FOR PRESS 10. FEBRUARY 1977
EMBARGO: 1 P. i. : li
ADDRESS AT RETURN DINNER GIVEN BY PRIME MINISTER, PORT MORESBY
It is indeed an honour for me to be the first Australian
Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea since your indeoendence
celebrations seventeen months ago.
Although I have visited Papua New Guinea on three previous occasions,
this extended visit has enabled me not only to have substantive
and valuable discussions with you, Mr Prime Minister, your
colleagues, and the Leader of the Opposition, but has also allowied
my wife and me to see more of your exciting and beautiful country.
The links between Papua New Guinea and Australia are many and
varied, and since independence a range of complex agreements and
arrangements have been negotiated amicably and successfully.
These do not depend solely on the actions of Government to
sustain them. They are above all personal links based on a
close understanding of each other over many years. They reach
into every corner of our two socieites.
We have a relationship which is soundly based and which looks
confidently towards the future.
The strength of our relationship allows us to discuss issues in
a straight-forward way and to find mutually satisfactory
solutions. The continuation of this plain and open approach, which to date
has marked all our discussions and negotiations, is essent: il
if our relationship is to be further strengthened.
It is in this spirit that negotiations on Torres Strait wiftl
continue during the coming months.
It is our desire and I know it is your desire, Mr Prime Ministcr,
that a mutually satisfactory settlement be concluded.
Mr Prime Minister, since coming to office, my Government has
given high priority to laying a solid basis for this new era of
our relationship. / 2
We have reaffirmed the importance of a close relationshi. p
betweer Australia and Papua New.. Guinea.
We have reaffirmed the pledge of successive Australian Governments
to give the highest priority to assistance to Papua New Guinea.
Indeed, we have improved on it. The aid agreement which
you and I announced during your visit to Australia last March,
was a long term Australian commitment for a guaranteed minimum
level of aid eachyear for five years.
As you have told us, this agreement has made a substantial
contribution to Papua New Guinea's ability to make its cwn
decisions, to define its own policies and order its own priorities
as an independent nation.
Both Papua New Guinea and Australia live in a world where there
are many tensions, divisions and problems. Both our nations
seek to contribute to the resolution of these issues.
Among the most important of them is the relationship between
developed and developing nations and the economic gap between
rich and poor countries. Mr Prime Minister, we have discussed
these matters in the last few days. We agreed, that the need to
bridge the gap between the developed and developing nations
is pressing. Phrases such as the north/ south dialogue,
the new international economic order have been coined
to capture the imagination of men and build a greater commitment
to come to grips with the problem, precisely because such
phrases can win people's loyalties and commitments. The words
must he yiven a meani which c: in be trn sllteO . into rel i ty.
Otherwise, the idealism which they enlist will be dissipated.
Unrealistic expectations will be created which, in the longer run,
will produce a disenchantment and frustration.
There is a need for change in policies between nations, sometimes
for significant change. To the extent that the call for a new
international economic order is a call for practical and viable
change in economic policies affecting the international
economic system, it should have the support of all nations.
But if the call. is for a total change of our international system,
the result will be misdirected energies, and unrealistic
expectations we will not be coming to grips with the real problems.
Australia believes that making improvements within the
essential framework of the existing international economic system
holds out the greatest hope for the economic progress of all nations.
Present international economic problems are not caused by the
system itself, but by some of the policies nations pursue
within the system it is these that should be changed, not the
system.
One of the major problems facing developing nations is that of
getting secure access to markets of the developed world.
You have had particular problems in gaining access for your
timber products. We also have had difficulties in gaining access
for some of our products. Importing countries need to understand ./ 3
3.
that there must be continuity of trade both ways. Wve
have been pressingc this view bilaterally and multilaterally
We will be pressing it at CHOGM.
Australia has long supported the idea of commodity agreements
to provide exporters with fair prices and reliable markets
and importers with secure supplies.
Another serious problem is the growing debt burden of the
developing nations. For years Australia has stated that aid
to developing countries should be provided in ways which avoid
adding to their debt burden. Our aid to Papua New Guinea
is grant form, and untied. Governments that purport to
give aid but do so in the form of tied loans are in reality
providing an indirect subsidy to their own industries.
