CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY_. tj__ EMBARGOED UNTIL 2 P. M. LOCAL
PRIME MiNISTER
SPEECH BY THE AUSTRALIAN PRIM. E MINISTER
AUSTRALIA-THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BANGKOK 22 NOVEMBER 1983
MR CHAIRMAN
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME.
THE AUSTRALIAN-THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS MADE A . VALUABLE
CONTRIBUTION TO MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THAILAND AND
AUSTRALIA. PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANTLY THE EXISTENCE OF THE CHAMBER
REFLECTS AN AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL PRESENCE ON THE GROUND
HERE IN THAILAND; ITS MEMBERSHIP COMPRISES AUSTRALIANS AND
THAIS ACTIVELY INTERESTED IN EXPLORING AND DEVELOPING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL ECONOMIC AND TRADE
DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION.
THIS, I BELIEVE, IS THE ONLY WAY ULTIMATELY TO GIVE SUBSTANCE
TO REGIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS.
THERE ARE QUITE DRAMATIC CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN OUR REGION.
AT A TIME OF SUCH ADJUSTMENT AND CHANGE, IT IS SOMETIMES
DIFFICULT TO APPRECIATE THEIR DIMENSIONS AND CONSEQUENCES,
BUT IT IS ONLY IF WE ARE PREPARED FOR ADJUSTMENT AND CHANGE
THAT VIE WILL BE ABLE TO REAP THE BENEFITS,
THE MOST CRUCIAL CHANGES APPARENT IN THIS REGION STEM
DIRECTLY FROM THE DRAMATIC REORDERING OF GROWTH PATTERNS
WITHIN AND BETWEEN COUNTRIES OF THE REGION,
THIS REORDERING HAS BEEN OF SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTER
THAT IT REQUIRES A BASIC REAPPRAISAL OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
WITHIN WHICH COUNTRIES OF THE REGION NOW DEAL WITH EACH
OTHER, IT ALSO COMPELS ATTENTION TO THE QUITE CRITICAL DOMESTIC
ADJUSTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTRIES OF THE REGION THAT ARE
MADE NECESSARY BY AND INEVITABLY ACCOMPANY SUCH CHANGE,
FOR ITS PART AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT POLICY WILL BE DIRECTED
TO ENSURING THAT AUSTRALIA IS AN EFFECTIVE PARTICIPANT IN
THE PROCESS OF CHANGE GOING ON ABOUT US,
RATHER THAN BEING WARY OF CHANGE, AUSTRALIA WANTS IT TO
WORK TO THE ADVANTAGE BOTH OF ITSELF AND ITS REGIONAL PARTNERS,
OUR COMMITMENT IS TO AN INVOLVED ROLE ONE THAT WOULD SEE
AUSTRALIA BOTH CONTRIBUTING TO AND BENEFITTING FROM THE
DYNAMISM OF THE REGIONAL SITUATION,
THE THRUST OF AUSTRALIAN DOMESTIC ECONOMIC POLICY REFLECTS
THIS COMMITMENT, ,/ 3
THAT POLICY IS NOT ONLY GEARED TO TURNING THE AUSTRALIAN
ECONOMY AROUND ( AN OBJECTIVE WHICH RECENT INDICATORS SUGGEST
IS ATTAINABLE AND BEING GRADUALLY REALISED), BUT IS ALSO
AIMED AT ENSURING THAT AUSTRALIA IS WELL-PLACED TO PARTICIPATE
IN AND BENEFIT FROM THIS WIDER PROCESS OF CHANGE,
My GOVERNMENT'IS COMMITMENT TO THE REDUCTION OVER THE LONG
TERM OF EXISTING LEVELS OF PROTECTION IN AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY
IS PART OF THIS POLICY APPROACH.
RECENT MEASURES INTRODUCED TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT IN
AUSTRALIA OF A VENTURE CAPITAL MARKET AND TO ASSIST, THROUGH
THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY DEVELOPMEN4T CORPORATION, THE FINANCING
OF THE NECESSARY RESTRUCTURING AND REVITALIZATION OF AUSTRALIAN
INDUSTRY ARE ALSO PART OF THIS POLICY THRUST.
As WELL, POLICIES WE HAVE INTRODUCED AND ARE DEVELOPING TO
SECURE A BETTER TRAINED, MORE FLEXIBLE AUSTRALIAN WORKFORCE
ARE DESIGNED TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SAME INDUSTRY
STRATEGY, IT WOULD NOT COME, THEREFORE, ASA GREAT SURPRISE TO MANY OF
YOU THAT my GOVERNMENT ATTACHES A GREAT DEAL OF IMPORTANCE
TO ALL ASPECTS OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS,
INCLUDING THAILAND,
IN MY ADDRESS LAST NIGHT I POINTED TO THE CONSIDERABLE DEPTH
AND EXTENT OF AUSTRALIA ' S RELATIONS WITH THE ASEAN COUNTRIES. 4
J
IWAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT ON THIS VISIT, SOME TEN YEARS
SINCE THE LAST BY AN AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER, BOTH GENERAL
PREM AND I WERE ABLE TO FULLY AND COMPLETELY TO HAVE ACHIEVED
UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER'S INTERESTS AND PERCEPTIONS.
