Speech to American-Australian Association Dinner

Prime Minister

Sydney

 THU 6 JUNE 2013

It’s a great pleasure to join you this evening and a privilege to introduce this evening’s distinguished speaker.
First, however, a few words about the Association.
There’s a certain pragmatic genius in organisation in which the order of the words “Australian” and “American” seems interchangeable, depending upon whose signature block is on the correspondence.
Fortunately, the acronym – AAA – covers either contingency.
Perhaps that is how it ought to be between friends, equals and allies – and it reflects the seamless way our people share lives in our countries.
Both nations have diasporas who not only enrich the world through their values and commitments but now serve the nations of their birth in the wider world.
No matter how far away, they share their world knowledge with us at home.
They never really leave us: they are our representatives, wherever they live and work. Our reputation rides with them.
It’s just that kind of global public good with great national benefits that drives this Association.
Who else would provide the online listings of which Australian pubs broadcast American football and baseball and ice hockey or the emergency register of American-style ‘diners’ in Australia.
Who else would advise unsuspecting Americans to ‘try before they buy’ when it comes to Vegemite.
Or warn them that when an Australian business contact ends a sentence on an upward inflection it doesn’t necessarily mean he or she is asking you a question.
The support the Association offers is also a serious contribution to the affairs of our two nations, including through your partnership with the Australian Government to found the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
One of the important pieces of work coming from that centre is the three-year $2 million “Alliance 21” project.
Enlisting 50 of the best strategic thinkers to identify challenges and opportunities for the US-Australia alliance.
Another important mechanism for knitting new bonds between our nations is the Association’s postgraduate fellowship program.
Tonight, by your presence here, you are supporting young professionals with everything to offer and everything to achieve.
Young men and women with the same character and attributes as the young Andrew Liveris.
In 1976 Andrew was a newly-minted Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Queensland.
First-class Honours, university medal, a bright love of chemistry instilled by his school science teachers – obvious potential for a fine academic career.
Instead, Andrew went for a job interview with Dow.
In the course of that interview Dow offered to “show him the world” - an offer he could not resist and one they have more than delivered on in the 37 years since.
Hong Kong. Thailand. Saudi Arabia. Of course, the US – and so many places between.
Andrew has transformed one of the world’s great companies.
Recasting a 20th-century industrial icon as a modern, 21st-century presence in 160 countries and a global workforce of more than 50,000.
Turning Dow into a company dedicated to innovation, research and development – a firm that teams up with strong local companies to pursue global opportunities – a business producing high-tech manufacturing for new and profitable markets.
As Andrew set about transforming the company, he set about transforming the culture of the company too.
Taking to heart the words of Dow founder, Herbert H. Dow: “If you can’t do it better, why do it?”
For Andrew, better also means better for the planet and its people.
He knows that social responsibility isn’t an impediment to corporate success – indeed done right it’s a selling point.
Now, 37 years after Dow promised to show him the world, Andrew Liveris, the boy born in the Northern Territory, is President, Chair and Executive Director of Dow worldwide.
There’s a touch of derring-do to his work, no-one can deny.
A few years ago he played a co-starring role in former President Clinton's dramatic mission to repatriate two jailed American journalists from North Korea.
The plane used in the rescue was one of Andrew’s.
When he’s not on missions of mercy, he finds time to co-chair President Barack Obama’s committee on manufacturing and to chair the US Business Council.
He’s written editorials for the Wall Street Journal and given testimony before US Senate Committees.
His views are sought and valued everywhere he is known.
He has been named a Legend in Leadership by the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute and was hailed as a True Leader by the Australian Financial Review’s “BOSS” magazine in 2012.
He is one of the most respected CEOs in the United States.
I certainly appreciated his participation in my 2011 Future Jobs Summit.
We agree on much – and sometimes agree to disagree.
From his base in Michigan Andrew is a frequent visitor to our shores and a keen observer of the Australian scene.
And still, after all these years, his robust commentary is delivered with a definite trace of an Australian accent.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you
a great friend of two great nations, Mr Andrew Liveris.