Malcolm Fraser, India and CHOGRM – high moments in the bilateral relationship

Abstract

Observations of Australia and India as committed partners in a shared venture during the Prime Ministerships of Malcolm Fraser, Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi reveal a rare period of close collaboration at prime ministerial and senior government levels. The prime ministerial triumvirate's Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meetings (CHOGRMs) grew out of annual Officials' Talks and are not replicated in today's plethora of regional groupings. They are, however, a glimpse of a successful Commonwealth endeavour led by Australia and India, disbanded after Fraser lost government.