingbetweensectors,andbuildingrelationshipsthatmaybevitalinfurtheringAustralia’seffectiveengagementwiththeAsianregion.

TheForumbeganwithareportontheannualPricewaterhouse-Coopers Melbourne Institute Asialink Index.TheIndexcoversprogressinAustralia’sAsianengagementintheareasoftrade,investment,education,tourism,migration,researchandbusinessdevelopment,andhumanitarianassistance.ItshowsthatengagementwithAsiaisfourandahalftimeswhatitwas20yearsago.ThiscomparestoanincreaseofjustthreetimesinourengagementwiththerestoftheWorld.

TheNationalForum,however,focusedonissuesandchallengesarisinginAustralia’sengagementwiththeregion.Concernsraisedincluded:• byinternationalstandards,Australiaperformspoorlyinthe

wayweprojectourselvesintheregion(softpower)• veryfewAustraliansstudyinAsia• investment,unliketrade,isanunderdevelopedareaof

Australianeconomicengagement• Australia’sinvolvementintheArtsoftheregionis“sporadic

andscattergun”andwearethereforelargelyexcludedfromtheextraordinaryculturaldynamismofcontemporaryAsia

• thestudyofAsianlanguagesandAsiancountriesisfaringverybadlyinAustralia(evencomparedtoagenerationago),despitethegovernment’sstressontheneedfor“Asialiteracy”

• thereisstillalackofbroadAsiaskillsinAustralianbusinessesfromboardroomtostaff.

Asignificantpositivefeatureofthediscussionwasthesuggestionofashiftinperspective,atleastattheleadershiplevelrepresentedattheForum.InthinkingabouthowAustraliamightachieveamoreeffectiveengagement,inreflectingonwhatitreallymeanstobecomeanactivememberoftheregionalcommunity,Forumparticipantsstressedtheneedformuchmorecollaborativework,morepartnerships.

ThisemphasiswaspresentindiscussionabouttheArtsandhealth,aboutregional(includingmiddlepower)cooperationindefence,abouttheneedforadeeperbusinessinvestmentintheAsianregion,andaboutthedevelopmentofpeople-to-peoplelinks.Thestressoncollaborationwasalsothereinaproposaltodeveloparegionalresearchcommunity.

HastherebeenashiftinAustralianthinking?AreweseeingourrelationshipsintheAsianregionlessthroughtheprismoftheUSAlliance,orofanAustraliaactingprimarilyasthecommunicatorofglobal/Westernvalues(andoftenaid)?ThoseattheForumtendedtorefertoamoreindependentAustraliaengagedwiththeAsianregioninreciprocalandcreativecollaborationsinmultiplefields.

ThemostseriousanxietyatthemeetingconcernedthedangeroftheAustraliancommunitynotbeingpreparedforthe“Asiancentury”.Itisaconcernabout“Asialiteracy”,butnotonlywithintheeducationsystem.HowfaristheAustraliancommunitypreparedforlivinginaregionwheretheUnitedStatesinfluencemightbesubstantiallyreduced,wherenewdemandsmaybeplacedonourdefencecapacities,wheretheEnglishlanguagemightceasetobethemainlanguageofdiplomacyandbusiness?

TherewasaconcerntomakesurethattheAustralianleadershipdoesnotmovetoofaroutinfrontoftheAustraliancommunityinthinkingaboutwhatfutureAsianengagementmayentail.Thisledtoacallfora“nationalconversation”toaddressthisissue,aconversationthatwouldneedtoconsidernotjustthebroaddimensionsofwhatthe“Asiancentury”mightbring,butalsohelpthecommunitytothinkaboutsuchconcreteissueslikeouroftenxenophobicresponsestointernationalinvestment.

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Jenny MCgregor

Ms Jenny McgregorCEOAsialinkandAsiaSocietyAustralAsiaCentre

professor anthony Milner

BashamProfessorofAsianHistoryattheAustraliaNationalUniversityProfessorialFellow,theUniversityofMelbourneInternationalDirectorandBoardMember,Asialink

AnadvantageofanationalconversationwouldbetomakesurethatthedifferentsectorsinAustralia-Asiaengagementkeepintouchwithoneanother,andseepossibleconnectionsintheproblemsweencounter.

TheForumalsoidentifiedtheneedforasecondtypeofnationalconversation:onebasedonthestrongneedtobuildourpublicdiplomacyeffortsintheAsianregion.OpinionsurveysinAsiancountriesandAustraliaunderlinetheproblemsexistingatthelevelofpeople-to-peoplelinks,andconfirmtheurgencyofthisproposal.

Itwasstressedthatourrelationsintheregionarebecomingincreasinglycomplex,andthatthisrequiresgreaterresourcestoadvanceAustralianinterestsinthesoftpowerandmanyotherareas.Thisisnotmerelyamatteroffunding:atpresentwelackthenecessaryskillsbase.

Here,asinsomanyaspectsofourconversation,manyattheForumspokeofthecrisisof“Asialiteracy”.Thefear,expressedrepeatedly,isthatwearereallyslippingbackwardandatatimewhenthetaskofpreparingforAustralia’sAsianfutureisdramaticallymoreurgentthaneverbefore.

tony Milner

how far is the australian community prepared for living in a region where the united states influence might be substantially reduced... where the english language might cease to be the main language of diplomacy and business?

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plenary session

the asian Century

Chairs sid Myer and glyn davis

Manyweretakingastepoutoftheirusualsectorstolistentonewperspectives.Participantsconsideredtheimplicationsofageo-politicalshiftfromWesttoEast.WhatdoesAsia’sgrowingeconomicandstrategicimportancemeanforAustralia?AndwhatmightsuccessfulAustralia-Asiarelationslooklike?

Thereweremanyandvariedvoices,andakaleidoscopeofexamplesofAustralia-Asiainteraction–fromtheoptimisticandcreativeexchangesoftheartsanddevelopmentcommunities,tocautioninhealthandsecurity,andacallforgreatercommunityunderstandingfrombusinessandeducation.

AsiA or AsiA-pAciFic?Useofthephrase,“theAsianCentury”,wasemphasisedthroughoutthemorning.ProfessorHughWhitetoldtheForum:“It’saterriblysignificantfeatureofAustralia’snationallifethatwe’vemanaged,throughoutthetwoandahalfcenturiesofoccupationofthiscontinent,tohaveasourclosestfriendsstateswhichhavebeen,bothsuccessively,therichestandstrongestcountriesintheworld,andalsothedominantmaritimepowersinAsia.”

“Andwhat’ssignificantaboutthatphrase–‘theAsianCentury’–isthatitcarriesanimplicitrecognitionthatwemightnolongerliveinanAsiathatremainsdominatedbyourveryclosefriends.Thealternativephrasewesometimeshear,‘theAsia-PacificCentury’,ontheotherhand,doesnotcarrythatrecognition–itimpliesahopeorexpectationthatdespitetheimmensepowershiftinAsia,Americawillstillsomehowremaindominant.Idon’tthinkthat’sarealistichope.”

the plenary session’s diversity of people and views underlined the extraordinary breadth of Australia’s engagement with Asia. experts from across sectors – representatives of large corporations and industry groups, specialists from academia and government, members of the arts community, the education sector, and the health and development fields – addressed the crucial question of Australia’s readiness for the “Asian century”.

tony MaCkay paul dibb robyn arCher

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Theacknowledgedneedtodevelopstrategiesandmechanismsfordealingwithemergingregionalchallengesbroughtparticipantstotheideaof“community”anditscentrality.Speakerscontinuallyreferredtopeople-to-peoplelinksandthevalueofnetworks,alreadyestablished.

“It’stoolatewhentheproblemhasarisentostartdevelopingyournetworks,”saidRobMoodie,ChairofGlobalHealth,theNossalInstitute.

Therewasdramaticpotentialforpandemics“tocauseenormoussufferinganddeath,toreallydisruptsystems,”hesaid.“Whetherthat’stravelortourismoreconomicsystemscompletely.

“Weneedverystrongtiesacrosstheregiontobeabletodealwiththeseissues.Theseworkwhenpeoplealreadyknoweachother.”

TwoofAustralia’smostnotedstrategicanalystsexpressedconcernsaboutmilitarypressuresinAsiaandthelackofsimilarmechanismstomediatepotentialflash-points,whileheadoftheUSstudiescentre,ProfessorGeoffGarrett,saidAsiawasstillabackburnerissuefortheUS,althoughthiswaschanging.

“Strategically,forAustralia,thesearecentralissues,”ProfessorPaulDibbtoldthegroup.“We’reamaritimenation,theregionwe’reinwillbeincreasinglydependentuponsealinesofcommunication,importsofironore,coal,energyandsoon,andyetwehavelittleinthewayoftransparency,nothingmuchinthewayofpreventivediplomacyandnothinginthewayofconflictresolution.

“UnlikeinEuropeintheColdWar,unlikethesituationbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnion–inourpartoftheworldthereislittle,ifanything,inthewayofarmscontrolanddisarmamentagreements.Therearefewhotlines–certainlyfewthatareusedorwork.Thereisnoopenskiesagreement,”hesaid.“Andthereisnomultilateralavoidanceofnavalincidentsatseaagreement.”

ProfessorDesBallprovidedsomesoberingstatistics:“SincetheendoftheColdWar,20yearsnow,Asia’sproportionofworlddefenceexpenditurehasbasicallydoubled.Moredisturbingly,Asia’sproportionofarmstransfers–inotherwords,actualacquisitionofweaponssystems–guns,bullets,ships,etcetera–hastripledfromabout15percent,aroundthelate‘80s,1990,toover40percenttoday.

“MostofthatactivityisinNortheastAsia.China,Japan,SouthKorea,NorthKoreaandTaiwan–justthosefivecountriesaccountforabout85percentofthattotalexpenditure.”

chinA And the united stAtesRichardRibgy,ExecutiveDirectoroftheChinaInstituteatANU,saidthatforChinaanditsleadership,therewasatimewhenwealthandpowerweremosttypicallyrepresentedbytheUnitedStates.

However,“IraqunderminedtheimpressionoftheUSasanindisputablemilitarysuperpower…Iraqhasshownthedegreetowhichmilitaryforcealonedoesnotsufficetoachievepoliticalgoals.Andthenontopofthatalongcomestheglobalfinancialcrisis,andbanggoestheimageoftheUnitedStatesastheexemplar,par excellence,ofallthatoneneedstodo,admire,respect,copyandsoon.”