IN ALL THAT AUSTRALIA DOES WITH THAILAND WE ARE PARTICULARLY
MINDFUL OF THAILAND'S POSITION AS A " FRONT-LINE" STATE.
IT WAS ESPECIALLY FOR THIS REASON THAT I THOUGHT IT NECESSARY
TO GET THE BENEFIT OF PRIME MINISTER PREM'S AND FOREIGN MINISTER
SIDDHI'S PERCEPTIONS OF THE CONTEMPORARY REGIONAL SITUATION.
THE TALKS WE HAVE HAD WERE MOST VALUABLE AND PRODUCTIVE IN THIS
REGARD. BOTH PRIME MINISTER PREM AND FOREIGN MINISTER SIDDHI DEEPLY
IMPRESSED ME NOT ONLY WITH THE COMPELLING CHARACTER OF THEIR
ASSESSMENT OF CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS, BUT ALSO FOR THE GENUINE
WARMTH AND FRIENDSHIP THEY DEMONSTRATED TOWARDS ME AND AUSTRALIA.
IDEEPLY APPRECIATE THIS AND SEE IT AS PROVIDING AN ABSOLUTELY
SOLID BASIS ON. WHICH FUTURE AUSTRALIA/ THAILAND RELATIONS CAN
D EVE LOP.
. BOTH AUSTRALIAN AND THAILAND WANT PEACE, STABILITY AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH IN THE REGION. a c / 14A
4A
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS GIVING A HIGH PRIORITY TO ITS
EFFORTS IN THIS DIRECTION
CRUCIAL TO THIS IS UNDERSTANDING,
IN PART THIS MEANS BEING ABLE TO CROSS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
DIVIDES, BRIDGING SUCH DIVIDES NOT ONLY REQUIRES AN ABILITY TO
ACCEPT DIFFERENCE, BUT ALSO REQUIRES THE TYPE OF FAMILIARITY
BORN ONLY OF YEARS OF INTERACTION AND JOINT ENDEAVOUR,
IT IS PLEASING THAT AUSTRALIANS IN INCREASING NUMBERS ARE
GETTING OUT INTO THE REGION AND BUILDING EXTENSIVE NETWORKS
OF PRODUCTIVE CONTACT,
EQUALLY IMPORTANTLY A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM THE REGION
CAN CLAIM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE OF AUSTRALIA.
THE VALUE OF SUCH PERSON-TO-PERSON CONTACT, OF INTERACTION
BETWEEN OUR SOC. IETIES, IS INESTIMABLE.
WE SEE AT WORK IN THIS REGION THE UNDERLYING TRENDS THAT AREFUNDAMENTALLY
RESHAPING THE CHARACTER OF CONTEMPORARY TRADE
AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS.
WORLD TRADE IS IMPOSING INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE OBLIGATIONS,
AND MAJOR STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENTS AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD S INDUSTRIAL NATIONS ARE RESULTING IN
MAJOR SHIFTS IN WORLD PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS.
RISING LIVING STANDARDS AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES MANY OF THEM IN OUR OWN REGION ARE CONTRIBUTING
TO THESE SHIFTS.
WHILE THE WORLD ECONOMY HAS BEEN STRUGGLING TO ABSORB THE
IMPACT OF THE OIL CRISES AND PROLONGED RECESSION IN INDUSTRIAL
COUNTRIES, THIS REGION HAS NOT ONLY MANAGED TO ADJUST EFFECTIVELY;
IT HAS CONTINUED TO RECORD ECONOMIC GROWTH RATES WHICH ARE
IMPRESSIVE BY ANY STANDARDS.
THE ASEAN REGION'S GROWTH HAS ALSO BEEN STRENGTHENED BY ITS STRONG
AND INCREASING INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND ESPECIALLY
BY THE INCREASING FOREIGN TRADE ORIENTATION OF ITS MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRY IN RECENT YEARS.
FOR ASEAN, LIKE AUSTRALIA, THE STRONG GROWTH OF IMPORT
DEMAND IN OUR NEIGHBOUR, JAPAN, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A MORE
FAVOURABLE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IN RECENT
DECADES, AND HAS STIMULATED OUR INTERACTION WITH EACH OTHER.
