Terms of Reference

The greatest influence on the future prosperity of Australia is the dramatic shift of economic power and, as a result, strategic weight to Asia.

This shift has been underway for some time but has never been more rapid or more profound for Australia’s interests.

We are a decade into the Asian Century. Is Australia ready to take advantage of the great opportunities this transformative event will bring? Is Australia prepared for the changes – here at home and in our external relations – that will also come? What do we need to do to better prepare Australia?

Scope

The Australian Government has commissioned a White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century. The work on the White Paper will be led by Dr Ken Henry AC and will be completed by mid-2012. The White Paper will involve a comprehensive review of economic and strategic change in Asia and its implications and opportunities for Australia.

The White Paper will consider:

  • the current and likely future course of economic, political and strategic change in Asia, encompassing China, India, the key ASEAN countries as well as Japan and the Republic of Korea;
  • the domestic economic and social opportunities and challenges of the Asian Century for Australia;
  • opportunities for a significant deepening of our engagement with Asia across the board, including in the economy, science and technology collaboration, clean energy, education, business-to-business and people-to-people links and culture;
  • the political and strategic implications of the Asian Century for Australia; and
  • the role of effective economic and political regional and global cooperation.

The White Paper will, most importantly, consider current Australian policy settings and make judgements on:

  • a high-level strategy to enhance Australia’s navigation of the Asian Century, including appropriate policy settings. The focus will be on opportunities to increase the economic and other net benefits to Australia from the global economic and strategic shift to Asia in the short, medium and long term;
  • early actions which are able to be taken within five years of the submission of the review; and
  • further policy initiatives which may be developed over the medium-to-longer term, out to 2025.

Governance and Timelines

As Advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr Ken Henry AC, will lead work on the preparation of the White Paper.

Dr Henry will be supported by a high-level Advisory Panel, comprising senior officials and external advisers. The Panel is comprised of:

  • Professor Peter Drysdale AM, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Australian National University;
  • Mr John W H Denton, Partner and CEO, Corrs Chambers Westgarth;
  • Ms Catherine Livingstone AO, Chair, Telstra Corporation; 
  • Dr Gordon de Brouwer, Associate Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet;
  • Dr David Gruen, Executive Director, The Treasury; and
  • Dr Heather Smith, Deputy Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Dr Henry will also work with a task force based in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet with representation from the Treasury and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other agencies as required.

A Committee of Cabinet, supported by an appropriate Secretaries Committee and including Dr Henry and his external advisers, will be established to review progress on the White Paper, which will be considered by the full Cabinet in the first half of 2012.

The White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century will be released in mid-2012.

Public consultation

The White Paper will include an intensive process of consultation with the Australian community, business, academia and international partners.

A series of public consultation forums will be held and the process will call for submissions from interested parties.

Download the Terms of Reference