The Australia India Institute has been invited to make a submission to the Australian Government  advisory panel for the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper. The Institute is running a consultation session in early February 2012 with Dr Ken Henry AC, head of the task force, focusing on economic, social and political strategy.

The task force is due to report to Cabinet in the first half of 2012 and the White Paper will be released in mid 2012. The White paper is expected to make a major contribution to public debate about Australia’s relationship with Asia and establish new directions for public policy.

The White Paper will provide a national blueprint for Australia at a time of transformative economic growth and change in Asia. It will help Australia navigate the Asian Century.

The advisory panel brings together an exceptional array of experience from business, academia and government in meeting the opportunities and challenges the Asian Century poses for Australia. The panel consists of:

• Professor Peter Drysdale AM who has spent a lifetime working on Asia. He is widely regarded as the leading intellectual architect of APEC and has written extensively on international trade and economic policy in East Asia and the Pacific.

• Ms Catherine Livingstone AO who is a leading Australian business figure. She is currently Chair of Telstra Corporation and a director of a number of top Australian companies. Through her past leadership of the Australian Business Foundation, she has encouraged research and policy development to boost Australia’s capabilities and global competitiveness.

• Mr John Denton who is a partner and the Chief Executive Officer of Corrs Chambers Westgarth. He has extensive working experience in Asia. He is a board member of the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre and one of three Prime Ministerial representatives on the APEC Business Advisory Council.

Dr Henry, Professor Drysdale, Ms Livingstone and Mr Denton will also sit on a Committee of Cabinet which will be established to oversee preparation of the White Paper.

Three senior government officials will also serve with the non-Government representatives on Dr Henry’s advisory panel: Dr Gordon de Brouwer from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr David Gruen from the Treasury and Dr Heather Smith from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.