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Unless we choose to make developing Asia capability a priority as a nation, we’re choosing to leave our future security and prosperity to be determined by others.

As a nation, we must Choose Asia and develop this sovereign capability, or risk watching regional changes from the sidelines.

Forty years of reports to government have warned that if Australia wants to shape our own future, we need to build a greater knowledge of the languages, cultures and history of our neighbours.

Despite this, our Asia capability has been in decline for decades. We’re now reaching a crisis point.

“Their combination of democratic faith with political scepticism, and their willingness to switch votes based on policy considerations, makes them an important and discerning segment of the Australian electorate.”

It was wonderful seeing MPs, school groups & members of the public captivated by the public performance.

I’m just thankful that they chose a performance from their new production of R&J rather than their recently concluded production of Coriolanus. It would have made for quite the different vibe!

Peter Dutton's speech today, like his approach to foreign policy, was reckless and arrogant.

It didn't even try to do the basics of what is required from Australian foreign policy at this moment and was gratuitously insulting along the way.

He's a risk Australia can't afford.

It's extraordinary that nearly sixty years later, Peter Dutton gave a foreign policy vision speech in which understanding Asia was effectively absent.

No mention of Indonesia, ASEAN or India.

It's no exaggeration to say that Asian engagement just isn't part of his world view.

Honourable mention for this strikingly unique auto-biography...

Not much new fiction this year as I've found myself re-reading old favourites for comfort...

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#Books
#BookSky
📚📚📚
#BookChallenge
19/20

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#Books
#BookSky
📚📚📚
#BookChallenge
18/20