December 19, 2024
The recommendations of the Labor–commissioned ‘Independent Review of Commonwealth funding for strategic policy work’ – most of which the Albanese Government has accepted – would see the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) neutered, silencing an influential voice in the national security debate at a time when it is most needed.
The Albanese Government’s agreement to the recommendation to defund ASPI’s office in Washington D.C. could not come at a worse time ahead of President Trump’s inauguration next month. ASPI built significant influence with the first Trump administration. The D.C. office has been instrumental in convening influential networks in Washington, which it leverages for visiting Australian ministers, parliamentarians, and officials. This is access that the Albanese Government will struggle to replicate given the extensive, unwise and inappropriate comments made by senior Ministers about President Trump.
Shutting down this track 2.0 diplomatic tool at a pivotal moment would leave Australia as one of the few governments in the world without an independent voice in the policy community in D.C.
The Review also seeks to shatter ASPI’s financial security by opening up its core funding to competitive tender, which will undermine its independence and contestability as it will be incentivised to please the government of the day to ensure its funding is continued. The government’s in-principle agreement to this recommendation is telling, as it would enable Labor to coerce organisations like ASPI to toe the party line on China.
By accepting the recommendations of the Review, the government has also threatened the funding of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue (AALD), which has built deep interpersonal links with our most critical ally for generations of parliamentarians, officials, industry, academia, and military officers for over 30 years.
Given the dire strategic environment, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles should be examining ways to increase our voice and deepen our connections with our most important ally, not undermine this critical relationship.
Cutting ASPI’s funding will also send a dangerous message to academics and researchers in Australia that any work they do in the national interest which is critical of the Chinese government could see their own support revoked, in line with the 14 demands made by the Chinese Embassy.
The Albanese Labor Government should immediately reverse course and empower independent voices in Australia’s national security debate to assist governments prepare for the strategic challenges that lay ahead.
ENDS
