The Hon Malcolm Fraser speaks at Asia Pacific Week 2011, ANU
Channel: ANU TV
Date: 2011-07-18

The Hon Malcolm Fraser speaks at the final event of Asia Pacific Week 2011, the Gala Dinner. This video was recorded at The Australian National University.

In this video Mr Fraser reflects on what made Asia Pacific community-building a priority, where regional cooperation is at today and what needs to be done now.

The Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC was Prime Minister of Australia from 1975 to 1983.

In 1980, Mr Fraser worked closely with former Japanese Prime Minister, Masahiro Ohira, to convene the first meeting of officials, private sector leaders and academics on Pacific economic cooperation at ANU in Canberra. The seminar, led by Sir John Crawford, then Vice-Chancellor of ANU and Saburo Okita, then Japan's Foreign Minister, and organised by Professors Peter Drysdale and Ross Garnaut, marked the first step towards the establishment of APEC almost a decade later by then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.

Since leaving politics, Malcolm Fraser has played an active role in non-governmental international aid programs, and been a sharp critic of a range of government foreign policies, including those of the Liberal Party to which he belonged. In 1987, Fraser founded CARE Australia as part of the international CARE network of humanitarian aid organisations. In 2000, Mr Fraser was awarded Australia's Human Rights medal in recognition of his commitment to the advancement of human rights internationally, and his focus within Australia of anti-racism and minority and Indigenous rights.