If all the developed countries had followed the lead provided by
the Australia/ Papua New Guinea relationship the enormous third
world debt burden would not have emerged. If our lead were
followed now, the magnitu; e of the debt problem would be
substantially diminished.
Australia and Papua New Guinea are imembers of the Commonwealth
and Mr Somare and I will soon be attending the Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting in London. The Commonwealth of Nations
is important, and this Meeting will seek to come to grips with the
major issues of the world today. For too long some people have
regarded the Commonwealth as an appendage from a past era. They
have neglected the fact that it is a multi-racial association
which can contribute significantly to international affairs.
The Commonwealth is a unique institution in which a diversity
of nations of different social, cultural and economic backgrounds
can meet together in an open, constructive and sympathetic climate.
Unlikec the United Nations the Commonwealth is smaller and
more intimate. The superpowers are not members and the rivalries
they engender are more distant. Nowhere else, not even in the
United Nations, do some 30 Heads of Government take time
from their normal pressing duties to spend a week or so together
discussing the problems facing the world.
The (: ovwioic; iith is a microcosm of the international community.
It should be used to make a real contribution to resolving the
problems we face.
Australia regards the matters to be raised in London as so
important that we are establishing a task force composed of all
relevant departments to examine the issues and to advise
on how we may most effectively approach them. Moreover,
Australia has deliberately begun a process of consultations
with Commonwealth leaders in our region.
We have spoken with Mr Lee Kuan Yew and now with You,
Mr Prime Minister. / 4
I have invited the Priim. e flijstcrs of Fiji, New Zealand,
Tonga -ind We. 1sterni Samoa to visit Australia For an exchange of
views prior to the Conimonaeaith I-eads of Government Meeting.
Mr Peacock will be discussing these matters with Malaysian leaders
when he visits Malaysia in April.
We i~ n Australia want the benefit of all your views before
we finalise our own. One of the major issues discussed at
CHOGM will be the developments in Africa. The political
difficulties in this area derive from the continuing attempt
of one race to subordinate another. We have repeatedly said
that the-only way to resolve the Rhodesian problem is by a
significant and early move to majority rule. We regret
that Mr Smith has rejected the British proposals. So far
as Sothl Africa is concerned,, Australia has stated its views on
the policy of apartheid many times. It is a system which
cannot and will not work.
IBcqlAustralia and Papua New Guinea are strongly opposed to
apartheid, and any other form of racism. Our two nations
have many interests in comrmon.
In the Pacific region we both support the idea of increased
regional cooperation-and we are both members of the South Pacific
Forum. -We share a common desire that the aspirations o: E island
nations, in political and economic areas, can be achieved.
Much hat; been dlone already but I am confident that there is scope
for further initiatives towards cooperation between the peoples
of the region.
In South East Asia, both our governments attach rior ty to
our relations with the ASEAN countries. We both support the basic
objective of those countries, in excluding great power rivalry
from the region.
Mr Prime Minister, although my stay in your country has not been
long, it has enabled me to see at first hand some of the many
changes which are now taking place here. Your desire for the new
to be balanced by a respect for the past, for tradition and
cultural heritage, has been particularly impressive.
It is this delicate but vital balance between innovation arid
traditional values which will provide an important sense of
continuity and stability.
I would like to pay a tribute to the great progress Papua New
Guineai has made in the early days of your independence. Above
all, you are developing your sense of nationhood and pride in
your achievements as a people.
Papua New Guinea has made a reality of its independence and its
future is in the hands of its own people. In a world where
conflict and tensions remaiLn the order of the day, our relationship
is proof that two nations of vastly different social and economic
backgf rounds can live as close to each other as we do without
stultifying one another's separate identity and aspirations.
Mr Prime Minister, thank you for having invited me to
visit Papua New Guinea. I have found our discussions both
stimulating and valuable. The hospitality my wife and I and
all those with me have received has been quite overwhelming.
On their behalf, and on my own behalf, Mr Prime Minister.
I thank you and your colleagues, and the many other people who
have been involved in making this visit so interesting and enjoyable.