Australians studying Asia:
the ASAA 1976-1997

http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/King/King01.html

Rebecca King

Chapter Four: The Lobbying of Business

When the Association first lobbied Australian business to become involved in Asia it was a novel idea, but other groups have now taken over this role. The Association's attempts were however sporadic and not uniform in intent.

The FitzGerald Committee had as one of its recommendations the need to make deliberate efforts to promote the employment prospects of Asian studies graduates[1]. In 1979 two meetings had been held between business (and press) figures and the ASAA Executive, in Melbourne and Sydney[2]. These were organised by the FitzGerald Committee, but were less concerned with employment prospects than with informing and educating business people of the dramatic changes in Asia[3]. The discussions were perceived by the Executive as worthwhile in making contacts with business and establishing what business needed to know about Asia and the ways in which the Association could be involved[4].

At the 1986 Conference a panel meeting and luncheon was held under the title 'Doing Business with Asia'. The aim was to promote greater contact between Australian business people with interests in Asian countries, and Asianists in universities and colleges. The emphasis at this meeting was on the potential mutual benefit from sharing knowledge. The invitation to participate in the conference highlighted the knowledge that ASAA members could impart to business leaders about cultures in various parts of Asia. At the same time there was also a realisation of a lack of awareness among ASAA members of the extent and significance of Australian business expertise on the various Asian countries[5].

At the 1990 Conference a panel discussion on 'Business and Asian studies' was held. Here the focus had altered again. There was a reversal of the earlier notions that the ASAA could help business by providing knowledge about events and culture in the region, to the idea that business could promote and support the study of Asia. The November 1990 Review carried a report of the panel discussion by a participant, Peter Church of Freehill Hollingdale and Page[6], and was followed by a series of articles by a range of academics, government personnel and business people in a special edition of 'Asian Studies and Australian business' (April 1991)[7].

The ASAA attempts at lobbying business can be characterised by grand plans for regular and continuing contact with the business world, but the ASAA itself has never successfully fulfilled this role. For example the FitzGerald Committee proposed business-press dinners in all capital cities, yet these occurred only in Sydney and Melbourne[8]. At the August 1980 AGM and then again at the August 1981 Council Meeting the need to establish a 'Businessman's Advisory Committee' was raised[9] but it was never formed. The Executive was to organise a business lunch for May 1985[10]: but this never took place, and a subsequent lunch planned for April 1986 was cancelled[11]. A plan conceived at the 28th March 1985 Meeting of the Executive to encourage trade union participation in ASAA lobbying of business was never activated[12]. This pattern of proposals that were not followed through continued. At a November 1984 Meeting Council planned to request conference organisers to consider luncheons for business people in conjunction with conferences[13]: a 'Doing Business with Asia' panel took place at the 1986 Conference but it was 1990 before business again became an issue at a conference. The 1986 Conference was planned as a first step in a continuing dialogue. Despite expressions of eagerness at the conference to further build such contacts and the suggestion at the Conference Council Meeting to set up a 'contact committee' this did not eventuate[14].

This lack of follow through can be attributed perhaps to the fact that ASAA-business contacts were perceived as only indirectly related to education issues, the prime focus of members or at least the area in which most members were employed. Certainly it appears that there was a lack of time and volunteers to organise and take responsibility for promoting a continuing relationship with business[15]. The concept of business and academics discussing Asia was still a novelty[16], some ASAA members were not necessarily interested[17], and the task was difficult. Nonetheless seven business and media managers were expected at the Sydney 1979 Meeting[18]; in 1986, twenty five to thirty business people were anticipated at a conference lunch[19].

In 1986 the Asian Studies Council[20] was set up and it subsequently commissioned the Ingleson Report (1989)[21] which emphasised industry and employer demands in its appraisal of future directions for Asian studies in Australia. As recently as 1994 the ASAA held a Conference-associated seminar, 'Doing Business in Indonesia'[22], but business links were no longer considered to be a major or ongoing issue for the ASAA. This can be interpreted as the Association becoming less of a lobby group and more focussed on academic matters; an alternative view is that the role has now been taken over by other organisations outside the academic mainstream. Business and political based research centres such as Asia-Australia Institute (affiliated with the University of New South Wales)[23], Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific (Sydney University) and Asialink (University of Melbourne) have been concerned not only with involving business people with Asia, but also with assisting them in the acquisition of skills and knowledge to do so[24].

In the period that the ASAA formed Australian business was largely not aware of business opportunities in Asia and the Association recognised this ignorance. In the 1990s this view is no longer valid as the economic progress of many parts of Asia is well known to all Australians. The ASAA's direct influence on increased Australian business dealings with Asia has been minimal. Australian financial institutions, law firms, accountancy firms and major companies became involved in Asia, with other enterprises following, as Australian Governments (Federal and State) promoted and assisted business contacts and as the financial media increased coverage on Asia.

Footnotes

[1] R8 (i) in Asia in Australia Education: Report of the Committee on Asian studies of the Asian Studies Association of Australia, Volume 3 Resolutions of the Association, Canberra, 1980, p2.

