ASPI says government ‘trying to bury’ think tank review
The government is expected to quietly release the review of national security think tanks — conducted by former DFAT secretary Peter Varghese — next week.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has accused the Albanese government of "trying to bury" a report into national security think tanks by releasing it just before Christmas in the hope that it will receive minimal scrutiny.
The review, conducted by former DFAT secretary Peter Varghese, was delivered to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s department in July. However, the government has since blocked Capital Brief from accessing the report under freedom of information laws, on the grounds it is subject to cabinet confidentiality.
The government has also claimed public interest immunity over numerous submissions from third parties.
While the review's remit was deliberately broad, many suspected that the ASPI was the major target when the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) announced Varghese would head a stocktake of Commonwealth funding for think tanks and universities in the national security space.