RigbyreferredtoarecentstatementbyaChineseadmiralwhichindicatedachangingattitude.Chinaisnoweffectively“saying‘okay,theJapaneseareabitupset,andperhapsothersaswell,aboutthefactthatwe’renowsailingaroundintheEastChinaSeaandelsewhere,inwaysthatwehaven’tdoneforalongtime.Well,theybettergetusedtoit.’It’snotsoeasyforotherpeopletogetusedtoit.”

participants considered the implications of a geo-political shift from west to east. what does asia’s growing economic and strategic importance mean for australia? and what might successful australia-asia relations look like?

geoff garrett hugh white

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ProfessorGarrettsaidtherehadbeenremarkablecontinuityinUSstrategytowardChinaover20years.Theviewisthat:“economicengagementwithChinaisthebestpolicy.It’snotonlythebestpolicyforbotheconomies,it’sthebestwaytopromotestabilityandpeaceintheregion.”

TheriseofAsianregionalismandregionalinstitutionsinthewakeoftheAsianfinancialcrisis10yearsagohadbeenaveryimportantphenomenon,hesaid.“FromanAmericanstandpointIthinkit’sfairtosaythattheUSdoesn’twanttobethelastcountrytojoinAsianregionalism.Itwouldratherhaveitsownversionofregionalism.”

regionAl cooperAtion: “convers-asiAns”Softdiplomacy,alsoknownaspublicdiplomacy,wasarecurringthemethroughoutthemorning,aswastheneedtofindgreateropportunitiesforregionalcooperation.AndtheseweresometimesareasinwhichAustraliahadfallenbackwards.

ChairoftheAustraliaIndiaCouncil,JohnMcCarthy,describedcurrentexpenditureonpublicdiplomacyas“derisory”,particularlyincomparisontotheresourcesdedicatedtosuchprogramsbyEuropeannations.

“It’salsoderisorywhenyoutakeintoaccountthatourareaofprimaryengagementiswithcountrieswithdifferenthistoriesandculturalandpoliticaltraditionsfromourown,”hesaid.“TheEuropean’sareaofprimaryengagementiswithsocieties,cultures,whichare,broadly,similartotheirown.WhatthismeansisthatwereallyhavetodoagreatdealmoreintermsofacquaintingAsiawithhowweworkandacquaintingourownsocietywithhowAsiaworks.”

DimityFifer,CEO,AustralianVolunteersInternational,alsourgedagreaterfocusonsoftdiplomacy.“We’reveryaffirmingofthebenefitsoftheColomboPlan,[but]Ithinkweneedtostarttalkingaboutapost-ColomboPlan,”shesaid.“We’renotactuallyencouragingmoreAustralianstolinkwiththestudentswhocomefromoverseasondevelopmentscholarships.”

“We’renotencouragingdeep,meaningfulexchanges.We’rebringingpeopleover,disconnectingthemfromthosewhoarestudyingAsia.Weneedtobealotmorethoughtfulabouttheselong-termpeopleengagements.Thatwillbethebasisofthefuture.”

ProfessorAndrewMcIntyre,Dean,CollegeofAsiaandthePacific,AustralianNationalUniversity,saidthattheinterconnectednessoftheregionitselfdemandedgreatercooperationonpolicydevelopmentandotherissues.

“There’sgroundforalotofoptimismhere,becauseatthesametimeaswedo,indeed,needtobemakingallsortsofquietandseriouspreparationsconcerningsecuritycontingencies,Australia’sgotgoodstandingintheregionandhashadforalongtime.Thisisagoodtimetobepushingoneconomicco-operation,environmentalco-operation,healthco-operation.There’sallsortsofareasouttherewherethere’sgoodopportunitiesforthisatthemoment,andthetimeisrightforit.”

Forartistandcurator,AaronSeeto,Australiaisnottakingupenoughopportunities.Weneedtobefarmoreproactiveandstrategic.“Weareseentobetoofaraway,toodifferent,notthereparticipatingenough.We’reoutoftheloop.”

“Intermsofculturalgoods,asUNESCOdefinesthem,AustraliadoesnotevenregisteronthemapofwhatisexportedtoChina,andthat’s24million.AndwereceivejusttwopercentofChina’sexportofculturalgoods.Thevalueofthis,inthelatestfigures,is$118millionofatotalculturalexportofChinaof$5.9billion,”hesaid.

GeneSherman,leadingartgallerydirectorandphilanthropist,saidthechangesintheartsworldover20yearshadbeenmonumental.In1987,forexample,therewasnoartmarketforAsiancontemporaryartatall.

“No-oneboughtAsiancontemporaryart.Therewereahandfulofprivatecollectorsworldwide.TherewerealmostnopublicinstitutionscollectingtheAsianartoftoday.”shesaid.

“Andthen,ifyoufastforwardto2010–I’vejustbeentoTokyoinMarchandI’mgoingtoHongKongonThursday–there’samultiplicityofcontemporaryartmuseums,ofBiennales–

nAtionAl Forum 2010 : report

we have to do a great deal more in terms of acquainting asia with how we work and acquainting our own society with how asia works.

Mark Johnson diMity fifer gene sherMan

the asian Century: continued

9

Shanghai,Gwangju,Busan,GuangzhouinChina–amultiplicityofcommercialgalleries,hundredsofthem,privateandinstitu-tional,beingmuseumsandcorporatecollectors,artauctionhouses.Sotheby’sandChristie’sholddedicatedauctionsforthecontemporaryartofAsia.”

Singer,writerandartisticdirector,RobynArcher,emphasisedthevalueandplaceoftheartsincreatingdeepandmanylayereddialoguebetweensocieties.InHawaiiforexample,theUniversitytheatrecoursehashadkabuki,nohandChineseoperaintranslationascorecurriculumsincethe1920s.Themusicschoolteacheskoto,shamisenandpipa,aswellasviolinandpiano.

“AndtheydothisbecausetheyseeHawaiiasthenaturalmeetingplaceofeastandwest,andsoconductingadialoguewithAsia-Pacificispartoftheirdutyandaresponsibilitytotheregion.Theylinkthisintelligent,continuousandrigorousculturaldialoguetotheeconomicfuturesoftheUSintheAsianCentury,”shesaid.

“There’sabeautifullycuratedtalkfestgoingoninSingapore...It’scalledConversAsians.It’stheleadinglightsofAsianartisticvision.Australiaisnotthere.Wearenotincluded.WearenotcurrentlypartofthestrengtheningAsianculturaldialogueandidentity,andwemustbe.

“Artcanconductsafepublicconversationsaboutdangerousideas,andit’sthefirstportofcallinsoftdiplomacy.”

ResearchcollaborationswerealsoanimportantareaofAsia-Australiacooperation,asUniversityofMelbourne’sSimonMarginsonsaid.ItwasintheareaofresearchthatAustraliahadthebestopportunitiesforformalregionalactivity.Thiswaswhere“ourrelationshipislikelytobeacceptedmostreadily,becauseknowledgeisthemostinternationalofallthecommodities.”

development And communityProfessorGrahamBrown,FoundationDirectoroftheNossalInstituteofGlobalHealth,saidthatitwasinallofourintereststohavebetterandhealthiercommunities.“Infact,AIDS,TBandmalariawererecognisedduringtheClintonAdministrationasactualthreatstoworldpeacebecausetheseareillnessesthatleadtolossineconomicincomeandincreasingpoverty.”Thiswastakenfurther,withtheBushAdministration’shugecontributionstotrytoreducethedeepburdenofHIV,hesaid.“Healthisathreattothatlivelihoodofthefamilyand,ofcourse,ashealthgoesdownthesocietybecomeslessandlessabletocope.”

TheDirectorGeneralofAusAID,PeterBaxter,saidthatonethirdofAustralia’saidgoestoAsia,andabout25percentgoestoPapuaNewGuineaandthePacific.Theprograminvesteddeeplyineducationwhich,aswellasskillingpopulations,createdpeople-to-peoplelinks.Aprojected6000AusAIDscholarshipholderswillbestudyinginAustraliaby2015,and3500Australianvolunteershavebeenfundedtogoabroadoverthelastfiveyears.

Climatechangecollaborationwasprovingtobeanewandindependentstrandofbilateralengagement.“It’sgivingusawaytotalktocountriesabouthowtheystructuretheireconomies,”saidHarinderSidhu,ChiefAdviser,InternationalDivision,DepartmentofClimateChangeandEnergyEfficiency.“Alsoit’sprovideduswithawayofengagingatthehighestlevelsamongstleadersontheseissues.”

AnnaRose,founderoftheAustralianYouthClimateCoalition,saidmanyofthevolunteersattheAYCCwerelearningMandarinforthesimplereasonthattheyknewChinawouldbesoimportanttosolvingenvironmentalissues.She,likeothersinthefield,workscloselywithyouthclimateactivistsacrossAsia–“weeklySkypecallstoIndia,toChina,Indonesia,otherplaces.”

Privatesectorcontributionstodevelopmentwerealsoofmajorsignificance.AndrewMacLeod,CEO,CommitteeforMelbourne,said“BHPBillitonisthethirdlargestdevelopmentagencyinAustralia,aftertheAustralianGovernmentandWorldVision,butinfrontoftheRedCross,withtheircorporateobjectiveofonepercentofpre-taxprofit.”

soft diplomacy was a recurring theme throughout the morning, as was the need to find greater opportunities for regional cooperation. and these were sometimes areas in which australia had fallen backwards.

aaron seeto robyn norton harinder sidhu

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“ANZ,forexample,doesanenormousamountofgoodwork–particularlyinAsiaandthePacific–onfinancialliteracyprogramsaspartoftheircommunityinvestmentprograms,andIthinkwe’reatthepointintimewherewereallyneedtobringbusinessandaidtogethermoreintherealmofdevelopmentinvestment.”

mAking the most oF opportunitiesMuchdiscussionfocusedonAustralia’spreparednessandwhatwasperceivedasalackofbroadcommunityunderstandingofAsia,andofAustralia’sintereststhere.

