Strengthening Australia's identity in the world

There is a new economic imperative for us to think more about our place in the Asian century. For decades, we have dug up resources and shipped them to Asia, which hasn't taken much thought for most of us and nor has it mattered much how Australia is perceived. But, in order to broaden the benefits from the massive economic growth underway in Asia, we need to find new, high value jobs working with Asian economies across all industries, in high value niche areas. In service industries like tourism and education and in the export of niche products, our reputation will be so much more important than it was to sell coal or iron ore.

Amongst the most serious challenges for the next generation of political leaders is the need to unite Australians, in our diversity, around an identity that can also strengthen our identity in the world. An identity that is not simply rooted in being comfortable with the past, but one that actively embraces our present and future. Because our future is bright.

From a national discussion about who we want to be in the future, we can build a much more resilient "brand", one that adds value to our business and diplomatic initiatives instead of holding us back. A brand that is confident, smart, optimistic and engaged. We can project a reputation in the region based much more on Australia's contemporary reality than our past, a place of remarkable economic, social and environmental leadership.

In the decade to come the world will change, as it has each decade before. Australia will also change and adapt, as we have done so successfully over our history. We have gradually developed our own national identity and successfully governed ourselves over the course of a century. To complete that process by declaring to the world that Australia is fully ours, will be to send a very strong message indeed about how a peaceful and prosperous people make decisions about our own future, here in our part of the world.

David Morris is a former diplomat, trade and investment official and senior political adviser. In 2012 he was appointed National Director of the Australian Republican Movement.