Australia and the Pacific: Active Engagement [1]
Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 17:15. Updated on Saturday, April 26, 2014 - 22:42.
By the Hon. Alexander Downer
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs
Australia's engagement with the countries of the Pacific has intensified dramatically over the past year. Australia led the successful regional intervention in Solomon Islands. An Australian has, for the first time, been elected as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, with a mandate to reform and invigorate the Secretariat. Australia has agreed to requests from Fiji and Nauru to provide police commissioners. The Pacific Islands Forum agreed to Australia...s proposal for a study on how pooling countries... resources could improve transport links in the region. Australia is working with Nauru and Papua New Guinea to provide a significant number of Australian officials to help improve capacity in law and order, financial management and other areas.
Why is Australia doing this? Why do the countries of the region seek it?
The fundamental answer is that, over the past few years, the way that countries look at the world has changed. And the Pacific is no exception.
Governments and electorates increasingly focus on the risks to security and economic growth from transnational threats, such as terrorism and organised crime, and from failures of governance, including corruption and deteriorating law and order. At the same time, the spread of economic globalisation brings great potential benefits - but only if countries can develop strong and resilient institutions, and maintain prudent economic policies.
These are preoccupations of developed and developing countries alike. But for developing countries the risks are particularly high. Hard-won economic gains can be quickly lost by the failure of institutions of governance, and the spread of violence and corruption. The Pacific has already produced one stark example of this - Solomon Islands - and it is important that we produce no more.
Many Pacific island countries face serious economic challenges, as they strive to gain the benefits of economic globalisation. They have limited capacity and resources, are distant from major markets and vulnerable to natural disasters. And, as Pacific island leaders themselves have said, it is not possible to benefit from the global economy without good governance, sound economic management, the maintenance of law and order, and sustained attempts to root out corruption.
There is a long-standing view in the international community, among Pacific island countries and among Australians that, as the largest and wealthiest member of the Forum, Australia has an obligation to assist the countries of the region deal with problems of law and order, governance, economic management and the maintenance of basic institutions. That obligation is particularly pressing at this time of change. For this reason, and with the specific agreement of Pacific island countries, around 45 per cent of Australian aid to the Pacific region is now spent on activities that promote good governance.
Australia has long been a very significant aid donor to Pacific island countries. We will provide an estimated A$383 million in aid to the Pacific in 2004-05 financial year, and A$436 million to Papua New Guinea.
The results of the region...s intervention in Solomon Islands are evident: more than 3700 weapons seized or surrendered, 1200 arrests including of many key criminals, a credible 2004 budget and modest signs of business recovery. The role being played by Australia in leading the mission is at the specific request of the Solomon Islands Government.
In Papua New Guinea, we are working with the Government on an expanded and improved program of assistance to address challenges in areas such as economic management, law and order and border management and security. Australia has committed itself to place a significant number of officials in key economic, planning, law and justice, and security and safety agencies at very significant financial cost to the Australian Government.
In Nauru, we are working with the Government to address a serious financial collapse. We are concerned by Nauru...s worsening economic situation and are determined not turn our back on that country as it faces some very tough challenges. Australian officials will help implement much-needed economic and management reforms.
Regionally, Australia is working with fellow member countries to reform the Pacific Islands Forum so that the Forum...s secretariat in particular can better assist island countries develop effective policy approaches in the areas of economic growth, development, good governance and security. Australia is also actively promoting pooling of regional resources to strengthen the capacity of national governments to provide services that are sometimes too expensive to deliver on a purely national basis.
The competitive pressures of economic globalisation make it vital that we continue to build on the collaborative tradition evident in earlier initiatives such as the University of the South Pacific. The study into regional transport commissioned by leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum in 2003 is one example of current efforts to encourage pooling of regional resources. The Prime Minister of Australia initiated this study, now being managed and funded by Australia, because of a concern about the impact of unprofitable transport services on island economies, and the need to develop economically-sustainable services that meet the needs of islanders.
Robust, cooperative engagement by Australia in the Pacific region is in the interests of Pacific Island Countries and of Australia. Inevitably, differences will arise over approaches. But as has been shown in the regional assistance mission to Solomon Islands and in unanimous support for reform at the April Forum leaders... retreat in Auckland, our common interests in a well-governed and secure region, economic growth and development and a better functioning Pacific Islands Forum remain stronger than any differences on individual issues."