The Conversation’s series, Australia in the Asian Century, culminated this month in a roundtable hosted by Ken Henry, chair of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s taskforce on Asia.
For an hour, five Conversation authors talked language, science, finance, climate change and health with one of the government’s most trusted advisors.
We’ve put together a short video of Ken’s fascinating discussion with our experts on Asia.
We hope you enjoy it.
You can catch up on the articles from the Australia in the Asian Century series here.
Michael Woodhead
Editor
As with a lot of Australian discussions about "Asia" there seems to be an assumption that it is Australia that has something to offer/teach Asia rather than vice versa. I've just come back from China and we could learn a lot about health and lifestyle from the Chinese. Contrary to the claims of an impending obesity/heart disease/diabetes epidemic among middle class Chinese, I saw people eating a healthier diet and being more active than the average Australian. Maybe this White Paper needs to get Australians to question their own assumptions about what is best.
Wei Ling Chua
Freelance Journalist (night passion) at Self-Employed: Picture Framing/Wholesales
I agree fully with Michael observation. It is this kind of artificial sense of superiority that have hindered the ability of the West to learn from otherd and make progress. Australians need to travel the world with an open mind to know that how backward and narrow minded we are. 3 years after the black Saturday in Victoria, 4 committed suicide because of the lack of government assistance [http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ashes-to-ashes-forgotten-fire-town-mourns-again-20120518-1ywba.html]. China reconstruction effort for the 2008 earth will put shame to any democratic government: http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/storyboard/special/wenchuan_renconstruction/index.shtml.
Wei Ling Chua
Freelance Journalist (night passion) at Self-Employed: Picture Framing/Wholesales
I agree fully with Michael observation. It is this kind of artificial sense of superiority that have hindered Australia ability to learn from others and make progress. Australians need to travel the world with an open mind. 3 years after Victoria Black Saturday, 4 committed suicide: [http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ashes-to-ashes-forgotten-fire-town-mourns-again-20120518-1ywba.html], Whereas, China reconstruction effort after the 2008 earthquake will put shame to our democratic society:http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/storyboard/special/wenchuan_renconstruction/index.shtml.
Peter Ormonde
Peter Ormonde is a Friend of The Conversation.
Farmer
An excellent and most constructive series all up.
But while Ken has been talking to the experts, Channel 7 has been producing a mockumentary on Asia with their new anchor woman Pauline Hanson doing an "expose" on Asian document fraud.
While there is much positive to be done, and many things that can be done to secure Australia a part of this Asian century, there is also a lot of work to be done back here changing the attitudes and prejudices that linger still in White Australian hearts if not minds. The cheap sensationalist attitudes of Channel 7's irresponsible editors would be a useful starting point.