History
The Australian American Leadership Dialogue was created out of conversations with President George H. W. Bush on Sydney Harbour, January 1, 1992.
It was acknowledged that:
future Australian American relations needed to account for the fact that President Bush would likely be the last President of his generation to embody the emotional ties flowing from the mutual experiences of World War II
each new generation of leaders inevitably re-examines established ties, a particularly relevant factor given the then recent collapse of the Soviet Union and the perceived ending of the Cold War
sustainable relationships demand hard work and constant nurturing
Australians have tended to presume the permanence of the US alliance, and would do well to heed the warnings of US President George Washington to his fellow citizens—to avoid permanent entanglements with foreign powers
America has tended to take Australia for granted
The bilateral Leadership Dialogue was founded on the principles of:
bipartisanship
voluntarism
focus on the future parameters of the relationship
closed sessions to facilitate frank exchanges on matters of designated mutual interest
fostering intergenerational perspectives
participation within an environment of mutual tolerance and personal courtesy
The long-term aim of the Leadership Dialogue is to broaden and deepen mutual understanding between leaders of Australia and the United States, and to enhance the framework for regional security in a manner that underwrites economic and cultural prosperity for Australian and US citizens. By so doing, Australia will be more able to contribute to the development of a robust, stable and economically healthy neighbourhood.