“WestillstruggleattimestogetAustralianinvestors,institut-ionalinvestors,tobuyintoanAsianstrategy–whereasfortheoverseasinvestorsit’sjustcompletelylogical,”GrahamHodges,ANZ’sDeputyChiefExecutiveOfficerandActingChiefExecutiveOfficer,toldthegroup.“Thatgoestoanunderstandingofwhattheopportunitiesareinthemarket.”

OneofonlythreeAustralianmembersoftheAPECBusinessAdvisoryCouncil,MarkJohnson,saidAustralia’sfinancialsystemwasoneofthemostadvancedintheworld,coveringthefulllifecycleofinstitutions“frommoneyboxestosuperannuation.”

Johnson,whoisalsochairmanofAGL,MacquarieInfrastructureGroupandtheAustraliaFinancialCentreForum,saidAustralia’sopportunitieslayinourdistancefromthefinancialcrisis,andfrom“the25or30EuropeanandNorthAmericanbankswhoweretheinstantfacilitatorsofthecrisis.”

BHP’sGeoffWalshsaidresourceswereatthecentreofmostofAustralia’sbigrelationshipsintheregion.“ForBHP,asaglobalcompanybasedhereinAustralia,weneedpeoplewecanmovearoundtheworldthroughouttheircareers.Soweneed,clearly,arangeofskills–butourbiggestmarketsareinAsia.Themarketsthatwillgrowfastestareinthisregion.Themorepeoplewehavewiththoseskillsthebetterwewilldointhechallengesahead.”

ThelackofAsianstudiesandlanguageseducationinAustralianschoolswasamajorissueformanyparticipants.TheAsiaEducationFoundation’sKatheKirbytoldtheforumthatonlyatinyproportionofAustralianstudentslearnedanythingatallaboutAsiainYear12.“Thisisillustratedbymodernhistoryinoneofourlargeststates,wheretwopercentofstudentschosetodoChinese[history],65percentchosetodoGermany,and19percentchosetodoRussia,”shesaid.

“Whatwe’reactuallylookingathereisnot,strictlyspeaking,studentchoice.It’stodowiththechoicesthattheirteachersmakeaboutthecontentinthecurriculum.”

InourrelationshipwithIndonesiainparticular,popularmiscon-ceptions–anunwarrantedanxietyandhostility–wereagreatconcern.

“There’sbeenlittlesuccessindealingwithit,”saidTimLindsey,headoftheAsianLawCentreattheUniversityofMelbourne.“TheobviousreasonforthisisthecollapseofAsianstudiesinAustraliaand,inparticular,Indonesianlanguage,whichasalanguageatriskinourschools,willprobablyvanishoncurrenttrendswithin20years,”hesaid.

ProfessorofSoutheastAsianStudiesatMurdochUniversity,DavidHill,saidenrolmentsinIndonesianplunged24percentbetween2001and2007.Thatdeclinecontinues.“Teachingstaffregardthemselvesasfortunateiftheycansimplyholdenrolmentsstable.Infact,atoneofourleadinginstitutionsenrolmentsdropped27percentinthesingleyearbetween2008to2009.”

the markets that will grow fastest are in the asian region... the more people we have with asian skills, the better we will do in meeting the challenges ahead.

the asian Century: continued

penny saCkett

anthony zwi

grahaM brown

11

From1976tothepresent,theevolutionofAustralia’sengagementwiththeregionhasbeenmuchwiderandbroaderthanthatofsecurityrisks.Thewiderfabricofeconomicengagementhasinfactbecomeamuchmoresignificantpartofouroverallregionalengagement.Beyondthatagain,culturalandperson-to-personengagementhasgonefromthinflowsofpeopletovastflowsofpeople,andinbothdirections.ThishasbeenoverwhelminglyforthegoodandAustraliaisamuchrichercountryasaresult.Intermsoftheeconomy,thefabricofoureconomicengagementisnowvast,anditistextured.Itincludeslargebusinessesandsmallbusinesses.Thedigitalrevolution,infact,istransformingthataswespeak.

WhatIsenseinthisemergingfabricofpan-regionalcooperationisthecontinuedsearchfornewinstitutionstoshapeourfuture.Sofar,nopan-regionalinstitutionhasbeencapableofembracingthesecuritychallengeswefacenowandintothefuture,theeconomicopportunitiesandchallengeswefacetogether,andwhatwillbeanecessaryfuturedenseareaofcooperation:namelywhatwedotogetheronthegreatchallengeofclimatechange.

Thefabricofcooperationanddialogueacrosstheregionisnowveryrich.Butintermsofbringingtogetherthesevariousriversofunresolvedchallengesforthefuture,theneedforbroaderinstitutionalunderpinningofthat,Ibelieve,isnecessaryforourlong-termfuture.Inote,inparticular,thepositivestepstakenrecentlybytheASEANsinextendingthewebofwiderregionalcooperation.Theyaretobecongratulatedforthat.

the priMe Minister’s addressextract from the speech by the hon kevin rudd Mp

What you are doing through Asialink and through the Asia society here in Australia is important. you have been embarked upon a long journey when it comes to this country’s comprehensive engagement with the countries of our region.

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OneofthechallengesAustraliafacesasacountryisthedevelopmentofamuchhigherlevelofAsialiteracy.SomeofyouwouldknowthatIbecameengagedintheteachingofAsianlanguagesinAustralianschools,waybackintheearly1990s.WebeganaprogramthencalledtheNationalAsianLanguagesandStudiesinAustralianSchoolsStrategy.WeembarkeduponaprogramtoextendthewiderteachingofAsianlanguagesandculturesacrossourregion.Someprogresswasmadefrom1995throughuntilthebeginningofthedecadejustpassed.Regrettablyourpredecessorsingovernmentcancelledthatprograminoraround2002.Fortunatelywe’vere-establishedthatprogramasof2008.

TodayI’mreleasingthreenewreportscommissionedbytheAustralianGovernmentontheteachingofAsianlanguagesinschools.Theyindicateanalarming22percentdropbetweentheyear2000and2008inthenumberofAustralianstudentsstudyingoneofthesefourAsianlanguagesfromkindergartentoYear12.AtatimewhenourAsialiteracyshouldhavebeengrowingstronger,infact,itgrewweaker;thisisatrendwemustreverse.

Therehasbeenstronginterestacrosstheeducationcommunitysincetheprogramcommencedon1stJanuary2009andstatesandterritorieshavedevelopedinnovativeplanstomeetthe2020target.WeareonthecuspofanewAsiancentury.Ourjobistobethesmartestkidsontheblock,thatistohaveaboutusthewit,thewisdom,theculturalskills,thelinguisticskills,thedisciplinaryskillstomakeadifference.

Oneofthemostexcitingthings,Ithink,thatisunfoldinginrecenttimesisthisextraordinaryexplosionincreativeandartistictalentrightacrossthewiderregion.YoucannotbutvisitShanghaithesedaysorothermajorregionalcitiesandseeanexplosionofnewcreativeartandtalentofatypewhichfranklywe’venotseeninthepreviouscentury.Somethingnewandcomprehensivelycreativeisemerging.

Sotoourfriendswhoarerepresentingforeigngovernmentshere–andIthankthemfortheirattendancetoday–asPrimeMinisterofAustralia,Iwouldsaytoeachofthesegovernmentsandthrougheachoftheirhighcommissionersandambassadorshowmuchwevaluethework[throughwhich]weengagewithyourgovernments,bothbi-laterallyandmulti-laterally,infashioningthisgreatersenseofcommunitywithinwiderEastAsiaandwiderAsia,intheperiodthatwehavebeeninoffice.

Ibelievewithwomenandmenofgoodwillacrossourvariouscountriesandcultures,asvastanddiverseastheymaybe,andthroughtheinstitutionsandthestrongfabricofbi-lateralrelationshipsthatwehavenurtured,thatwecaninfactachieveanAsiaPacificcenturywhichisindeedapacificcentury.

the priMe Minister’s address: continued

13

the opposition leader’s addressextract from the speech by the hon tony abbott Mp

it’s good to have this opportunity to talk about the importance and the future of Australia’s relations with the nations of Asia. Australia’s external policies towards Asia and elsewhere should be based on a rigorous analysis of national interest. such an analysis requires not just the standard security and economic considerations, but a values dimension as well.

AnydisconnectbetweenforeignpolicyandnationalvaluesjeopardisesthedomesticsupportthatiscriticaltoachievingAustralia’sforeignpolicyobjectives.

Akeyfactorbehindthepreviousgovernment’ssuccessinAsiawasAustralia’seconomicmanagementandstrength.AlongwithJapan,wecommittedsome$3billioninregionalIMFprogramstosupportThailand,KoreaandIndonesiathroughtheEastAsianfinancialcrisis.ItalsoallowedustoincreasedefencespendingandtorebuildtheAustraliandefenceforce.

ThisdecisionprovedtimelywhenAustraliawasaskedtoleadtheINTERFETinterventioninEastTimorandsubsequentlydeployedforcesinthewaronterrorandintheSolomonIslands.

SohowhasAustralia’sstandingintheregionfaredsincetheelectionoftheRuddGovernment?SinceMrRuddincludedChina,butexcludedJapan,fromhisfirstoverseasvisitthereisasensethattherelationshiphasbeendowngraded.ThePrimeMinistertalksaboutanewstrategicpartnershipwithIndia,butwon’toverrulehisparty’sideologicalobjectionstosellinguranium,despiteemissionsreductionandenergysecuritybenefits.

14

asecondlanguage,comparedtojust14percenttoday.Otherstatisticsshouldalsocauseconcern.FewerthanfivepercentnowcompletesecondaryschoolstudyinganAsianlanguage.BabyBoomerswhowishedtomatriculateandgotouniversityhadtodoeithermathematicsoraforeignlanguage,andmanychosethelatter.Sincethatcompulsionwasliftedinthe1970sinteresthaswanedinthestudyofalmostallforeignlanguages.

Intheinterconnectedworldofthe21stcenturyyoungAustralianshavetobeequippedwiththeskillstocommunicatewithpeopleandtounderstandissuesandmarketsacrosstheglobe,andthisisespeciallycrucialwithourmajortradingpartnersintheAsianregion.ConfidentthatEnglishistheworld’ssecondlanguage,wehavebecomelinguisticallylazy,andotherEnglishspeakingcountriesmightbeabletogetawaywiththisneglect,butwecan’t.

