The first report from the Alliance 21 project, The Australia-US Partnership, was presented to the Australian Government at a reception at Parliament House, Canberra. The Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston accepted the report on behalf of the government before an audience of more than 50 parliamentarians, senior bureaucrats and Alliance 21 contributors.
Senator Johnston told the room that the Australia-US relationship was a "massive asset" and the minister took the opportunity to announce funding for phase 2 of the Alliance 21 project.
"The quality and calibre of work that you have been doing is such that we will be giving you, over three years, a further $1.6 million to see the good work that you have been doing go on."
The United States Ambassador to Australia, John Berry, also addressed the reception, praising the broad scope of the report, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop said she looked forward to the work informing future Australia-US alliance policy.
