Faculty scholar in ASEAN Relationship Inquiry

On 12 September, Professor Tony Milner [left], Basham Professor of Asian History in the Faculty of Asian Studies at the Australian National University, appeared before the Inquiry into Australia's Relationship with ASEAN, an inquiry of the Commonwealth Parliament Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

Professor Milner stressed the need to acknowledge that Australia requires a highly sophisticated diplomatic and intelligence operation. This needs proper resourcing as a matter of national interest, and national security. He pointed out that organizations formally independent of government but which maintain close working relations with government officials are a strong feature of the ASEAN region and should also be encouraged and promoted. Professor Milner stressed the importance of education, presenting depressing figures relating to the study of Southeast Asian languages in the university system, and suggested that this educational base is inadequate in terms of Australia's national interest.

Text of submission