Now,thePrimeMinisterhaspromotedAsialiteracyasakeygoalofhisgovernment,butthereislittlereasontothinkthattheNationalAsianLanguagesandStudiesinSchoolsprogram,launchedtwoyearsago,willreversecurrenttrends.Thenextcoalitiongovernmentwillworkwiththestatestoreconsiderandtoreinforcetheweightingsandotherincentivesthataresupposedtoencouragehighschoolstudentstostickwithforeignlanguages.Ourultimateobjectiveshouldbetoensurethateverystudenthasatleastsomefamiliaritywithotherlanguagesandthatasignificantpercentagehasstudiedaforeignlanguagethroughtoschoolleaving.

Ladiesandgentlemen,it’salwaysagoodtimetofocusonthelinksbetweenAustraliaandAsia,andwhatwecandohereinthiscountrytostrengthenthem.Regardlessofourrelationshipselsewhere,ourdestinyisunavoidablythatofourpartoftheworld.DeepeningandbroadeningrelationswiththepeoplesandnationsoftheAsia-PacificregionwillthereforealwaysbeacentralresponsibilityoftheAustralianGovernment.

the opposition leader’s address: continued

Theresumptionofpeoplesmugglinghas,predictably,gener-atedstrainswithIndonesia.AnddespitetheGovernment’spreparednesstodownplayourvalues,forexample,inagreeingnottomeettheDalaiLamaanddroppingthelongestablishedpracticeofannualministerialvisitstoTaiwan,ourrelationshipwithChinadoesn’tseemtohaveimproved.

ButperhapsthemoststrikingexampleofthecurrentGovern-ment’suncertaindiplomacyinAsiaisMrRudd’saggressivechampioningofhisconceptofanAsia-Pacificcommunity.Theproposalhasseriouslyirritatedmanyofourregionalpartners.

TheHowardGovernmentdidn’tattempttopreachtoortobrowbeatourneighbourswithunilaterallyconceivedutopianvisionsofnewregionalarchitecture.Insteaditlistenedtotheregion,identifiedwhereeachcountry’sinterestcoincidedwithoursandfocusedontheimportanceofdeepeningbilateralrelationswithindividualcountries.Ourneighbours’appreciationofAustralia’spatient,pragmaticandbilaterallyfocusedapproachearnedadividendintheirsupportforourinclusionintheEastAsiaSummitfromitsinceptionin2005.

ThenextcoalitiongovernmentwillfocusonbuildingastrongstrategicpartnershipwithJapan.WewillalsotrytoconcludethefreetradenegotiationswithJapan.WewilloverturnLabor’sbanonuraniumexportstoIndiaandlooktobuildstrongermilitarytomilitarylinks,particularlyonmaritimeco-operation.WewillbuildontheHowardGovernment’sLombokTreatywithIndonesia.WewillseektoexpandAustralianrelationswithotherSoutheastAsiannationssuchasSingaporeandVietnam.WewillworkenthusiasticallywithChina,whereit’sinourmutualinterestthatthishappen.

Butthere’sadomesticissuethatshouldn’tbeignoredandthat’sthedeclineofthestudyofforeignlanguages,whichconstitutesaworryingerosionofournation’sbroaderinternationalliteracy.Paradoxically,inthefaroffandallegedlylesssensitive1950s,Australiawasmoreculturallyawareononevitalmeasure–theforeignlanguageproficiencyofthosecompletinghighschool.In1960,forinstance,40percentofYear12studentsstudied

15

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations was represented by the Ambassador of Indonesia HE Mr Primo Alui Joelianto. The other participants were Chinese Ambassador HE Mr Zhang Junsai, Indian High Commissioner HE Mrs Sujatha Singh, Japanese Ambassador HE Mr Takaaki Kojima and Republic of Korea Ambassador HE Dr Woo Sang Kim.

The discussion, held under the ‘Chatham House Rule’, focused on the priorities, the achievements and the issues arising in each of the bilateral relationships. How we might work productively on these relationships – and on the development of a genuine regional community – were topics of real interest to participants at the Forum. Comments made by different Heads of Mission were often quoted in the deliberations taking place in the second half of the day.

In thanking the High Commissioner and Ambassadors, Professor Milner commented that it was a special privilege to have a frank dialogue with the Heads of Mission of countries that are of vital importance to Australia. “We have paused in today’s Australian conversation about engagement with the Asian region”, he said, “and this dialogue has been the best possible way to achieve authoritative assistance from the Asian region itself.”

dialogue with the heads of mission

The luncheon session took the form of a dialogue with Heads of Mission from Asia, facilitated by Forum Co-convenor Professor Tony Milner.

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Therewasapowerfulsensethatbusinesshasakeyroleinpromoting“BrandAustralia”–Australia’simageasasoundinvestmentandgoodbusinesspartner.ThisimagehasbeenimpactedrecentlybyattacksagainstIndianstudentsandapublicdebateoverforeigninvestment.

Inthecaseofinvestment,delegatesarguedthatbusinesscansupportgovernmentinurginggreatertransparencyintheoperationoftheForeignInvestmentReviewBoardandinhelpingdispelmythsrelatedtoforeigninvestment.GraemeSamuels,ChairmanoftheAustralianCompetitionandConsumerCommission,madethedistinctionbetweenbusinessbehaviourandpublicperception.“Infact,weareopentoinvestment,asweshouldbe,”hesaid.“Asbusinessleadersyouneedtotakestepstocounterxenophobia.YearsagoitwasJapan.ThemostrecentoneisthefearofChineseinvestment.”

Building on strengthsDespitetheacknowledgedshortcomingsofFreeTradeAgreements(FTAs),delegatesnotedthestrengtheningofbusiness-governmentlinksandgovernment-governmentlinksduringtheprocessofnegotiations.FTAsweredescribedbysomeasimportantstrategicandpoliticalframeworksallowingforincreasedregionallinks.DelegatesalsodiscussedtherelativelackofinvestmentfromAustralia,instarkcontrasttoourboomingtraderelationships.SidMyer,ChairmanAsialinkandAsiaSocietyAustralAsiaCentre,commentedontheneedforFTAstomoreeffectivelytacklebehind-the-borderbarrierstoinvestment.

Buildingframeworksforgreatermarketintegrationandengage-mentwillallowAustralianbusinesstocapitaliseonexistingstrengths.Delegatesidentifiedstrengthsandadvantagesinthefoodindustry,infinancialservices,andservicesgenerally.

MarkJohnson,Chairman,AustraliaFinancialCentreForum,urgedthegrouptoconsiderhowourworld-classfinancialproductsandservicescouldbepromotedmoreinourregion.AstheAsianmarketgrows,theneedformoresophisticatedproductsandservicesincreases.

Thiscapabilityrepresentsnotonlyaneconomicopportunity,butalsoaresponsibilitytoworkwithforeignregulators,tosharetechnologyandotherexpertise.

GrahamHodges,DeputyCEOANZ,highlightedtheimportanceofbringingtogetherregulatorsfromacrosstheregion.“Inmovingoffshoreweseedifferentregulatoryregimes.Australiahasdonereasonablywellinregulation,butitmaybeworthwhiletohaveregulatortoregulatorconversations,”hesaid.

DavidCrombie,PresidentNationalFarmersFederation,identifiedtheadvantagesthatAustraliahasinfoodproduction.“Agricultureofthefuturewillfocusonparticularproducts.Therewillbeanincreaseddemandatthetopendofthemarket:increaseddemandforhigherproteinandwesternstylemeals.ThisisanopportunityforAustralia.”

AsiA skillsForAustralianbusinesstocapitaliseonsuchopportunities,weneedagenerationofyoungAustraliansequippedtocommunicatewithourmajortradingpartnersandabletounderstandandsolveglobalproblems.

AlexHolcomb,GeneralManager,WorkingCapitalSolutions&Asia,WestpacInstitutionalBank,identifiedthisasaproblemofscale.Australianeedstomovefromsmall-scalesolutionswithindividualbusinessesjustmuddlingthrough,toembedding“culturalintelligence”andAsiaskillsrightacrosstheAustralianworkforce:“WeneedtoindustrialiseAsiaskills,”shesaid.

“Wearemovingfromatradeorientedrelationshiptoaninvest-mentorientedrelationship,”saidHowardDick,UniversityofMelbourne.“ThiswillrequirebetterAsiaskills.”

breakout sessions seCtor report

business

the high-level business delegation threw its weight behind an ambitious program addressing constraints to Australia’s full engagement in the region. Focused on enhancing opportunities for Australia, the group of some of Australia’s largest companies and business associations developed a series of measures, recognising that the “Asian century” does not mean business as usual.

harrison youngandrew MaCintyre tiM Cox grahaM hodges

Chairs tim Cox and andrew Macintyre

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Business can insist on staff whose dealings in the Asian region are respectful and based on sound knowledge, can reward those who do have these skills, can recognise the importance of “cultural intelligence”, and can implement strategies for more racially diverse workplaces, including in boardrooms.

Debra Hazelton, General Manager, Mizuho Corporate Bank, identified the need for greater ethnic and linguistic diversity at the most senior levels: “We need to have more diversity in the boardroom.”

