US Secretary of State in flying visit to Australia
Updated
The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Western Australia, for an informal visit, to emphasise the close security ties between the United States and Australia.
Dr Rice travelled to the state capital Perth, with Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who's from Perth. Mr Smith invited Dr Rice to visit his home constituency when he first met her in Washington. Shortly after she landed in Perth, Dr Rice was a guest at a private dinner hosted by the Premier at the University of Western Australia.
Presenter: David Weber
Speakers: Stephen Smith, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister; Alan Carpenter, WA Premier; Richard Court, Former Premier; Kim Beazely, Former Federal Labor Leader
(Sound of people protesting)
DAVID WEBER: About two dozen protesters braved the cold and the rain, but police kept them well away from the University Club.
(Sound of people protesting)
DAVID WEBER: Police had turned out in huge numbers on foot, on horses, and on motorbikes, patrolling the area and keeping it secure.
(Sound of a didgeridoo playing)
DAVID WEBER: Inside the Club, the traditional Noongar welcome was much warmer.
Condoleezza Rice was presented with a message stick which was made for her, with a parchment explaining its meaning. The stick told the story of the relationship between Australia and the United States.
(Sound of crowd murmur)
The Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said the idea was to expose Condoleezza Rice to a wide range of the people of Perth.
STEPHEN SMITH: From academia, from business, leaders of religion. So I thought it was a very good night and I thought that her speech about the power of education was, you know, very, very powerful speech.
Just making the point that the most important thing you can do for a young kid, whether they're an Australian or an American is give them a decent education. It sets them up for life.
DAVID WEBER: The Premier Alan Carpenter said the visit showed the importance of Western Australia in international terms.
ALAN CARPENTER: It shows the power of personal relationships. It shows how valuable it is for Western Australia to have Stephen Smith as a Foreign Affairs Minister, but also it does reflect I think, our standing now - the West Australian community, the West Australian economy - our standing in world affairs. We shouldn't underestimate it.
DAVID WEBER: Today Dr Rice will visit a school and the SAS Barracks before going to Kings Park to lay a wreath in honour of the war dead.
The former Federal Labor leader Kim Beazley - now with UWA's Political Science Department - said the visit had great significance.
KIM BEAZLEY: A few people have asked me questions today about whether or not it's worthwhile having somebody at the end of a particular administration coming through. One of the things about the United States, the Secretary of State is always important to the day they leave office. They are always being called in, in trouble spots to engage.
So for her to find a couple of days for us - pretty good.
