Tasman Institute

The Tasman Institute was an Australian think tank and consultancy associated with neoliberal economic policy. Founded in 1990 by economist Michael G. Porter, it developed from Porter’s earlier policy work, including efforts in 1987 to establish a private university and his involvement with the Centre of Policy Studies. During the 1990s, the institute became one of Australia’s three largest neoliberal think tanks. The organisation combined research and advocacy with practical consulting. Through its consultancy arm, Tasman Asia-Pacific, it advised governments and public-sector clients in the Asia-Pacific region and Eastern Europe on privatisation, deregulation, and related economic reforms. This combination of policy advocacy and implementation distinguished the institute from organisations that operated primarily as research or lobbying bodies. Academic Damien Cahill has treated Tasman as an example of a think tank that sought to put neoliberal theory into practice through consultancy work. In Australia, the institute participated in several significant state-policy initiatives. In 1991, it consulted for the Greiner government of New South Wales on the proposed privatisation of Hunter Water. It also worked with the libertarian Institute of Public Affairs and Victorian employer associations on Project Victoria, a policy program intended to influence the incoming Kennett government. The program promoted a neoliberal agenda, including deregulation and privatisation. The Tasman Institute subsequently received a government contract relating to electricity privatisation in Victoria. Transport Minister Alan Brown later attributed a profound influence on government policy to the organisation. The institute also developed links with academia. In 1995, the Tasman Institute and Tasman Asia-Pacific affiliated with the University of Melbourne. This affiliation reflected the organisation’s position at the intersection of policy research, economic consulting, and public debate. The original institute’s later history was shaped by corporate combinations. In 2000, it merged with London Economics (Australia), a consultancy focused on deregulation and privatisation, to form Tasman Economics. In 2002, Tasman Economics merged with ACIL Consulting, a long-established consultancy working in areas including energy, natural resources, agriculture, and water. The resulting firm was named ACIL Tasman, with Tasman founder Michael G. Porter becoming executive chair and London Economics founder Nick Morris becoming chief executive officer. Morris left the chief executive role in October 2005 and departed ACIL Tasman in February 2006. In 2013, ACIL Tasman merged with rival Allen Consulting Group to create ACIL Allen. The Tasman Institute therefore ceased to exist as an independent organisation, while elements of its consultancy activities and institutional legacy continued through successor firms.

The Tasman Institute emerged from the Australian policy network associated with economist Michael G. Porter. Porter had attempted in 1987 to establish a private university and had earlier been involved with the Centre of Policy Studies. In 1990, he founded the Tasman Institute as a neoliberal think tank. Its purpose extended beyond academic discussion: the organisation sought to promote market-oriented reforms and to advise governments on how those reforms could be designed and implemented. During the 1990s, Tasman became one of the three largest neoliberal think tanks in Australia. Its work covered privatisation, deregulation, and public-sector reform. The institute’s consultancy arm, Tasman Asia-Pacific, expanded the organisation’s reach beyond Australia, advising countries in the Asia-Pacific region and Eastern Europe. This consulting activity gave Tasman a practical role in reform programs and led academic observers to identify it as an unusually applied example of a neoliberal think tank. Tasman participated in important Australian reform debates. In 1991, it advised the Greiner government on the privatisation of Hunter Water. In Victoria, it worked with the Institute of Public Affairs and employer associations to prepare Project Victoria, a neoliberal policy program associated with the incoming Kennett government. The institute later won a government contract relating to electricity privatisation. These engagements made Tasman a visible participant in the development of state economic policy; former Victorian Transport Minister Alan Brown subsequently described its effect on government policy as profound. The organisation maintained an academic connection as well as a consulting profile. In 1995, Tasman and Tasman Asia-Pacific affiliated with the University of Melbourne. The affiliation reinforced the institute’s role as a bridge between economic research, policy advocacy, and commercial advisory work. A series of mergers transformed the organisation. In 2000, Tasman merged with London Economics (Australia), a consultancy specialising in deregulation and privatisation, and became Tasman Economics. Two years later, Tasman Economics combined with ACIL Consulting, whose work included energy, natural resources, agriculture, and water. The new business, ACIL Tasman, retained the Tasman name. Porter became its executive chair, while Nick Morris, the founder of London Economics and chief executive of Tasman Economics, became chief executive of the combined firm. Morris left the chief executive position in October 2005 and departed ACIL Tasman in February 2006. In 2013, ACIL Tasman merged with Allen Consulting Group to form ACIL Allen. The merger marked the continuation of the consulting business under a new identity and effectively closed the Tasman Institute’s independent organisational history. Its legacy lies in the policy programs it helped develop, its role in Australian privatisation debates, and the successor consultancies formed through its corporate evolution.

