E&OE...............................................
Good afternoon. Well ladies and gentlemen I have called this news
conference to announce that I have decided to postpone my visit to
Malaysia and Papua New Guinea and the reason for that is that it has
become quite obvious to me that crucial decisions about the possible
involvement of Australian forces in military action against Iraq might
need to be taken during the next week and I would not want the possibility
to arise of those decisions being required during my absence from
Australia.
This does not mean any weakening of my hopes that there will be a
peaceful settlement and that Saddam Hussein will see the reason in
the mission of the Secretary General of the United Nations to Iraq.
I rang the Malaysian Prime Minister a short while ago and informed
him directly of my decision. Although disappointed that my visit would
not be taking place now, he does understand the reasons why I have
taken this decision.
I have endeavoured, over the past little while, to get in touch with
the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and that has not been successful
but, I have conveyed a message and my regrets, to one of his officers.
I particularly regret the fact that I am not going to Malaysia because,
amongst other things, I would have wanted to personally convey to
Dr Mahathir and the Malaysian Government the confidence that the Australian
Government feels in the efforts being undertaken by the Malaysian
Government to cope with the very severe economic difficulties which
have buffeted that country.
However, we both agreed that this afternoon's decision was a
postponement and not a cancellation and we are already searching for
an alternative date and I hope that that visit can take place then.
Returning to the first of my comments, I remain hopeful that Kofi
Annan's visit can yield results. The whole world would want bloodshed
to be avoided, but if that mission fails, it will not be through a
lack of good-will on the part of the United Nations, on the part of
the United States, or on the part of Australia, it will rest entirely
upon the head of Saddam Hussein. And it is clearly my responsibility
to be in Australia dealing with the situation as it evolves and as
it proceeds over the next week.
JOURNALIST:
(Inaudible)...the situation in the Gulf...(inaudible)?
PRIME MINISTER:
The situation in the Gulf has been delicate for some time but it has
become apparent to me over the past few days that the time for taking
decisions, both in relation to whether or not the peace mission is
being successful, or otherwise, could possibly - and I repeat - possibly
arise, during the time that I might have been away. And I don't
think it is appropriate for the Prime Minister of this country to
be out of Australia when decisions are taken that could directly lead
to the involvement of Australian forces in military action. That is
absolutely not acceptable to me and I don't think it would be
acceptable to the Australian public and that is the reason why I have
decided to postpone the visit.
JOURNALIST:
(Inaudible).
PRIME MINISTER:
People are aware that if the peace mission fails, then military action
is the only alternative. I hope the peace mission succeeds, I really
do, I fervently hope the peace mission succeeds, but if it doesn't,
then a number of decisions must be taken. The first decision is a
decision that further peace efforts are going to be pointless and
the second of course, could be the involvement of Australian forces
in military action.
At present the authority of the Australian forces is the authority
to deploy, not the authority to involve themselves in military action
and it is imperative that, as Prime Minister, I be around when those
decision are taken.
JOURNALIST:
Have you spoken to Mr Clinton in recent days?
PRIME MINISTER:
No. I have not spoken to President Clinton since the Cabinet decided
to deploy forces to the Gulf. I rang him then, and if necessary, we
will talk again, but there has been no necessity for us to talk over
the past few days.
JOURNALIST:
What will be the role of Defence Minister McLachlan if you are going
to stay back..(inaudible)?
PRIME MINISTER:
He will be playing the appropriate full role of the Defence Minister.
These are whole of Government decisions and it follows from that,
that the presence of the Prime Minister is always essential. Its committing
Australian forces to military action is the most significant decision
that any Government and any Prime Minister of this country can take.
JOURNALIST:
(Inaudible).
PRIME MINISTER:
It is obvious from a number of circumstances, including the nature
of Kofi Annan's visit to Baghdad, that it could possibly be that
one or two of those crucial decisions will need to be taken during
the time that I would have otherwise been away. I want to emphasise,
however, that I have not received any information in the past few
hours which indicates that the prospects for success of that mission,
by the Secretary General, have been altered.
I still remain hopeful, and I can't put it any more strongly
than that, that the mission will be successful. We all hope that the
mission will be successful. Nobody wants war, nobody wants bloodshed,
nobody wants the necessity of a military strike. The person standing
between the realisation of that hope, and the possibility that that
hope will be dashed, is Saddam Hussein.
JOURNALIST:
When were you leaving..(inaudible)..and how long was that going to
be?
PRIME MINISTER:
I was going tomorrow, around about lunch time, and I was going to
be away until Thursday or Friday of next week. I should emphasise,
that this decision of mine, does not alter the plans I currently have
to visit the Northern Territory, which, of course is not affected
by the requirement of my being in Australia.
JOURNALIST:
(Inaudible).
PRIME MINISTER:
We are a peaceful, democratic country and people have the right to
lawfully and peacefully demonstrate and lawfully and peacefully dissent.
That's one of the great things about being an Australian and
that is why we take stands in international fora and that is why we
are prepared to put our country's reputation on the line to defend
liberty. We believe that people should have the right of free expression,
Saddam Hussein doesn't.
JOURNALIST:
Do you believe that most Australians still support sending our troops?
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes I believe that most Australians do support what we have done.
No Australians want war, I don't, none of my colleagues do, we hate
the very idea of it, but it may become necessary to use military force,
and if it is, I have no doubt that the Australian service personnel
will distinguish themselves as they always have in the past. But I
hope and pray that that doesn't become necessary.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, do you see..(inaudible)?
PRIME MINISTER:
We both agreed that our officials would get together immediately to
find an alternative date. I want to visit Malaysia, he wants me to
come. He was very appreciative of the fact that I had rung him personally
and had not informed him of my decision through the normal diplomatic
channels. He understands the position although he is disappointed,
as I am, but we both appreciate that in these circumstances my first
duty is to be in Australia.
[Ends]