A good case can be made that Australia served a useful role during the crisis, first of all as participant in the support packages (Japan was the only other country to contribute to all three), but more importantly in its assessment of the crisis as it unfolded, and its attempts to point out deficiencies in the multilateral approach, with the visit of our Foreign Minister and the RBA Governor to the United States in early 1998.
However, it would have to be said that this voice was not heard, and very little was achieved. Australia’s own performance during the Asian crisis might be a positive example and a reminder of the benefits of competent policies, but may well have been mistaken, by our Asian neighbours, as boastful blowing of our own trumpet during a time of their misfortune.