Recommendations

The business delegation identified ways business can make a greater contribution to Australia’s economic integration with the region. Asialink is committed to continuing to provide leadership on these issues and working with businesses and business groups to drive this agenda forward. Asialink will play a particular role in the Asia literacy area. Australian business needs to:

1 Articulate a clear vision for Australia’s business engagement in the region – one that is comprehensive, differentiated, sophisticated, respectful and balanced between markets and sectors.2 Promote ‘Brand Australia’ – Australia’s image as a sound investment and good business partner. 3 Support government to make the case for inbound and outbound investment; helping to dispel myths relating to foreign investment in Australia. 4 Support a multi-level strategy to develop a more Asia literate/Asia ready workforce, from shop floor to boardroom. A deficit of Asian languages and cultural understanding was seen as holding back our economic and broader integration with the region. 5 Further advocate and support government on Free Trade Agreements, which are a key framework for building regional linkages. Future FTAs should do more to break down barriers to greater investment flows.6 Identify Australia’s competitive advantages in order to maxi-mise opportunities in the region. Key sectors of advantage include food industries, financial services and services generally. Key areas of functional advantage include compliance and regulatory environments. These strengths present potential for economic growth and the opportunity to work with foreign regulators, to share technology and build business networks in the region.

paRticipants•ChrisBarnes, President, Australia Indonesia Business Council•ArdeleBlignault, Vice President Government Relations, GE

Australia & New Zealand

100 164

•StephenBolton, National Manager of Employment and Training Advisers, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

•DonBoyd, Group Deputy Chief Executive, Norton Rose Australia•PatrickColeman, Director, Policy, Business Council of Australia•TimCox, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers•DavidCrombie, President, National Farmers Federation•ProfGlynDavisAC, Vice Chancellor, University of Melbourne•AssocProfHowardDick, Professorial Fellow, Department of

Management and Marketing, The University of Melbourne•FaridaFleming, Director Applied Research and Analysis, Asialink•BruceGoodwin, Managing Director, Janssen-Cilag Australia Pty Ltd•DebraHazelton, General Manager, Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd•GrahamHodges, Deputy CEO, ANZ Banking Group•AlexHolcomb, General Manager, Working Capital & Trade Solutions,

Westpac Banking Corporation•DavidInglis, Chairman, Minter Ellison•ChrisJenkins, Managing Director, Thales Australia•MarkJohnson, Chairman, AGL Energy, Macquarie Infrastructuire

Group, APEC Business Advisory Council•ScottKeck, Executive Chairman, Charter Keck Cramer•CrRobertKok, Councillor, Solicitor & Notary Public, City of Sydney• JohnLarkin, Assistant Secretary, South-East Asia Investment &

Services Branch (AIB), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade•AndrewLow, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Financial Institutions

Group & Asia, Macquarie Group•AndrewMacLeod, Chief Executive Officer, Committee for Melbourne•AndrewMacIntyre, Dean, College of Asia and Pacific, Australian

National University•LesleyMathews, Director of Business Development, NSW, Asialink

and Asia Society•SidMyer, Chairman, Asialink and Asia Society AustralAsia Centre•MichaelO’Sullivan, Director, International Markets & Trade,

Industry & Investment NSW•StephenPemberton, Partner, Allens Arthur Robinson•GraemeSamuel, Chairman, ACCC• JohnSimpson, Strategic Adviser, Office of the CEO, National

Australia Bank•MareeSlater, Executive General Manager HR, Energy Australia•FrankTudor, Chairman, Australia China Business Council•MarionvanRooden, Acting Deputy Secretary International

Coordination, Dept. of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development

•FionaWallace-Smith, Executive Director, Asia Society AustralAsia Centre

•GeoffWalsh AO, Director, Public Affairs, BHP Billiton• InnesWillox, Director, International & Government Relations,

Australian Industry Group•HarrisonYoung, Deputy Chairman, Asialink and Asia Society

AustralAsia Centre

The “Asian Century” means different things for different sectors, but what it does not mean is business as usual.

Alex holComb roberT kokgrAeme sAmueldebrA hAzelTon

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ProfessorPeterLeahyAC,Director,NationalSecurityInstitute,UniversityofCanberraandformerChiefoftheArmy,stressedthesubtlechangeglobally“fromtheprimacyofdefencetotheincreasingimportanceofsecurity,withitsmuchbroaderagenda.”Thischangemeantnumerousgovernmentdepartmentsbecameinvolved,andsuchagencieslikeAusAIDandDFATrequiredfargreaterresources.

ProfessorPaulDibb,EmeritusProfessorofStrategicStudiesattheAustralianNationalUniversity,saidspendingonDefencenowwas$27billioncomparedwithlessthan$2billionfortheDepartmentofForeignAffairsandTrade.

ForProfessorAlanDupont,DirectoroftheCentreforInternationalSecurityStudies,UniversityofSydney,theconceptofsecurityintheAsianregioncoveredaraftofchallenges,beyondtraditionalgeopolitics.Theseincludedmanynewthreatstostabilitysuchasfood,waterandenergysecurity,pandemics,andpopulationissues.“Wehavetomoveawayfromaportfolioapproachtoamoreintegratedapproach…allofthesechallengescancausepoliticalandeconomicinsecurity,andsocialdislocation.”

HesaidAustraliawasmovingtowardsabroaderdefinitionofnationalsecurityandtherewereopportunitiesinthisforagreaterengagementwiththeregion–inotherwords,securitywasnotjustabouttheAustralianDefenceForces“goingtopickupthepiecesinaBougainville,it’salsoaboutAusAID’sroleinpreventingconflictsfromhappening.”

Otherswereconcernedthatwenotgotoofarin“securitising”ourforeignpolicy:IfweseeIndonesianrelationsonlythroughtheparadigmofsecurity,forexample,wemissthebroaderrelationshipbuildingthatisnecessary.

Proximitydoesmatter,accordingtoBillPaterson,AustralianAmbassadorforCounter-Terrorism.HesaidtheSoutheastAsianregioninparticularisaregionofprimarystrategicinteresttoAustralia.“Behindsolideconomicgrowthfigures,notallisgoingwellinSoutheastAsia,”hesaid.

“Weneedtodoalotmoretoassistinbuildinggovernanceandinstitutions–wearedoingworkinlawenforcement,thejusticesectorandprisonreforminIndonesia,forexample–tobackupthepopularcommitmenttodemocracy.Buttheneedsacrosstheregionarelarge,andinvestmentinthisisaninvestmentinthestabilityofAustralia’sneighbourhood”.

LowlevelsofAustralianinvestmentintheregionwerelargelyaresultofbusiness“havingaroughtimedealingwithcorruptsystems”.Iftheregionwereabletodeveloptransparentandaccountableinstitutionsandsystems,withgoodregulatorystructures,theriskassessmentswouldbemorepositive.

ChairoftheAustraliaIndiaCouncil,JohnMcCarthy,urgedafargreateremphasisoneducationandwiderdiplomacymeasures.“WeneedtodoalotmoreabouttheknowledgeofAsiahereandtheknowledgeofusthere.Allthecountriesofourprimaryfocus–excepttheUS–areinAsia.”

Accordingtoanumberofparticipants,therehadbeenanexcessiverelianceongovernmenttogovernmentrelationship-buildingwhichhadledtoahollownessinengagement.“Theantidoteistogivemorepowertothenon-governmentsector,”saidANU’sDrGregFealy.

Therewasalsotheinternal–ordomestic–dimensiontosecurityanddiplomacy.Socialcohesionandimmigrationspecialist,ProfessorAndrewMarkus,emphasisedthat“thePaulineHansonconstituencyhasnotgoneaway”,asevidencedbyrecentviolenceagainstIndianstudents.Ourleadershipatgovernmentlevelwasnot“thoughtfullyengaging”onissuesofsocialharmony,hesaid.

the national Forum’s breakout session of leading diplomacy and security experts roundly condemned a lack of “confidence-building” between Australia and Asia, and described Australian diplomacy as “hugely under-resourced”. significantly, the group said cutbacks in expenditure on diplomacy were “against the national interest”.

bill paterson tiM lindsey riChard woolCott John MCCarthy

Chairs tim lindsey and richard woolcott

breakout sessions seCtor report

diploMaCy and seCurity

19

ProfessorDesBallnotedthatourDefenceforcesspentatleast$500millionannuallyondirectregionalengagement,onstaffcolleges,jointexercises,coalitionoperations.“Dependingonwhatyouincludeinthere,itcouldamounttoatleastone-thirdandperhapsevenone-halfofthewholeDFATbudget.Iwouldarguethatthisneedstobecomprehensively,systematicallyandthoroughlyreviewed.

“GiventhatwehavegottheseresourcesintheDefenceportfolio…let’sdoaproperreviewtodeterminewhetherwearegettingourmoney’sworth–whatisthebestwaytousethismoneytoengageAustraliaintheregion?There’smuchmoreadventurousandimaginativethingswecouldbedoingwiththatmoney.”

recommendAtionsItwasagreedthatAustralia’sfuturesecuritydependedonanabilitytodealwithrapidchangesinAsia.Inastatementissuedtotheplenarysummary,thegroupstressedtwonationalprioritieswhichrequiredurgentattention:

1InthecontextofdiminishedWesterndominance,keepingtheUnitedStatesengagedintheregionremainsimportant.Butweneedtobuildmiddlepowercoalitions–aviewalsoexpressedintheNationalForum’sHeadsofMissionluncheondialogue.Coalitionscanbebuiltthroughmechanismssuchasconfidence-buildingmeasures.

2Thereisastrongneedtobuildourpublicdiplomacyefforts.Itwasagreedthatwearespendingenoughondefence.Nowitistimetospendmoreonpublicdiplomacy.Thiswasdefinedasincludingpeople-to-peoplelinks,TrackIIendeavours,non-governmentalliances,culturalandothercooperation.WeneedtogetmuchbetteratprojectingAustraliainAsiaandimprovingandbroadeningourunderstandingsoftheAsianregioninAustralia.Weneedmoreresourcestomanageourincreasinglycomplexrelationshipswithcountriesintheregion,includingmiddlepowercoalitions,andweneedqualifiedpeople–andthatmeansincreasedsupportforAsialiteracy.

pArticipAnts•ProfDesmondBall,Professor,SchoolofInternational,Political

andStrategicStudies,ANU•HughBorrowman,FirstAssistantSecretary,SouthEastAsia

Division,DFAT

•DrMalcolmCook,ProgramDirector–EastAsia,LowyInstitute• JenniferConley,Director,CorporateAffairs,Asialink•DrRichardDenniss,ExecutiveDirector,AustraliaInstitute•ProfPaulDibbAM,EmeritusProfessorofStrategicStudies,

TheAustralianNationalUniversity• IanDudgeon,President,CanberraBranch,AustralianInstitute

forInternationalAffairs•ProfAlanDupont,DirectoroftheCentreforInternationalSecurity

Studies,TheUniversityofSydney•NicholasFarrelly,AssociateLecturer,SchoolofInternational

PoliticalandStrategicStudies,TheAustralianNationalUniversity•DrGregFealy,FellowandSeniorLecturer,CollegeofAsiaandthe

Pacific,ANU•ProfMoboGao,DirectorConfuciusInstituteandProfessorof

ChineseStudiesCentreforAsianStudies,UniversityofAdelaide•ProfGeoffreyGarrett,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,TheUnitedStates

StudiesCentre•ProfPeterLeahyAC,Director,NationalSecurityInstitute,

UniversityofCanberraandformerChiefoftheArmy•ProfTimLindsey,DirectoroftheAsianLawCentre,TheUniversity

ofMelbourne•ProfAndrewMarkus,PrattFoundationChairofJewishCivilisation,

MonashUniversity• JohnMcCarthyAO,Chair,AustraliaIndiaCouncil,FormerAustralian

HighCommissionertoIndia&SpecialRepresentativetoSriLanka•HamishMcDonald,Asia-PacificEditor,TheSydneyMorningHerald•DrKatherineMorton,Fellow,CollegeofAsiaandthePacific,

TheAustralianNationalUniversity•AndrewO’Neil,Director,GriffithAsiaInstitute•AmbassadorBillPatersonPSM,AustralianAmbassadorfor

Counter-Terrorism,DepartmentofForeignAffairsandTrade•DrRichardRigby,ExecutiveDirector,ChinaInstitute,ANU•HarinderSidhu,ChiefAdvisor(International),TheDepartment

ofClimateChangeandEnergyEfficiency•RichardSmithAOPSM,Australia’sSpecialEnvoyfor

AfghanistanandPakistan•TonyWalker,InternationalEditor,TheAustralianFinancialReview•ProfHughWhite,Head,StrategicandDefenceStudiesCentre,

TheAustralianNationalUniversity•RichardWoolcottAC,FoundingDirector,AsiaSociety

AustralAsiaCentre

security experts urge a greater priority be given to australia’s diplomacy – even at the expense of defence.

alan dupont niCh farrelly riChard rigby

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Representinguniversities,nationalschoolcurriculumandaccreditationbodies,governmentandnon-governmentschoolleaders,andeducationstakeholders,includingparentsandyoungpeople,thegroupcalledforaninter-generational–andsubstantiallyincreased–GovernmentinvestmentinAsiastudiesandlanguageseducation.

Co-Chair,TonyMackay:“AftertwodecadesofintensiveworkinschooleducationtoadvanceAsialiteracyweknowthechoicewehave.WeeitherinvestseriouslyinachievingAsialiteracythroughschoolandhighereducationorfailtoequipyoungAustraliansfortheirfutureintheAsianCentury.”

Therewasarealsenseamongthegroupthat“weoughttograsptheopportunitytocostandfundanintegratedactionplanfortheschoolssector,andfurtherandhighereducationsectors,toachievethatobjective.”Mackayadded:“Whenwesay‘costandfund’,wedon’tmeanthecurrent62million.Wemeanaseriousinvestmentofnationalfundsadequatetothetask.”

ThethenPrimeMinister,andtheOppositionLeader,bothexpressedrobustsupportattheForumforAustralia’sengagementwithAsia,andespeciallyforimprovedAsiaskillsforAustralians.

scAling up investmentThegroupacknowledgedthatdespitesignficantworkdonetoprogressAsialiteracysincethe1980s,schooleducationinAustraliaremainedlargelyEuro-centric–reflectingthenation’sheritageofthepast200years,ratherthanitsfuture.

AsiaEducationFoundation’s,KatheKirby,reportedthatcurrentlyonly18percentoftotalstudentsstudiedanAsianlanguage,andfewerthansixpercentinYear12.“IndonesianandJapanesearecurrentlyindecline,mostYear12studentsofChinesehaveaChinesebackground,andKoreanistaughttoveryfew.About50percentofschoolsincludestudiesofAsiaintheircurriculumbutfewstudentsundertakestudieswithAsiancontentinYear12History,Geography,Literature,theArtsorevenEconomics.”

ProfessorBarryMcGawtoldtheforumthatallEducationMinistershadaffirmed–intheMelbourneDeclarationonEducationalGoalsforYoungAustralians–thatAustraliansneededtobecomeactiveandengagedcitizenswithanabilitytorelateandcommunicateacrosscultures.ThisgoalunderpinnedthedevelopmentofthenewAustralianCurriculumthatrequiredAsia-focusedknowledgeandinterculturalunderstandinginalllearningareas,hesaid.

“WeknowinMathswhatitmeanstobecomemoreexpertasyougothrough12yearsofschooling.ButwhatdoesitmeantodevelopsomelevelofinterculturalunderstandinginGrade3,asopposedtoGrade12?We’reworkingonthatnow,”hesaid.

ConcernwasexpressedaboutthecapacityofeducationsystemstosupplyqualifiedandconfidentteacherstoachievetheseobjectivesforAsialiteracy,withoutsignificantinvestmentrightnow.“Andit’snotjustsupply:buildingdemandinthecommunityisamajorchallenge,”saidAndrewBlair,President,InternationalConfederationofPrincipals.WeneedtoleveragethestrongsupportprovidedbytheBusinessAllianceforAsiaLiteracy.

declining knoWledge BAseCo-Chair,ProfKrishnaSen,UniversityofWesternAustralia,saiduniversitieswereproducingthenextgenerationworkforce,andfuturepolicymakersandresearchers,allofwhomneededtobeattheforefrontofknowledgeaboutAsia.“ThisrequiresembeddingAsia-relatedmaterialinarangeofdisciplineareas,aswellasteachingofAsianlanguagesand‘AsianStudies’,”shesaid.

However,thereisadramaticdeclineinstudentenrolmentsinAsianstudiesandAsianlanguagesinthetertiarysector.ProfessorDavidHill,MurdochUniversity,saidenrolmentsinIndonesianfell24percentbetween2001and2007.“Thisisnotsomethingthegovernmentisunawareof…butnoactionhasbeentaken.”

AnationalplanwasneededtoensurethatallAustraliantertiarystudentshadaccesstostudiesofAsianlanguagesandcultures.Itwouldnotbeadequate,hesaid,tofocusonjustasmallnumberofinstitutions–ortofocuslargelyonChina,aswasnowthecase.

ProfessorSimonMarginson,TheUniversityofMelbourne,said80percentofinternationalstudentsinhighereducationwerefrom

Australians need Asia skills and understandings in order to leverage opportunities, minimise risk and resolve global issues in the Asian century. that was the view of the working group – a group of 25 of Australia’s most influential education leaders.

tony MaCkay krishna sen sue Mann helen wildash

Chairs tony Mackay and krishna sen

breakout sessions seCtor report

eduCation

21

Asia.AustraliawasamajoreducatorofstudentsfromChina,andEducationwasthethirdlargestexportindustryaftercoalandironore.However,“lackofcapacityinAsianlanguagesholdsusback.”

OtherslamentedthatsofewAustralianstudentschosetostudyinAsianuniversities,incomparisontotheirinternationalpeerswhoweregainingacompetitiveedge.MarginsonadvocatedAustraliadevelopingaregionalAsianresearchinitiative.“Itcouldspanthewholegamutofresearchfrommedicinetolifeandphysicalsciences,engineering,socialsciencesandhumanities…intheresearchareaourrelationshipismostlikelytobereadilyaccepted,becauseknowledgeisaninternationallyvaluedquality.”

Thegroupagreedthat,inthe21stcentury,Australia’shumancapitalwasthekeytoourfuture.WerequireanAustraliacapableoffullyengagingwithitsregion.Thiswillrequireare-imaginingoftheAustraliathatmustimpactoncurriculumcontentinAustralianschoolsanduniversities.

AnnaRose,Co-FounderoftheYouthCoalitionforClimateChange,said“we’rerunningoutoftimetogeteducationaboutAsiaright…climatechangeactionisareallyimportantnewavenueforengagementwiththeregion.Weneedtobringyoungpeopletogethertodothis,andtheywillneedAsialiteracy.”

recommendAtions1AchievinganAustraliacapableoffullyengagingwithitsregionrequiresanenduringbi-partisanFederalGovernmentcommitmenttobuildAsialiteracyinbothschoolandhighereducation.2ToachieveAsialiteracyforeveryyoungAustralianwillrequireanequalfocusonAsianstudiesandAsianlanguages.3AllAustraliangovernmentsmustsignificantlyscale-upcurrentinvestmentandcommittoaNationalAsiaLiteracyActionPlanforboththeschoolandhighereducationthatsetstargets,commitsadequateresourcesandundertakesregularreportingofprogress.4ANationalAsiaLiteracyActionPlanforschoolscanbenefitfromthecurrentmajoreducationreformsincludinganationalcurriculumforAustralianschoolsandtheestablishmentoftheAustralianInstituteforTeachingandSchoolLeadership.5ANationalAsiaLiteracyActionPlanforuniversitieswouldensurethatAreaandClusterfundingoffersopportunitiesfornationalcollaborationinAsiaeducationspreadacrossdisciplines,countriesanduniversities,andsupportstheestablishmentofaregionalresearchnetwork.6AustraliamustinvestinbuildingdemandforAsialiteracythroughstudents,theirparents,businessandthewidercommunity.ThisrequiresskilfularticulationoftherationaleforAsialiteracyincludingprosperity,socialinclusionand,especiallyimportanttoyoungpeople,asenseofacommonhumanityandasharedfuture.

pArticipAnts•AndrewBlairAM,President,InternationalConfederationofPrincipals•SharrynBrownlee,President,CentralCoastCouncilofParentsand

Citizens’Association•MicheleCody,Executive,AustralianPrimaryPrincipals

AssociationInc.•ProfRobertConway,Member,AustralianCouncilofDeans

ofEducation;Dean,SchoolofEducation,FlindersUniversity• IanDalton,ExecutiveDirector,AustralianParentsCouncil• JohnFirth,Chairman,AustralianCurriculum,Assessmentand

certificationAuthorities,CEO,VCAA• JuanitaHealy,AssistantExecutiveDirector,CurriculumSupport,

DepartmentofEducationandTraining,WesternAustralia•ProfDavidHill,ProfessorofSoutheastAsianStudies,Schoolof

SocialSciencesandHumanities,FacultyofArtsandEducation,MurdochUniversity

•KatheKirby,ExecutiveDirection,AsiaEducationFoundation•TonyMackay,Chairman,AustralianInstituteforTeachingandSchool

Leadership•SueMann,CEO,EducationServicesAustralia•ProfSimonMarginson,ChairofHigherEducation,Melbourne

GraduateSchoolofEducation,TheUniversityofMelbourne•ProfBarryMcGaw,Chairman,AustralianCurriculum,Assessment

