Original article by Tory Shepherd
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 10-Aug-22

The former Coalition government appointed Justin Bassi to succeed Peter Jennings as executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute shortly before it called the 21 May election. Bassi was the chief of staff to foreign affairs minister Marise Payne at the time; documents obtained via freedom of information show that former defence minister Peter Dutton selected Bassi for the role even though the ASPI itself preferred one of the other five candidates. The ASPI is partially funded by the Department of Defence, but its charter states that it is independent. Labor had warned Dutton against making a "political captain’s call" regarding the ASPI appointment.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY