Australia’s Defence – what can we afford?
Australia is a long way from the percentages of GDP that we expended when we fought major wars. Australia has an unprecedented dependence on the US. When we were last so dependent our effort to prepare and mobilise for WW2 was massive. What should we be doing now?
Defence Strategic Review, Map p.27
The Honourable Kim Beazley AC
The Honourable Kim Beazley AC was the 33rd Governor of Western Australia (2018-2022).
Prior to being installed as Governor, Mr Beazley dedicated almost three decades to a career in Federal Parliament, representing the WA seats of Brand and Swan.
In 2009, Mr Beazley was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the Parliament of Australia through contributions to the development of government policies in relation to defence and international relations, and as an advocate for Indigenous people, and to the community.
Mr Beazley was born in Perth, Western Australia. He completed a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts at the University of Western Australia. In 1973, he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for Western Australia and completed a Masters of Philosophy at Oxford University.
Mr Beazley was a Minister in the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments (1983-1996) holding, at various times, the portfolios of Defence, Finance, Transport and Communications, Employment Education and Training, Aviation, and Special Minister of State.
From 1995 to 1996, Mr Beazley was Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1996 to 2001, and 2005 to 2006. Mr Beazley served on parliamentary committees, including the Joint Intelligence Committee and the Joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee.
After his retirement from politics in 2007, Mr Beazley was appointed Winthrop Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at The University of Western Australia.
In July 2008 he was appointed Chancellor of the Australian National University, a position he held until December 2009.
Mr Beazley took up an appointment as Ambassador to the United States of America in February 2010. He served as Ambassador until January 2016.
Mr Beazley is currently Chair of the Perth USAsia Centre Board, Board Member of Luerssen Australia, Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Australian Strategic Policy Intitute, Advisor to Lockheed Martin Australia, Chair of the Council for the Australian War Memorial and Advisor to TG & Associates.
Lunch Sponsor
The Williams Foundation thanks Lockheed Martin for their sponsorship of this lunch.