&ReportingAuthority(ACARA)•ProfJohnO’Toole,Chair,NationalCurriculumAdvisoryPanel:

TheArts,TheUniversityofMelbourne•ProfFieldRickards,Dean,MelbourneGraduateSchoolofEducation,

TheUniversityofMelbourne,chairofAsiaEducationFoundation•KathrynRobinson,President,AsianStudiesAssociationofAustralia•AnnaRose,Co-founder,AustralianYouthClimateCoalition•AngelaScarino,Chair,NationalCurriculumAdvisoryPanel:

Languages•ProfKrishnaSen,Dean,FacultyofArts,Humanitiesand

SocialScience,UniversityofWesternAustralia•TimSmith,ExecutiveOfficer,NationalCatholicEducation

Commission•ShereeVertigan,President,AustralianSecondaryPrincipals’

Association•AmeetaMullaWattal,Principal,SpringdalesSchool,DelhiIndia•DrGeorginaWebb,ActingBranchManager,NationalCurriculum

Branch,NationalCurriculum,AssessmentandReportingGroup,AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofEducation,EmploymentandWorkplaceRelations

•MaureenWelch,Director,AsiaEducationFoundation•HelenWildash,ExecutiveDirector,Curriculum,SouthAustralian

DepartmentofEducationandChildren’sServices,memberACARA

“we have a choice: invest seriously in achieving asia literacy through school and higher education, or fail to equip young australians for their future in the asian Century.”

helen wildash

david hill John firth angela sCarino kathe kirby

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Changingpatternsofdiseasechallengeoursecurity.Pandemicsremainanissue,butrapidandoftenunplannedurbanisationinmegacitiesintheregionhasseenasharpriseintheprevalenceofnon-communicablediseases.Theseincludechroniccardiovasculardisease,stroke,diabetes,chronicrespiratoryillness,cancerandmentalillness.Thesearediseasesthatconfoundwesternattemptstocontrol.Intheabsenceofwell-conceivedintervention,thecostsofchroniccarewillprovecatastrophictothealreadyburdenedandfragilehealthsystemsofdevelopingcountriesinourregion.

ProfessorTonyMcMichael,NationalCentreforEpidemiologyandPopulationHealth,AustralianNationalUniversity,saidtheregionwasincreasinglybecomingacentrefortheemergenceofnewviraldiseases,aspopulationsgrew,peoplemovementincreased,andcommerceintensified.

“Nationalandinternationalagenciesmustlinktheirdataandshareunderstandingofthisinfectiousdiseasethreat.Concernabouthealthrisksfromdemographic,climaticandenvironmentalchangesintheAsianregionshouldnotbejustanadd-onitem,”hesaid.“Itisfundamentaltothefuturehealthofallpopulations.”

“Asia’shealthisourhealth”,wastheunderlyingthemeinformingdiscussionfortheHealthandDevelopmentstream.Futureprosperityandon-goingdevelopmentinAustraliaandtheAsiaPacificwereseenasinextricablylinkedtotheeconomic,social,politicalandsecuritystabilityofourregion.

“Wecan’thaveasecureregionwithoutthehealthanddevelop-mentsectorsworkingcloselywithnationalsecuritypolicymakersandDiplomacy,”saidMarcPurcell,ExecutiveDirectoroftheAustralianCouncilforInternationalDevelopment(ACFID).

Thefosteringandbrokeringofcollaborationacrossallsectorswascrucialforfindingthesolutionstokeyissues,forthedeliveryofservices,andforourwiderengagementwiththeregion.Whateverthetypesofpartnerships–people-to-people,organisation-to-organisation,whole-of-government,multi-sectoral,andmulti-level–new,cooperativeapproachestohealthanddevelopmentpracticewastheonlywayforward.

Thegroupargued,however,foranewapproachtopartnerships–ashiftawayfromtheoldconceptofdependence,toonebasedonmutualrespectandinterdependence.

“Australiaisonlystartingtounderstandtheimportanceandtorealisetheneedforrespectasawayofsolvingissues–ourscience,forinstance,maynotbetheonlywayforward,”saidProfessorBeverlyRaphael,ProfessorofPsychologicalMedicine,AustralianNationalUniversity.

ThegroupstressedthatcountriessuchasChinawereinvestingheavilyinlong-rangeplanningandprogramminginthescienceandhealthfields.

“Thetrapoffallingintoclient/patronwaysofdeliveringaidisnotacceptableinChina,”saidDrChrisMorgan,PrincipalFellow,CentreforInternationalHealth,MacfarlaneBurnetInstituteforMedicalResearchandPublicHealth.“Weneedtobeequalpartnerswithlocalownership.Weneedtofocusonwhatbothsidesdon’tknowabouttheissuesasyet–andlearntogether.”

ProfessorRobMoodie,ChairofGlobalHealth,NossalInstituteUniversityofMelbourne,saidthereweremanythingsweasacountrywerenotdoingwell,forexampleobesity,harmfromalcoholandmentalillness.

“Weneedtorethinkandreshaperegionalpartnershipstodealwithcommonproblems.Weneednetworksofmutuality.”Genuinelisteningtopartners’needsandchallengeswasessential,andrequiredadeeperunderstandingofthediverseculturesinourregion.

the health and development breakout discussion took place against the backdrop of a rapidly changing global health landscape. sArs, h1n1 influenza, and other pandemic threats require a new level of public health preparedness – demanding cooperation and coordination across sectors and geographic boundaries. the traditional view of global health as a purely development issue was acknowledged as severely outdated.

rob Moodie Chris Morgan saM prinCe

Chairs rob Moodie and graham brown

breakout sessions seCtor report

health and developMent

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“Weneedtolistencarefullytoourneighbours.Ifwedon’tunder-standtheculturalissues,whatdrivesthewayspeopleliveandworkintheregion,wecan’tmakeprogress.Weneedtofindnewmechanismstogrowthisunderstanding,”AssociateProfessorCheeNg,DirectorInternationalUnitofPsychiatryatTheUniversityofMelbourne,Co-DirectorofAsia-AustraliaMentalHealth,said.

“It’sineveryone’sintereststohavehealthypopulations,”saidLyndalTrevena,AssociateDean(International)andDirectoroftheOfficeforGlobalHealth,UniversityofSydney.

WhilerecognisingthediversityoftheAsianregion,itwasagreedthattheevolvingnatureofsocieties–forexample,astheystruggletocopewithmegacities,whereuniqueandnewproblemswillarise–hasresultedinenormouscommonandmutualhealthanddevelopmentproblems.Manyofthesehavesignificantanddamagingimpactacrossallaspectsofsociety,especiallyonmaternalandchildhealth.Thegroupagreedtherewasanurgentlegitimacyforhealthanddevelopmentissuestobeontheagendaatexistingregionalmeetingsandforums,orasanessentialplankintheprocessofregionalarchitecturerenewal,alongsideeconomicandsecurityconversations.

“Weneedanincreaseintheamountofeducationandcommunityawarenessofhealthanddevelopmentissuestoimproveoutcomesandunderstandingoftheregion,”saidProfessorGrahamBrown,FoundationDirector,NossalInstituteforGlobalHealth,UniversityofMelbourne.

recommendAtions1EffectiveandstrategichealthanddevelopmentrelationshipsbetweenAustraliaandAsiaarevitaltothesuccessofourengagementinothersignificantareas,includingbusiness,thearts,education,securityanddiplomacy.Assuch,HealthandDevelopmentneedstoberepresentedinexistingandfutureregionalforums.2ThecurrentwaysAustraliadeliversitsinternationalaidneedstobereworkedtotakeintoaccountchangingpatternsofdiseaseandsocio-economicstatusofnations.3Australiamustreshapeengagementinthehealthandothersectorstodeveloprealcollaborationbasedonmutualrespectandwithoutcomesthatfocusonsolvingproblemsthataffectusall.4Australiangovernmentsandinstitutionsmustsupport,throughadequatefunding,initiativestoeducateourselvesandassistourregionalneighboursinbuildingbasichealthliteracyasawaytoimprovingoutcomesforallsectors.

pArticipAnts•ProfWarwickAndersonAM,CEO,AustraliaNationalHealth

andMedicalResearchCouncil•DrKateArmstrong,CEO,CLANInternational•PeterBaxter,DirectorGeneral,AustralianAgencyforInternational

Development•ProfGrahamBrownAM,FoundationDirector,NossalInstituteforGlobal

Health,TheUniversityofMelbourne•BenedictDavid,PrincipalHealthAdvisor,AusAID•DimityFifer,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,AustralianVolunteersInternational•KerryFlanagan,A/gDeputySecretary,DepartmentofHealthandAgeing•PaulHarris,GeneralManagerGovernmentandInternational

Engagement,CSIRO• JuliaFraser,AssociateDirectorAsialinkAsiaSociety•AssocProfRajivKhanna,Director,AustralianCentreforVaccine

Development•ProfAbdMalakAM,ExecutiveDirector,WorkforceandOrganisational

Development,SydneyWestAreaHealthService•ProfBruceMcKellar,RegionalChair,InternationalCouncilforScience,

TheUniversityofMelbourne•ProfTonyMcMichael,Professor,NationalCentreforEpidemiology

andPopulationHealth,TheAustralianNationalUniversity•MarkMetherell,HealthCorrespondent,SydneyMorningHerald

andTheAge,CanberraBureau•DrChrisMorgan,PrincipalFellow,TheBurnetInstitute•ProfRobMoodie,ChairofGlobalHealth,NossalInstituteforGlobal

Health,TheUniversityofMelbourne•AntonioMozqueira,AssistantDirector,OfficeoftheChiefScientist•AssocProfCheeNg,Director,St.Vincent’sMentalHealthService•ProfRobynNorton,PrincipalDirector,TheGeorgeInstitutefor

InternationalHealth•DavidParoissien,ProgramManager,LeadershipandCommunity

HealthPrograms,Asialink•PaulPower,CEO,RefugeeCouncilofAustralia•DrSamPrince,JohnJamesPrivateHospitalCanberra•MarcPurcell,ExecutiveDirector,AustralianCouncilforInternational

Development•ProfBeverleyRaphaelAM,ProfessorPopulationMentalHealthand

Disasters,UniversityofWesternSydney•ProfPennySackett,ChiefScientist,OfficeoftheChiefScientist•ProfLyndalTrevena,AssociateDean(International),SydneyMedical School,TheUniversityofSydney•ProfAnthonyZwi,Convenor,GolbalHealthFacultyofMedicine,

TheUniversityofNewSouthWales

“asia’s health is our health”: experts say a new, more collaborative, approach is critical to solving future issues

peter baxter kate arMstrong Julia fraser

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The arts were acknowledged as central to Australia’s future engagement with Asia and integral to the development of an Asia literate Australia. Indeed cultural engagement was seen as fundamental to how Australia must project itself. ‘Soft-power’ – or ‘persuasive influence’ – is used in increasingly sophisticated ways by other Asian countries and in other regions.

