Pacific diplomatic appointment in Australian PM's court
Updated
There have been grumblings by senior Pacific diplomats that a replacement for Australia's outgoing Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific, Duncan Kerr, has been slow to be announced. The Australian Prime Minister's office says it remains fully committed to a strong relationship with the Pacific, but that no decision has yet been made about the position.
As Australia's foreign minister Stephen Smith explains, it's entirely up to Kevin Rudd to make the decision.
Presenter: Jim Middleton, Australia Network
Speaker: Stephen Smith, Australia's foreign minister
- Listen:
- Windows Media
MIDDLETON: Will Australia have a new Pacific islands parliamentary secretary following Duncan Kerr's retirement? Papua New Guinea and Samoa are very concerned about this, they've complained to the Australian government, and I believe also your High Commissioners in Papua New Guinea and in Samoa have expressed concern about the delay in any new appointment. Will Australia make another appointment?
SMITH: Well that's a matter entirely for the prime minister and I can understand that some of our Pacific friends and neighbours will be disappointed that Duncan has decided to retire. He did a very good job, as Bob McMullen is doing a very good job.
MIDDLETON: But doesn't the delay alone suggest a downgrading of Australian concern for the Pacific?
SMITH: No absolutely not, in the portfolio we have two parliamentary secretaries, Bob McMullen and Anthony Burn, but let me make this general point - our enduring commitment to firstly repair and secondly enhance our engagement with the Pacific is not dependent on any one particular individual, whether that's Duncan Kerr, Bob McMullan or indeed even me. It's an enduring long-term public policy commitment. It's reflected in very many respects by our Pacific partnerships for development.
MIDDLETON: It does sound like Duncan Kerr will not be replaced though specifically?
SMITH: Well as I say that's entirely a matter for the prime minister. He appoints parliamentary secretaries, not me. But Duncan Kerr, Bob McMullen and I worked very hard together with the prime minister on our Pacific partnerships for development. We're now taking that one step forward to look at the possibility for Pacific partnerships in the security sense as well. But it doesn't depend on one individual, and if at any point in time I become concerned that we don't have the human resources or the manpower to deal appropriately and effectively with our Pacific friends and neighbours, and I'll make that point, at this stage we're not concerned that there's any lack of commitment or lack of resources so far as the Pacific Islands is concerned. But it is a matter entirely for the prime minister to contemplate.