• 2013

  Formation of ACIL Allen

  [1]Tasman Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  ACIL Tasman merged with Allen Consulting Group to form ACIL Allen.

• 2002

  Formation of ACIL Tasman

  [1]Tasman Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Tasman Economics merged with ACIL Consulting, creating ACIL Tasman.

• 2000

  Formation of Tasman Economics

  [1]Tasman Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Tasman merged with London Economics (Australia) to form Tasman Economics.

• 1995

  University of Melbourne affiliation

  [1]Tasman Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  The Tasman Institute and Tasman Asia-Pacific affiliated with the University of Melbourne.

• 1991

  Hunter Water privatisation advice

  [1]Tasman Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  The institute consulted for the Greiner government on the proposed privatisation of Hunter Water.

• 1990

  Tasman Institute founded

  [1]Tasman Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Michael G. Porter founded the Tasman Institute as a neoliberal think tank in Australia.

• 1987

  Private-university initiative

  [1]Tasman Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Michael G. Porter attempted to establish a private university, an effort that formed part of the background to his later institutional policy work.

A neoliberal Australian think tank and applied economic consultancy focused on translating market-oriented policy ideas into government reform programs.

• International economic consultancy

  Tasman Asia-Pacific

  The institute’s international consultancy arm advised governments and public-sector clients in Asia-Pacific and Eastern European countries on privatisation, deregulation, and market-oriented economic reform. It represented the practical, implementation-focused side of Tasman’s policy model.

• Public-policy program

  Project Victoria

  Project Victoria was a neoliberal policy program prepared by the Tasman Institute with the Institute of Public Affairs and Victorian employer associations. It was intended to influence the policy direction of the incoming Kennett government and promoted deregulation and privatisation.

• Economic consulting · 1991

  Government privatisation advisory services

  Tasman advised governments on the restructuring and potential privatisation of public assets and utilities, including Hunter Water in New South Wales and electricity-sector reform in Victoria.

• Project Victoria

  Australia · Victoria

  The Tasman Institute worked with the Institute of Public Affairs and Victorian employer associations to develop a policy program for the incoming Kennett government. Its agenda promoted neoliberal reforms, including deregulation and privatisation.

  Outcome. The program became associated with the policy environment of the Kennett government, although the available reference does not quantify its individual effect.

  Source

• 2013

  Merge with Allen Consulting GroupM&A

  Background

  ACIL Tasman pursued a combination with rival consultancy Allen Consulting Group.

  Action taken

  The firms merged to form ACIL Allen.

  Aftermath

  The Tasman identity ceased to operate independently within the successor consulting firm.

  Source

• 2002

  Merge with ACIL ConsultingM&A

  Background

  Tasman Economics combined with ACIL Consulting, which had experience in energy, natural resources, agriculture, and water.

  Action taken

  The merger created ACIL Tasman.

  Aftermath

  Michael G. Porter became executive chair and Nick Morris became chief executive of the combined consultancy.

  Source

• 2000

  Merge with London Economics (Australia)M&A

  Background

  Tasman combined with a consultancy specialising in deregulation and privatisation.

  Action taken

  The organisations merged to create Tasman Economics.

  Aftermath

  The Tasman name continued in a more explicitly commercial economic-consulting structure until the subsequent ACIL merger.

  Source

1. 1Tasman Instituteen.wikipedia.org