2020_text_3/3/03 6/5/03 1:09 PM Page i 20 20 VISION Graham White is a former journalist and news executive who was assistant editor of The Herald in Melbourne before establishing his own public affairs consultancy. He provided advice to major Australian and multinational companies, industry associations, professional bodies, federal government agencies and environmental groups before retiring in 1999 to concentrate on writing and research. He has since assisted with studies into the characteristics of innovative businesses in Australia and industry perceptions of the effectiveness of R and D incentives. He lives outside Melbourne. 2020_text_3/3/03 6/5/03 1:09 PM Page ii 2020_text_3/3/03 6/5/03 1:09 PM Page iii 20 20 VISION HOW GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADERS SEE AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE GRAHAM WHITE 2020_text_3/3/03 6/5/03 1:09 PM Page iv First published in 2003 Copyright © Graham White 2003 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10% of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act. Allen & Unwin 83 Alexander Street Crows Nest NSW 2065 Australia Phone: (61 2) 8425 0100 Fax: (61 2) 9906 2218 Email:
[email protected] Web: www.allenandunwin.com National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry: White, Graham, 1939–. 2020 vision: how our global business leaders see Australia's future. ISBN 1 74114 002 1. 1. Economic forecasting – Australia. 2. Social prediction – Australia. 3. Globalization. 4. Chief executive officers – Australia – Interviews. 5. Australia – Economic conditions – 21st century. 6. Australia - Social conditions - 21st century. I. Title. II. Title: Twenty twenty vision. 330.99407 Cover, text design and typesetting by Studio Pazzo Printed by Griffin Press, South Australia 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2020_text_3/3/03 6/5/03 1:09 PM Page v CONTENTS Introduction 1 A nation in transition 12 What makes a global high-flyer? 21 Jac Nasser Why world trends are heading Australia’s way 25 31 Robert May Creating a successful science base 41 45 Rupert Murdoch Human capital is the key 59 65 Geoff Bible Open the doors and let prosperity flow in <