Justin Bassi will not seek a second term as Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Justin Bassi will leave his role as Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) when his five-year term expires in 2027. The organization, which receives Commonwealth funding but operates independently, announced the news during an all-staff meeting.
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Bassi took up the role in 2022. His departure follows a period of public friction with the Albanese government. Several Labor MPs have criticized the think tank for its hawkish stance on China, with some arguing the organization is partisan and undermines efforts to stabilize the relationship with Australia's largest trading partner. Beijing has also criticized ASPI, labeling it anti-China and including its funding on a list of grievances. In 2024, a Labor-commissioned review recommended that the government have a permanent say on the organization's board membership and scrap its Washington, D.C. office. Bassi criticized this review as clear interference that undermined the organization's independence. David Feeney, the current acting chair of the ASPI council, thanked Bassi for his leadership and commitment to the organization.