Mr Paul Barratt, AO: How WikiLeaks Changed the World

The disclosure of vast numbers of confidential diplomatic cables in recent weeks has shocked governments and placed many key politicians and officials in a delicate position.  While many observers argue that these revelations are in the public interest, others maintain that they are criminal acts. In this presentation Paul Barratt will examine the tensions between secrecy and openness in a democratic society, and outline the criteria that justify giving documents a national security classification.  He will discuss the contents of the cables so far revealed by WikiLeaks, and examine questions such as whether the leaks have revealed anything new; whether they have put lives at risk, as claimed by Government spokespeople in Australia and elsewhere; what the leaks have revealed about the behaviour of our political leaders; whether large scale leaks of this type will become a permanent feature of the political and diplomatic landscape; and whether the fact of the WikiLeaks phenomenon will transform the way governments do business with each other. Mr Paul Barratt, AO, has more than 40 years’ experience of policy advising and international negotiations in the areas of defence, foreign relations, international trade and climate change.  After completing an honours degree in physics he joined the Department of Defence as a scientific intelligence analyst.  He undertook an intensive course at the Australian School of Nuclear Science and Engineering and completed a second degree, in economics and Asian civilisations. He has been Secretary to the Department of Defence, Secretary to the Federal Department responsible for mining, oil & gas, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, Deputy Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Department and of the Trade Department, Special Trade Representative for North Asia, and Executive Director of Australia’s leading business roundtable.  Mr Barratt is now an independent consultant, and a director of Australia 21 Limited.