Julian Hill (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that 8 August 2017 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has grown from its initial five members to a key regional association comprising ten of Australia’s neighbours and partners;

(2) congratulates ASEAN on five decades of patient and effective work promoting regional peace and stability while advancing economic growth, social progress and cultural development;

(3) notes that:

(a) considered collectively, ASEAN countries are Australia’s third largest trading partner, with current two-way trade surpassing $100 billion annually since 2014;

(b) more than 65 per cent of ASEAN’s population is under 35 years old, presenting a growth opportunity across the region; and

(c) Australia’s regional aid programs focusing on economic growth and human security help ensure our commitments to ASEAN countries in support of economic integration are met;

(4) welcomes the:

(a) strong partnership between Australia and ASEAN, established and deepened over 43 years; and

(b) advancement of Australia’s status as a dialogue partner and the appointment of an Australian ambassador to ASEAN;

(5) encourages the Government to place the highest priority on the 2018 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit; and

(6) calls on the Government to make the most of the opportunity presented by the 2018 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to reaffirm and strengthen Australia’s strategic partnership with ASEAN, and to identify practical actions whereby Australia can deepen its collaboration in support of ASEAN’s future success.

On 8 August 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was founded. Originally with just five members from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, it has now grown to 10 members, including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. As the most important multilateral institution in South-East Asia, it's appropriate that this House congratulates ASEAN on five decades of patient and effective work, promoting regional peace while advancing economic growth and social progress.

In 1967, South-East Asia was very different. There was mutual suspicion amongst states, enormous violence in Indochina and great power confrontation. South-East Asia today has been free of interstate conflict for decades.

A division having been called in the House of Repres en tatives—

Sitting suspended from 17:46 to 18:06

South-East Asia today has been free of interstate conflict for decades and is among the fastest growing regions in the world. Collectively, ASEAN would be the sixth-largest nation and Australia's third-largest trading partner. In congratulating our friends and neighbours on stunning progress, including hundreds of millions of people being lifted out of poverty, these are not just pleasant words. Australia has a direct and profoundly important interest in the success of ASEAN and its member states. This is our neighbourhood. Stability, peace and prosperity matter enormously.

ASEAN, like any institution, has limitations. Some have criticised ASEAN and the ASEAN ways—norms of informality, consensus and non-conflict-based decision making—but there is wisdom in these methods to keep such diverse societies at the table. And ASEAN has proved to be an enduring institution, outlasting changes in governments, including momentous transitions. It's been said often that perhaps ASEAN's greatest achievement is what has not happened and what has been central in preventing conflict in South-East Asia between member states.

Last week, I attended a seminar reflecting on 50 years of ASEAN. It was said that at its core ASEAN is a trust machine, not necessarily a product machine. A colleague observed that, as with other multilateral institutions with diverse members, 'ASEAN wasn't designed for heaven, just to stop us going to hell'. That is true at its core, but the 'heaven' and 'hell' undersells ASEAN's import, achievements and potential.

Although I accept that the international environment is anarchic, humans have a capacity for violence, and real power matters. Indeed, it's fundamental. However, I also believe that significant aspects of relations between states and peoples result from historical and social constructs and that we can influence and shape this environment with ideas and dialogue and that institutions can have a positive effect. ASEAN has facilitated dialogue not only between member states but also their neighbours and the great powers through its sponsored fora. The resultant relationships and forums underpin ambitious economic initiatives such as the ASEAN economic community. ASEAN is also a forum to tackle mutual challenges, and other issues such as migration, environment, aviation, food security, communications and many others. Where consensus exists, ASEAN has bargained externally, even as one group—for example, in the 1970s airline dispute, where Australia was in the end forced to change our approach. I warmly congratulate ASEAN on 50 years of patient, effective work.

In closing, on Australia and ASEAN, I firmly believe that Australia must and will seek closer strategic alignment with our South-East Asian neighbours, bilaterally and via ASEAN. This alone will not guarantee our security, but it makes enormous, long-term, strategic sense for us all to deepen our cooperation, given our shared interests and the growing great-power uncertainty. Having listened for years to the debate about Australia in Asia, a lot of it seems, frankly, weird. This is where we are. It isn't as if one day we will wake up and suddenly be somewhere else, as though someone might tow us over to the Atlantic overnight. These are our neighbours. Geography is not destiny, but it is reality, so let's get with it.

In March 2018 the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit will be held in Sydney, and it must be more than just symbolic. There's been a criticism made over many years, including by our neighbours in quiet conversations, that Australia says fine words but that our real substantive interest in ASEAN and South-East Asia waxes and wanes. They say that despite these nice words we are at times hot and cold, sometimes here but sometimes elsewhere. In particular there is a criticism that we haven't put the diplomatic resources in a consistent way necessary to really deepen our engagement through all the various forums. So, to really take advantage of this summit, Australia must be prepared to commit to substantive, practical steps which provide greater support to collective ASEAN priorities. Our mutual understanding, relationships and trust must deepen and develop to the point where, perhaps, one day Australia would be a logical and natural candidate for membership of ASEAN without this being a big deal or a big fuss. One day I hope such a step would not seem strange to our people or to our neighbours.

In this motion I congratulate, both personally and on behalf of the parliament, ASEAN for 50 years of patient and effective work.

See this speech in context