Julie Bishop and Christopher Pyne back Blueprint for moderate thinking

The COVID-19 crisis has spawned a new think tank, the Blueprint Institute, aligned with Julie Bishop and Christopher Pyne.

Former Liberal foreign minister Julie Bishop

The COVID-19 crisis has spawned a new Australian think tank, the Blueprint Institute, closely aligned with leading moderate Liberals Julie Bishop and Christopher Pyne and with ABC presenter Adam Spencer acting as an adviser.

Blueprint is aimed specifically at national policy development post-coronavirus including the role of the national cabinet and Scott Morrison’s changing Liberal ideology.

In an increasingly crowded field of research institutes fighting for a place in media opinion and political influence, Blueprint is staking out a liberal position to the right of the ALP-aligned Chifley Research Centre and McKell Institute and the progressive Australia Institute and Grattan Institute, but to the left of the Institute of Public Affairs and the Centre for Independent Studies. The Blueprint leaders and board are closely aligned with leading moderate Liberals — Ms Bishop, Bruce Baird and Mr Pyne — as well as sitting NSW state Coalition MPs.

Christopher Pyne says he is ‘encouraging new voices for good public policy debate’. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“I believe in more high-quality public policy discourse, not less, for that reason I am encouraging (new voices) for good public policy debate,” Mr Pyne told Media.

Spencer, who has been an ABC and Triple J presenter as well as a regular on top-rating ABC television shows, is also an adviser.

While Blueprint was planned before the COVID-19 crisis, the massive changes to economic policy, new co-operation in workplaces and a reordering of global relationships arising from US-China tensions, the institute is concentrating on influencing the “bold new reforms” and rejection of “tired ideologies” the pandemic has forced on governments.

The founder and chief executive of the Blueprint Institute, Harry Guinness, a former adviser to Ms Bishop when she was foreign minister and federal deputy Liberal leader, said the immediate focus of Blueprint, formally launched on Monday, would be helping develop policy following the chaos of COVID-19.

“The pandemic has called into question many fundamentals and trends underpinning how our society functions,” Mr Guinness said. “It has thrown into stark relief the urgent need for bold new ideas and innovative thinking at all levels and in all quarters to ensure Australia has the capability to thrive now and into the future.

“Importantly, Australia has witnessed what can happen when tired ideologies are swept aside by pragmatic policy in the broader national interest. We want to take this opportunity to create a more balanced, prosperous Australia.”