Australia ups its effort in the Pacific, says Downer in Tonga [1]
Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 16:45. Updated on Saturday, April 26, 2014 - 22:34.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in Tonga that Australia was uping its effort and making stronger or more forceful contributions in the Pacific.
"I am sensitive to the fact that we could be accused of being robust, aggressive and neo-colonialist but we don...t want to do these things, but want to help," he said at an official dinner during his two-night stay in Nuku'alofa, December 16-18.
"Some resources need to be spent helping our neighbours and I am delighted that Australia...s four main political parties agree to this sentiment."
Mr Downer said Australia made changes in 2003 in its policy to the Pacific. He hoped that a more robust approach would lead to a stronger Forum and economic situation and help countries to meet challenges.
"We recognised that as biggest country Australia ought to do what it can to help the Forum island countries." He said this was driven partly by altruistic and humanitarian, motives but also the self interest in that neighbouring countries were peaceful and secure.
"We don't want another Solomons Islands situation and we are determined that will not happen again," he told the Tongans.
During his visit Mr Downer had an audience with King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, lunched with the Crown Prince Tupouto'a, and met Tongan government ministers.
"I get a sense that your government is focused on doing some really useful things. I talked to the finance minister and government has a clear model of how it wants to remodel the economy. A lot of these decisions are tough decisions because there is a lot of vested interest that will resist them," he said.
Mr Downer noted that Tonga was calling its soon to be introduced 15% GST, "a replacement tax not a new tax...see if you can get away with that...we never did. But we won!"
His last visit to Tonga was seven years ago.