The foyer of  the National Library of Australia was packed last night with old Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  colleagues and friends as long-time diplomat Philip Flood launched his new book “Dancing with Warriors.”

A career diplomat, Mr Flood has served as Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, as Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as High Commissioner to the UK and Bangladesh, then later as director-general of AusAID and  the Australian Office of National Assessments.

Although he said he had served under nine prime ministers and  worked closely with five, he was not about to mince words. While he praised former PMs Gough  Whitlam and John Howard for being ahead of their time in promoting relations with China, also  praising Mr Howard’s perception that Japan was Australia’s closest friend in Asia, the outlook was not altogether rosy.

Mr. Flood charged that Asian-language studies has deteriorated so that Australians were  barely Asia-literate. Despite good points, he said, foreign ministers Downer and Rudd had allowed Foreign Affairs’ resources to run down, especially in Asian languages and culture.

What was worse was that both sides of politics, once bipartisan in such issues, had “lost perspective on refugees”.

On the other hand, there was much potential, with Australia’s geographical situation close to Asia and the fact that “we are not governed by corrupt elites seeking wealth.”

In launching the book,  former Governor General Sir William Deane  told those present he had emerged from “the wonderful fortress of retirement” because of his close association with Mr Flood in the organisation CARE Australia, especially when they both sought to release the late Margaret Hassan, head of Iraqi operations for CARE.

Sir William said that the “facility with words and lack of pomposity were the most effective weapons of a diplomat” and these Flood had in good measure as he painted pictures of his wife Carole, the Queen, President Suharto and former Wallabies captain John Eales.

The secretary of DFAT, Dennis Richardson, said it was important for important people to write their memoirs in this way Mr Flood had done.

“Dancing with Warriors: a diplomatic memoir” by Philip Flood,

on sale at the National Library of Australia. Half the proceeds of the book’s  sales will go to CARE Australia.