News Archive

When UWA Professor Kim Beazley was appointed Australia’s Ambassador in Washington DC it was an appointment hailed across the political spectrum. The former Defence Minister’s grasp of US history and politics, and the respect, high regard and affection in which ‘Bomber Beazley’ was held internationally, especially in the US, underscored this approval.

When visiting Washington, Prime Minister Abbott noted his pleasure at “spending time with our Ambassador Kim Beazley who is certainly the kind of representative Australia needs in a capital where personality counts.”

The former political opponents share a firm commitment to the US/Australian alliance at a time when maritime boundary disputes in the Asia-Pacific are driving regional tensions. The US clearly values the good relations Australia has with its neighbours, along with its role in providing strategic and political stability in a region in which it intends to reinforce its own presence and influence.

When he left Federal Parliament, the former Member for Brand told colleagues: “My passion to serve this nation burns stronger…” and when his appointment was announced in 2009, Professor Beazley said: “I can’t think of anything I would rather do at this point in time.”

Today, ‘home’ to the Ambassador and his wife Susie Annus is an impressive refurbished residence that once served as the embassy when the diplomatic post was established 70 years ago. Situated in a leafy Washington suburb, it accommodates one of the world’s finest collections of Indigenous art – along with Aussie icons like a ‘baggy green’ and cricket bat that caught the eye of visiting captain Michael Clark.

The Ambassador’s knowledge of US history, politics and military hardware began during his studies at UWA and as a Rhodes Scholar. His Master’s thesis was on the Australia-US Alliance. A scholarship that took him to the US saw him joining a Vietnam protest to the Washington memorial and observing a 1969 civil rights siege at Columbia University.

Later, he followed in his father’s footsteps, entering parliament and swiftly rose through the ranks, becoming the nation’s youngest ever Defence Minister in the government of fellow graduate Bob Hawke. When he emerged from the political turmoil of his long political career, many echoed the sentiment (reiterated more recently by Tony Abbot) that they were farewelling ‘the best Prime Minister we never had…”.

Given his exceptional credentials and international experience, the UWA graduate admits that on arrival in Washington he assumed there would be little to surprise him.

“I thought I knew it all but found I needed to learn a lot!” he muses. “I was surprised to discover we were closer to the US than when I was Defence Minister – because, as the geopolitics of our zone has changed, the US has become more vital to our defence.

“Another factor strengthening the relationship is that we’re now huge investors, directly and indirectly, in the US – to the tune of $470 billion, 20 times what we invest in China.

“For instance, there are nine Australian companies contributing to the make-up of the F35 strike bomber – and, in addition, they’re supplying another 10 Australian companies.”

The Ambassador cites a string of similar success stories: the presence of Australian medical equipment companies such as ResMed (a global manufacturer operating in 100 countries); the Port Macquarie marine engineering company, Birdon, winning a US Army contract to supply vessels; and marine design and construction company Austal (based in his former electorate of Brand) becoming the largest employer in Mobile, Alabama, where one of its two overseas production facilities are located.

“We have this mindset in Australia that manufacturing has moved offshore because we lost car and textile manufacturing but a lot of Aussie manufacturers have moved on, turning themselves into niche manufacturers that employ hundreds rather than thousands. It’s also interesting that a major employer like Boeing counts among its workforce more Australians that either Brits or Germans.

“All of this puts in perspective that misplaced pessimism about manufacturing in Australia – a pessimism not based on contemporary analysis.”

Trade promotion and the push to extend exports being high on the Federal Government’s agenda, the embassy plays an effective behind-the-scenes role unless trade matters come before Congress “in which case we will go in and bat”.

Since taking up office, the embassy has hosted more than 500 events including Prime Ministerial visits, dinners, lunches, breakfasts, receptions, garden parties and conferences.

“The high points in an ambassador’s life are cumulative,” observes the Ambassador who counts among highlights attending the Second Inauguration of the President, Republican and Democrat conventions, the State of the Union addresses and addresses to Congress by Australian Prime Ministers.

“A single day might involve a talk to a think-tank, education institution or the Administration. It almost certainly will involve going to the headquarters of one of the intelligence services, Congress, the White House, the State Department or the Pentagon to pursue either an instruction delivered from Canberra or to seek information for Canberra.

“It may also involve joint activities with other embassies such as the pursuit of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. When I arrived, the Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty had been languishing since it was signed by Prime Minister Howard and President Bush. We had to winkle it out of congressional committees and on to the floor of the Congress for ratification. The embassy played a big role in that and it was a good introduction to Congress. Observing how the Democrats and Republications function in Congress was fascinating.

“Most satisfaction comes from the effective pursuit of Australian objectives – getting America to engage more effectively in the Asia-Pacific region has been a major component of our activity here. When I arrived, there was considerable resistance, but that has changed. While not claiming credit for it – that is due to ministers and governments – it has been good to play a role.”

For the scholar of American history, his appointment has offered a degree of enrichment to this personal passion. “While duties of office have meant only limited time to pursue historic interests, merely going into Congress, the State Department, the White House and the Pentagon takes you down a museum-standard historical track. This is particularly so at the Pentagon where there are wonderful displays lining the walls, including an excellent ANZUS corridor,” he says. While attending a Republican debate, he was also able to visit Fort Sumter and to walk the Wilson Creek Battlefield with Senator Blunt of Missouri.

The Ambassador likes to joke that if you drilled a hole through the core of the Earth from the Washington embassy to WA, it would emerge just south of Rottnest. “We are as far from the United States as it is possible to be as a country pair…”

That also means he is far from family and friends. When he made his farewell speech to parliament, the Member for Brand told his colleagues: “The hard, hard secret of our lives is that our families come second.”

Today he acknowledges that the demands of his posting continue to impact on his family.

“A lot of my family are not here and are not enjoying the posting at all, and the family that is here would have mixed views because family life is subordinated to representational duties,” he says.

“My youngest daughter Rachel was at university here but has returned to Sydney seeking acting training. Studying at an overseas university is something I did as a graduate student but taking it on as an undergraduate was a big challenge for her.

“My wife Susie is enormously creative and has had a big influence in enhancing the representational value of the Residence. She has a talented eye for gardens, interiordesign and outside structures. She has also done a noble work convincing various embassy sections to engage, always in the knowledge that it will be our successors that benefit primarily.”

The Ambassador still vividly recalls his time on UWA’s campus and his term as Guild President during the heady days of anti-Vietnam marches and the pursuit of student appointment to a variety of boards and particularly to Senate.

“Being Guild President was a good training for life in politics,” says the distinguished graduate. “You had to campaign hard on the basis of a believable, achievable platform and build consensus around your candidacy.”

These were times he recalled with pleasure when he retired from politics in 2007 and returned to UWA to take up an appointment as Professorial Fellow, focusing on research and the study of politics, public policy and international relations. In 2009 he was appointed a Companion in the Order of Australia for his service to the Australian Parliament.

Mr Beazley also served as Chancellor of the Australian National University and is a member of the Council of Advisors to the US Study Centre at the University of Sydney. He has returned to campus several times since his appointment as Ambassador, delivering several lectures at the Perth USAsia Centre (see: Bringing together ‘the best of the best’ ) .