Nauru president says state of emergency necessary
Updated
Nauru's opposition is considering taking the government to court following the president's decision to extend the state of emergency for further three weeks.
President Marcus Stephen says it was necessary to keep the government and public service operating efficiently.
The first state of emergency was signed at the end of June after the second set of elections resulted in another nine-all parliamentary deadlock. And Nauru is watching the outcome of the Australian elections, which also produced a deadlock, to see if talks to reopen the asylum centre will resume.
Geraldine Coutts asked His Excellency how much longer the country can remain in a state of emergency.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Marcus Stephen, President of Nauru
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STEPHEN: Well under our constitution there's no time limit so really it's up to the members of parliament how we handle this situation. Basically we have what we've been discussing probably for the last maybe three or four months about looking at some kind of interim arrangement where we can introduce amendments to our Electoral Act, and the numbers in parliament to ensure that there's no stalemate if we go to another election. So really it's up to the members of parliament. From what I've heard is that the opposition members are willing to challenge the validity of what we're doing in court. That is something is out of my hands and for them to decide for themselves.
COUTTS: A state of emergency and the deadlock is likely to continue for some time then?
STEPHEN: Well that's something that I cannot predict. Like I said if the members of parliament decide let's have an interim arrangement then it could be shorter than anticipated.
COUTTS: So there are no solutions on the horizon outside court?
STEPHEN: Not as we speak but the opportunity's always there and it's been put forward to the opposition. I think the most important thing that I need to stress as well is that the problem we're facing is not just a deadlock, but it's the demands the opposition or the two, one minor party and the other party are demanding the leadership if we go into an interim arrangement. And I find that very, very difficult to accept. It's just not normal where we have a group of nine, well it is half the number of members of parliament, and they're demanding the leadership. That is something that I just simply cannot allow or even just throw away at this stage.
COUTTS: And speaking of leadership, Julia Gillard, the caretaker [Australian] prime minister has said publicly that she found it impossible to deal with Nauru while they were in a state of deadlock. Now she finds herself in the same situation?
STEPHEN: Yeah it's very ironic I guess, well that is something I'm not sure what the Australian constitution is, how their constitution works, but I guess that is something that the two major parties in Australia have to sort out for themselves. It's quite interesting, it's quite ironic, and we'll just leave it for them to handle their own domestic affairs.
COUTTS: Have you had a phone call from Tony Abbott, the leader of the opposition?
STEPHEN: No I didn't expect a phone call from Tony, not with those results I guess. It's very right for Tony not to give me a call.
COUTTS: So have you had a conversation with Mr Abbott or just with Alexander Downer on the asylum seeker question and the reopening of the camps on Nauru?
STEPHEN: Well we had a meeting with Tony Abbott on my way back from the Forum meeting in Vanuatu. I met with Mr Abbott then and the shadow minister for immigration and deputy leader. We had a discussion of the asylum seeker issue, so yes, we've had a discussion but that was well before the election.
COUTTS: And what did you resolve in that meeting?
STEPHEN: What we've been saying all along, Nauru is quite happy to put our hand up to assist if they find it as a solution for Australia. Like I've been saying, we've had a very good relationship with any Australian government. So if they believe it's a solution and it's of assistance to Australia, Nauru is happy to help. So really that's again it's up to the major parties in Australia to decide for themselves.
COUTTS: Were you surprised to get a phone call from Alexander Downer, the former foreign affairs minister who's now the Special Envoy to Cyprus?
STEPHEN: Well not really, I mean Alexander knows a lot of people in Nauru and in the Pacific being a former foreign minister during the Howard government. Like I said many people in the Pacific. So he still stays in touch with many people, and including a lot of members of parliament in Nauru.
COUTTS: What did he say to you during that conversation on the phone?
STEPHEN: That is something that I'd rather not discuss because it was a discussion in confidence, so I'll just leave it at that.