It was recognised that over many decades, Australian artists and organisations have developed strong partnerships and numerous projects throughout Asia. However, this engagement has been sporadic and poorly resourced. Without a pro-active and strategic focus, Australia risks being left behind and excluded from crucial regional cultural networks. These are already being established to meet the growing demands of this rich and booming sector.

Robyn Archer said: “We must communicate a clear strategy... to expand on existing activity and collaboration in the region”.

The ArTs in AsiA Are booming“Asia is booming in the contemporary Arts sector. There is no question that this is the case,” said Dr Gene Sherman AM, Chairman and Executive Director, Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation. The Australian cultural sector is now presented with major challenges and opportunities.

Libby Christie, Executive Director Arts Funding, Australia Council for the Arts, said the potential benefits to artists of increased networking and collaboration across the region were significant. “We need to create a framework for genuine and sustained engagement to support creative projects, the development of artists’ careers and the promotion of their work,” she said.

AusTrAliA mArginAlisedIn the absence of a committed strategic focus on our arts engagement with the region, Australia risks becoming marginalised and increasingly irrelevant.

Where once Australia was a source of models of best practice and policy ideas, our investment, involvement and presence has become ‘sporadic and scattergun’, and increasingly usurped. The Asian region, in contrast, has recognised the value and benefits of a strong commitment to the arts and cultural sector which has strengthened on both a country and regional basis.

Douglas Gautier, CEO Adelaide Festival Centre said the “Asian century” required concerted action from the Arts sector for a plan for the next 10 years. “We need to sit down with key organisations and nut out an agenda of things we can do. Relevant media such as SBS and the ABC also need to be there.”

The group agreed there was an opportunity to capitalise – for national as well as artistic reasons – on the myriad cultural exchanges, artist, curator and organisational relationships already formed. However, this will require a strategic approach, skills and resources. Further discussion is required on whether it is time to establish a specialist Australian international cultural body and whether a quota should be applied to ensure the resourcing and prioritising of Asian cultural projects.

In this breakout session there was much stress placed on reciprocity in the development of people-to-people relationships. An ‘audience development’ model for engagement with Asia – that is, a model based solely on market considerations, on increasing audiences and income for Australian-developed product – will only have limited usefulness. “This reinforces the idea that Asia exists externally from Australia. If we stick with this old model we are only a small part of the dialogue,” said Aaron Seeto, Director 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.

spear-headed by performer and festival director, robyn Archer, the Arts and Culture sector group had significant representation from Commonwealth and state arts policy and funding bodies, key arts organisations and infrastructure, artists, academics, curators and directors.

robyn archer rachel kent frances lindsay alison carroll

chairs robyn archer and alison carroll

breakout sessions sector report

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understAnding AsiATheArtshaveacrucialroletoplayinimprovingAsialiteracy,notjustinculturalbutalsoinothersectors,andacrossthecommunityingeneral.

“Culturalknowledgeandunderstandingisattheheartofmanychallengeswithintheregion,”PennyHutchinson,DirectorArtsVictoria,said.“TheArtssectorneedstobefrontandcentre.Wehaveahugeroletoplay.Weneedtodevelopaframeworktoconvinceothersectorsthatourroleisimportantandcrucial.Weneedtomapofwhatisgoingonnow,thenplanthefuture”.

Australia’sbesthopeforsuccesswoulddependonutilisingexistingnetworkstodeveloppartnershipsacrossallsectors,includingeducationandbusiness,andacrossalllevelsofgovernment.

“Weneedtoreachoutandworktogetherontheground,”saidFionaHoggart,DirectorCulturalDiplomacySection,DepartmentofForeignAffairsandTrade.

recommendAtionsASteeringCommitteeshouldbeformedtodevelopa10-yearstrategicplanforincreasedandeffectiveculturalengagementbetweenAustraliaandAsia.Itisproposedthattheplanwillmapthecurrentstatus,identifykeyissues,goalsandprojectsandrecommendanagendaforactionto2020.TheSteeringCommitteeshouldbeco-ordinatedbyAsialink.Followingappropriateresearchandconsultation,areportidentifyingrecommendationswillbepresentedtotheAustralianInternationalCulturalCouncil.

Thestrategicplanshouldaddressthefollowingpriorities:1Developequitableandcollaborativerelationshipsthroughpeople-to-peopleprojects,mutualdialogue,reciprocityandactiveparticipationinAsianregionalnetworks.2Actcollegiallyandutiliseexistingnetworkstodevelopstrongcross-sectorpartnershipsbetweenprivate,philanthropicandalllevelsofgovernment,andacrossart-forms.3ImprovetheculturalliteracyoftheartssectoranditsaudiencestoimproveunderstandingandcapitaliseontheopportunitiesoftheAsiancenturythrougheducation,publicprogramandadvocacyinitiatives.

pArticipAnts•LesleyAlway,BoardMemberOperaAustraliaandthe

AustralianCentreforContemporaryArt•RobynArcherAO,performer,writer,ArtisticDirector(Centenary

ofCanberra,LightinWinter)•SarahBond,DirectorVisualArts,Asialink•AlisonCarrollAM,ArtsDirectorAsialink•LibbyChristie,ExecutiveDirector,ArtsFunding,Australia

CouncilfortheArts•RichardEvans,CEO,SydneyOperaHouse•DouglasGautier,CEOandArtisticDirector,AdelaideFestival

Centre•ProfessorDennisHaskell,ChairLiteratureBoard,Australia

CouncilfortheArts•FionaHoggart,DirectorCulturalDiplomacy,Department

ofForeignAffairsandTrade•PennyHutchinson,Director,ArtsVictoria•StephanieJohnston,Director,WakefieldPress•RachelKent,SeniorCurator,MuseumofContemporaryArt•KarenLanyon,AssistantSecretary,PublicDiplomacyBranch

DepartmentofForeignAffairsandTrade•FrancesLindsay,DeputyDirector,NationalGalleryofVictoria•RupertMyerAM,Chairman,NationalGalleryofAustralia•AlicePung,Author•AlexandraReid,ExecutiveDirector,ArtsSA•AaronSeeto,Director,Gallery4A•DrGeneShermanAM,ChairmanandExecutiveDirector,

ShermanContemporaryArtFoundation•ProfTedSnellAM,ChairVisualArtsBoard,AustraliaCouncil

fortheArts•MarkTaylor,AssistantSecretary,ArtsDevelopmentandTraining

DepartmentofEnvironmentWater,HeritageandtheArts.•DrCarolineTurnerAM,SeniorResearchFellow,Australian

NationalUniversity•ProfAdrianVickers,DirectorAustralianCentreforAsianArt&

Archaeology,UniversityofSydney•RichardWatson,GeneralManager,AsiaPacificScreenAwards

&ManagerMajorEventsArtsQueensland•DavidWhitney,Director,ArtsACT

the arts were acknowledged as central to australia’s future engagement with asia, and integral to the development of an asia literate-australia.

alison Carroll

douglas gautier fiona hoggart lesley alway aliCe pung

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“Idon’tmeanwedon’tgoondoingsomeofthis,butthefocustodayisoncollaboration.ItwasthereintheAmbassadors’luncheondiscussion,andit’scomingthroughagaininthereportsfromthedifferentbreakoutgroups.DowehaveanewparadigmhereforthinkingaboutAustralia-Asiaengagement?ArewetalkingmuchmoreaboutAustraliaincollaborativeengagementsintheAsianregion?Thishascomeupinthearts,inthehealtharea,inthediscussionaboutinvestmentandthecallforaregionalresearchcommunity.”

TherewereconcernsaboutwhetherthisnewthinkingwasonlypresentamongpeopleactiveinAustralia-Asiaengagement.ThepointwasstressedthatmuchworkisstillneededtobringthewholeoftheAustraliancommunityintoa“nationalconversation”ontheseissues.

TheneedforsuchaprocesswasunderlinedbyareportfromDrMalcolmCook,LowyInstituteProgramDirectorforEastAsia.HeobservedthatrecentopinionpollingshowedpopularsentimentssometimesrunningcountertothefactsandevenAustralia’snationalinterests.

“WhenweaskedAustraliansacoupleofyearsagohowtheyviewedIndonesia,itwasasthoughtheyhadbeenunderarockfortenyears.SomanystillthoughtitwascontrolledbythemilitaryandwasathreattoAustralia,”hetoldthegroup.

ChairsofeachoftheSectorbreakoutdiscussionsdeliveredtheirgroups’recommendations(seeSectorchaptersforfulldetails).Theseoutcomes–thoughfromdiversegroups–capturedthreecommonthemes:

1ThatadvancingAustralia’sincreasinglycomplexrelationshipsinthecountriesoftheAsianregionrequiresmorequalifiedAustralians–andthatGovernmentsandallsectorsmustinvestlong-terminequippingAustralianswithskillsandunderstandingsfortheAsianCentury.

2ThatwemustactcollegiallyinourAsiarelationshipsinordertosolvecommonproblemsandtoachievesuccessfuloutcomes.Thisrequiresgreaterresourcinganddevelopmentofpeople-to-peoplelinksandanemphasison“networksofmutuality”.

3ThatthewiderAustralianpublicmusturgentlybebroughtintoanational“conversation”abouttheimperativeofAustralia-Asiaengagement.

the 2010 Asialink Asia society national Forum revealed a remarkable shift in Australia’s thinking about Asia. As reports of each of the sector sessions were delivered to the entire group at the conclusion of the day, professor tony milner drew attention to a possible new “tone” in the discussion. there seemed to be a move away from “thinking about Australia as united states ally, Australia as aid-giver, Australia as the spreader of global and western values,” he said.

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