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an Asia Capability compact with our universities to preserve and coordinate Asian language teaching and research about our region. Read more at chooseasia.net

chooseasia.net

Choose Asia

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The recommendations seek to build a sustainable pipeline of Asia capability through - a national strategy to coordinate between levels of government, - Asia Leader Schools to act as best practice hubs for teaching priority languages, - a Consortium to enable in-country immersive experiences and

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You would not know this to look at our schools, our universities or our businesses. While Australian statecraft in Asia has never been more active than it is today, the pipeline building the capability that enables it is in crisis. The report makes recommendations addressing this challenge.

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Australia’s security and prosperity is intertwined in our region. Asia Capability, the range of language skills, cultural knowledge, in-country experience and networks necessary to be effective in Asia, is now a vital sovereign capability.

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

The House Education Committee has released the unanimous report ‘Security and Prosperity in Asia: Building Australia’s Asia capability’. You can read the report here: chooseasia.net

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There are just two Liberal MPs in the Chamber as Anne Aly delivers a Ministerial Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

While there has been a drum beat of op eds heralding the end of long form reading in the face of increasing AI adoption and decreasing attention spans this year, I’ve found the opposite in my own reading life in 2025. I’ve read more - and in more depth - this year than in a long time. Highlights:

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

Tragically I polished off “Bedtime Stories for Cricket Tragics” in a session this weekend. Felt like a ten year old again obsessing about test cricketers from a century ago. Thankfully there are plenty more stories to come… starting the clock on Vol 2 now @finalwordcricket.bsky.social

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

It’s always a pleasure to share a conversation over a meal with Shashi Tharoor - but particularly when he comes bearing books! It was wonderful to be able to welcome Shashi back to Melbourne and to talk cricket, books and international affairs (I promise that I only mentioned Alyssa Healy once).

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You can follow this conversation on social media and subscribe to the newsletter: www.ChooseAsia.net

chooseasia.net

chooseasia.com.au

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Unless we choose to make developing Asia capability a priority as a nation, we’re choosing to leave our future security and prosperity to be determined by others. As a nation, we must Choose Asia and develop this sovereign capability, or risk watching regional changes from the sidelines.

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Forty years of reports to government have warned that if Australia wants to shape our own future, we need to build a greater knowledge of the languages, cultures and history of our neighbours. Despite this, our Asia capability has been in decline for decades. We’re now reaching a crisis point.

Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Today the House Education Committee launched a new inquiry into Australia’s Asia Capability: lnkd.in/gzadKje9 Australians have long known that our future security and prosperity will be determined in our region, the Indo-Pacific.

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“Their combination of democratic faith with political scepticism, and their willingness to switch votes based on policy considerations, makes them an important and discerning segment of the Australian electorate.”

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Some inconvenient research for the conspiracy theorists: “The voting behaviour of Indian Australians reveals a sophisticated and pragmatic approach to electoral participation.” www.dfat.gov.au/sites/defaul...

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Ok ABC Radio National, you know how to get me to bite!📚 Voting opened today in RN’s Top 100 Books of the past 25 years and I couldn’t help voting early. What's your favourite book of this century so far? Vote now: bit.ly/45rGkgE #RadioNational #Top100Books

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

It was wonderful seeing MPs, school groups & members of the public captivated by the public performance. I’m just thankful that they chose a performance from their new production of R&J rather than their recently concluded production of Coriolanus. It would have made for quite the different vibe!

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

All the world’s a stage - including Australian Parliament House! A lovely change of pace this morning when Bell Shakespeare gave a pop up performance of scenes from Romeo and Juliet in the Marble Foyer this morning.

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Peter Dutton's speech today, like his approach to foreign policy, was reckless and arrogant. It didn't even try to do the basics of what is required from Australian foreign policy at this moment and was gratuitously insulting along the way. He's a risk Australia can't afford.

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It's extraordinary that nearly sixty years later, Peter Dutton gave a foreign policy vision speech in which understanding Asia was effectively absent. No mention of Indonesia, ASEAN or India. It's no exaggeration to say that Asian engagement just isn't part of his world view.

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The great historian of Australia's relationship with Asia, David Walker, once recounted how in 1966, a newly elected Andrew Peacock burnished his leadership credentials by taking up the cause of Asian engagement - 'a proven topic for earnest statements with visionary appeal' even then.

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Australia's economic, strategic and community connections with India have never been stronger or more important. Which makes it all the more extraordinary that Peter Dutton didn't mention India once in his Foreign Policy "vision speech" today.

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Honourable mention for this strikingly unique auto-biography...

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Not much new fiction this year as I've found myself re-reading old favourites for comfort...

Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Since it's that time of the year, a selection of books that I've particularly enjoyed throughout 2024...

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

Most unlikely debut test innings since Ashton Agar #ausvind

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 📚📚📚 #BookChallenge 19/20

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

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Tim Watts MP @timwattsmp.bsky.social · 12/12/2024