PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
PARLIAMENTARY LUNCHEON IN HONOUR OF THE
PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND
CANBERRA 18 AUGUST 1988
Prime Minister David Lange,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is with the greatest pleasure, David, that I welcome you
and Naomi to Australia. We attach great importance to this
visit and we are especially pleased that you were determined
to proceed with it despite your recent illness.
I retain very warm memories of my visit to New Zealand last
November. The enduring impression I brought home from that
visit was of the many bonds of friendship that reach across
the Tasman strong bonds that will be further strengthened
by your visit.
Australians and New Zealanders share much that is important:
our democratic system of government, our commitment to
personal freedoms, and not least, as proud bearers of the
ANZAC tradition, our proven willingness to defend those
freedoms when they are under attack.
In politics, business, administration, the law, sport,-the
arts in virtually all walks of life there is close,
vital and daily exchange between us. In all these fields,
the Australian community has been enriched over the years by
the contribution of New Zealanders who have chosen to make
their mark in Australian.
Let me take this opportunity to say, Mr Prime Minister, that
New Zealanders are and will remain very welcome new arrivals
among us.
it would perhaps be invidious to single out the achievements
of particular individuals who have left. New Zealand to
devote their energies and skills to life in Australia.
But I should say that many Australians felt great sadness at
the recent death of a great entertainer, a gem of the
Australian stage, the late Ricky May.
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Prime Minister,
We in Australia have been especially pleased that New
Zealand has joined so enthusiastically in our Bicentennial
celebrations. The New Zealand pavilion at Expo has been one of the most
popular exhibitions there. The queues outside the pavilion
were so long at times that it would have been quicker to fly
to New Zealand rather than wait to see the display at Expo
but that didn't deter people from waiting to see the best of
what you had to offer.
AnSI all Australians will appreciate New Zealand's
Bicentennial gift of the yacht ' Akarana' which will serve as
a lasting reminder of our longstanding maritime links.
One hundred years ago, the Akarana achieved the distinction
of winning both the Melbourne and Sydney Centenary regattas.
So this gift will also serve to remind Australians perhaps
to our chagrin that New Zealanders have consistently
excelled at sports in this country and have taken home more
than a fair per capita share of sports trophies, not least
Melbourne Cups.
it is also very fitting that I mention in our new Parliament
House that we are looking forward to the visit next week of
the Deputy Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament who will be
presenting to the Presiding officers the Distinguished
Visitor's chair which will stand in the Senate.
Prime minister,
In all of these ways the strength of the friendship between
Australia and New Zealand is proven.
But we would be wrong to pretend that we agree on every
issue, and we would probably be foolish to aspire to perfect
agreement. In particular, Australia regrets the curtailing of New
Zealand's defence links with the United States and we have
made clear that we disagree with you on the issue which
caused the break.
We will continue our strong defence links with the United
States as they underpin our defence policy.
However, we are also determined that our defence links with
New Zealand continue and I want to take this opportunity to
reaffirm the value we place on them.
An increasing number of New Zealand military personnel are
coming to Australia for training and there has been
considerable expansion in the number of Australia-New
Zealand joint exercises. 1259
one of the most important expressions of the Trans-Tasman
defence links is the ANZAC Ship Project, where our two
Governments are proposing to construct twelve new surface
combatants, four of which are planned for New Zealand and
eight for Australia. The ANZAC Ship Project represents an
affirmation of our strong view of the need for the
Australian and New Zealand defence forces to be able to
operate together when needed.
Prime Minister,
with the three agreements we have signed today the
trans-Tasman relationship will become even more rewarding.
we have achieved free trade in goods and we have created
virtually a single Trans-Tasman market. From 1 July 1990,
all goods will be able to be transported unhindered across
the Tasman.
We have achieved an agreement on trade in services which is
probably the most advanced in the world. With only limited
exceptions, it provides for the open trade of services
between our two countries.
With these two measures in place, there is no doubt that we
will see a substantial expansion in the $ 3 billion trade
between Australia and New Zealand.
in addition, our agreements to look to greater harmonisation
of business and competition law and take practical steps to
align customs amd quarantine arrangements will mean a more
consistent environment for business. It will encourage more
business to be done across the Tasman and it will make
existing business easier to do.
Few countries could have negotiated so much in such a short
time; that we have been successful is a testimony to the
natural closeness of our two countries and the underlying
goodwill and friendship that pervades our dealings.
It is a testimony as well to the valuable role played by
business communities on both sides of the Tasman and I talCe
this opportunity to pay them my thanks.
These new agreements also enhance our standing as advocates
of a free and open multilateral trading system.
It is vital that Australia and New Zealand continue to voice
their support for multilateral solutions to the current
problems in the global trading system. So it is a crucial'
element of our CER arrangements that they do not constitute
am exclusive trading bloc and that they do not seek to limit
competition in markets on either side of the Tasman.
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Our close cooperation in the Cairns Group stands as a
significant further example of our commitment to
multilateralism. By joining with other nations committed to
free and fair trading, we are attacking in the most
constructive way possible the restrictions which threaten
global agricultural trade.
The Cairns Group has shown that though Australia and New
Zealand might be relatively small nations in global terms,
we can achieve important goals through a diligent commitment
to multilateralism.
Indeed, through active participation in international forums
we have been able to exert a constructive influence across a
range of important areas. Often Australia and New Zealand
have been able to support each other in the promotion of our
positions particularly for example in those multilateral
organisations where we are working in the cause of nuclear
non-proliferation and disarmament.
Prime minister,
In our own region the stability of the pait cannot now be so
easily taken for granted. Both Australia and New Zealand
must ensure they remain reliable and supportive neighbours
to the island States of the South Pacific as they face the
challenges of independent nationhood.
Australia is proud of the flow of development assistance we
are able to provide Pacific Island Governments. We look
upon the achievement of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone
Treaty as one of our most significant regional policies.
And we are active participants in regional political
associations such as the South Pacific Forum.
Both our countries share a common interest with other South
Pacific countries in the strengthening of democratic
institutions in the region. It is in our interest that the
region remain free from major power tensions and rivalry.
we need to be alert, and to do all we can to deter outside
powers from exercising unacceptable influence in the region.
Prime minister,
In an uncertain world, the value of the resilient and
constructive friendship between Australia and New Zealand
can never be doubted. It must never be diminished.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I propose a toast, to the enduring friendship between
Australia and New Zealand. 1261
-i