[2] 'ASAA-busines(sic)-press luncheon Sydney, July 1979'. In folder labelled 'AC Committee FitzGerald and others to 1980', MS8054, 13/9/88 consignment, box 3 of 6. Among others attending were: Dr Barry Aldrich, Sugar Division, CSR Limited, Mr D Bowman, Editor in Chief Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Brian Mulvey, Controller of News, Australian Broadcasting Commission, Mr J Roberts, James Hardie and Co Pty Ltd, Mr F Devine, Editor-in-Chief, Readers Digest. See draft thank you letters in folder labelled 'AS Committee FitzGerald and others to 1980', MS8054, 13/9/88 consignment, box 2 of 6.

[3] 'Summary of the FitzGerald Committee Meeting, 20 October 1978'. In folder labelled 'AC Committee FitzGerald and others to 1980', MS8054, 13/9/88 consignment, box 3 of 6.

[4] 'ASAA News March Council Meeting from J Ingleson, Secretary', ASAA Review, vol3, no3, April 1980, pp48-50, p48. Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, (Reference: Australia and ASEAN) Official Hansard transcript of evidence, vol2, Canberra, 1980, 6 May, 1980, pp1446-1535, pp1484, 1491.

[5] Letter from Jamie (Mackie) to 'David', nd. In folder labelled 'letters received and sent', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 4 of 4. 'An invitation to 'Doing Business with Asia Intercultural Aspects' Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) Biennial Conference Session'. Private papers of John Ingleson. 'Doing Business with Asia Intercultural Aspects, ASAA Conference Panel, 13 May 1986'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[6] Church, PC, 'Asian Studies and Australian Business', Asian Studies Review, vol14, no2, November, 1990, pp101-103. Eighth Biennial ASAA Conference, Griffith University, 2-5 July, 1990. 'Australia and Asia: Meeting the Challenge of the Future'.

[7] 'Asian Studies and Australian Business', Asian Studies Review, vol14, no3, April 1991, pp1-42. Articles and comments by: Malcolm J Overland, Director General, CAI International, John Willett, Bangkok University, Graham Maguire, Chair, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Helen Marriott, Monash University, JD Legge, Monash University, Andrew D Grummet, Chair, ASEAN Australia Business Council, Douglas R Watson, General Manager, Asia Pacific, ANZ Bank, TH Bryan, Managing Director, International Port Management Services, P&O Australia, Deidre Light, Yenergy Productions, Terry O'Reilly, Pacific Coal Pty Ltd, Clive T Edwards, University of Queensland.

[8] 'Summary of the FitzGerald Committee Meeting, 20 October 1978'. In folder labelled 'AC Committee FitzGerald and others to 1980', MS8054, 13/9/88 consignment, box 3 of 6. A meeting in Brisbane may have been held. Conversation with John Ingleson, Sydney, 16th October 1997.

[9] 'Minutes of the Council Meeting of the ASAA held on Saturday 29 August 1981 at the University of New South Wales'. In folder labelled 'Council Meeting August 1981', MS8054, 13/9/88 consignment, box 3 of 6.

[10] 'Asian Studies Association of Australia. Meeting of the Executive of Council at ANU, Thursday 28 March 1985'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[11] 'Minutes of the Meeting of the Council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia at Womens College, University of Sydney, 11 May 1986'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[12] 'Asian Studies Association of Australia. Meeting of the Executive of Council at ANU, Thursday 28 March 1985'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[13] 'Minutes of the meeting of the council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia, held on Friday November 30 1984 at the University of NSW'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[14] 'Minutes of the Meeting of the Council of the ASAA at Women's College, University of Sydney, 11 May 1986'. In folder labelled 'ASAA Conference 1988: ASAA Council', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 3 of 4. Letter from Jamie (Mackie) to 'David', nd. In folder labelled 'letters received and sent', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 4 of 4.

[15] Letter from Jamie (Mackie) to 'David', nd. In folder labelled 'letters received and sent', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 4 of 4. Ingleson, J, 'ASAA Council Meeting 30 November 1984: Secretary's Report'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[16] Conversation with John Ingleson, Sydney, 28th July, 1997.

[17] Letter from Jamie (Mackie) to 'David', nd. In folder labelled 'letters received and sent', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 4 of 4.

[18] 'ASAA News August Executive Meeting', ASAA Review, vol3, no2, November 1979, pp3-4.

[19] 'Minutes of the Meeting of the Council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia at Womens College, University of Sydney, 11 May 1986'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[20] See Chapter One: The Lobbying of Government. 'The provision we have made for the involvement of members of the business community, including selection of the chair from this sector, is a key feature of the Council. I attach great importance to improved and more cooperative approaches between the education sector and the business community, and am pursuing several initiatives in this area'. Letter from Susan Ryan (Minister for Education) to Ian Black, (ASAA Secretary). In folder labelled 'ASAA Conference 1988: ASAA Council ', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 3 of 4.

[21] Asia in Australian Higher Education: Report of the Inquiry into the Teaching of Asian Studies and languages in Higher Education, submitted to the Asian Studies Council, Kensington, NSW, 1989.

[22] Council Minutes, 6 March 1994. (http://www.ssn.flinders.edu.au/asian/council/coun94-1.htm) (15/2/1997). Tenth Biennial ASAA Conference, Murdoch University, 13-16 July 1994. 'Environment, State and Society in Asia: The Legacy of the Twentieth Century'.

[23] The Asia-Australia Institute is headed by Stephen FitzGerald.

[24] Conversation with John Ingleson, Sydney, 28th July, 1997.

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