THE RAPID GROWTH OF JAPAN HAS CONTRIBUTED TO AN APPRECIATIONI
OF WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR ECONOMIC EXPANSION, AND OF WHAT IS
POSSIBLE, THROUGHOUT OUR REGION,
WHILE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS AND CULTURAL PATTERNS DO NOT
ALLOW THE USE OF JAPANESE PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT AS A MODEL
SIMPLY TO BE COPIED, WE HAVE ALL BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE RAPID
STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT IN JAPAN'S EXPORT-ORIENTED INDUSTRIAL
SECTOR, IN RESPONSE TO INTERNATIONAL MARKET CONDITIONS.
PUT SIMPLY, A LOT OF JAPAN'S SUCCESS HAS RUBBED OFF ON THE
REGION WITHIN WHICH IT IS LOCATED,
AT THE SAME TIME MANY COUNTRIES OF THE REGION HAVE DEMONSTRATED
A DYNAMISM OF THEIR OWN.
WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS THE ECONOMIES OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC
HAVE ACCEPTED THE ADVANTAGES FOR GROWTH OF EXPORT-ORIENTED
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RAPID STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT
WITH WHICH THEY ARE ASSOCIATED, .1/ 7
COUNTRIES OF THIS REGION HAVE ADJUSTED QUICKLY INTO GROWTH
AREAS OF THE WORLD MARKET,
THEY HAVE ALSO BECOME VERY COMPETITIVE IN SLOWER GROWING
MARKETS, THEIR EXPOSURE TO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION HAS HASTENED
THE PROCESS OF SOPHISTICATION OF THEIR MANUFACTURING AND
SERVICES SECTORS,
AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS HAS BEEN THE
STRIKING GROWTH OF ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE
REGION, THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF THE REGION IS A FACT WHICH IS NOW
WELL UNDERSTOOD,
THE SUPPLY CAPACITY WITHIN THE PACIFIC REGION OFFERS ADEQUATE
POTENTIAL FOR MEETING THE BULK OF PRESENT OR PROSPECTIVE
IMPORT DEMAND REQUIREMENTS AND FOR PROVIDING A LARGE MEASURE
OF REGIONAL FOOD AND RESOURCE TRADE SECURITY,
THIS PROVIDES A SECURE BASIS FOR COUNTRIES WHICH ARE
LESS WELL ENDOWED WITH NATURAL RESOURCES TO PURSUE STRATEGIES
OF RAPID INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
ALMOST 40 PER CENT OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION'S TRADE IS
INTRA-REGIONAL,
THE INTRA-REGIONAL COMPONENT GREW BY AROUND 24 PER CENT PER
ANNUM BETWEEN 1970 AND 1980 SOMEWHAT FASTER THAN THE GROWTH
OF WORLD TRADE AS A WHOLE.
THERE ARE ALSO STRONG INVESTMENT AND COMMERCIAL LINKS IN THE
REGION AND POLITICAL TIES ARE INCREASINGLY STRONG.
THIS INTERDEPENDENCE SUGGESTS THAT COUNTRIES IN THE REGION
WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM EACH OTHER'S GROWTH,
THESE TRENDS REINFORCE MY VIEW THAT A SOUND BA. SIS EXISTS
WITHIN THIS REGION TO ENHANCE ITS OWN PROSPERITY THROUGH
CO-OPERATIVE ACTION AND TO CONTRIBUTE IMPORTANTLY TO GLOBAL
ECONOMIC WELFARE.
FAR FROM BEING INCOMPATIBLE THESE TWIN OBJECTIVES ARE MUTUALLY
REINFORCING: THE MOST USEFUL FORMS OF REGIONAL CO-OPERATION
ARE CONSISTENT WITH AND MAY WELL ENHANCE THE PROSPECTS OF
ACTION ON A BROADER MULTILATERAL BASIS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE
RAPIDLY GROWING IMPORTANCE OF WESTERN PACIFIC COUNTRIES IN
THE WORLD ECONOMY.
CO-ORDINATED ACTION BY THE ASEAN COUNTRIES IS A CONTEMPORARY
AND SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF REGIONAL ACTION CONTRIBUTING TO
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM, ./ 9
ON A SOMEWHAT BROADER BASIS, I SEE NO REASON WHY COUNTRIES
OF THE REGION SHOULD NOT JOIN TOGETHER, IN A MANNER
CONSISTENT WITH THEIR SHARED INTERESTS AND CAPACITIES, TO
SECURE GENERALLY AGREED OBJECTIVES.
MOST COUNTRIES OF THE REGION, FOR EXAMPLE, ACCEPT THE
ADVANTAGES OF A HIGH LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL
TRADE, AND OF THE MARKET DISCIPLINE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT,
AS WELL AS WELCOMING FOREIGN INVESTMENT.
CONTINUED GROWTH OF COUNTRIES OF THE REGION HAS THEREFORE
BEEN THREATENED BY THE RECENT SLOW-DOWN AND DECLINE IN
WORLD TRADE.
THE RECENT RECESSION-INDUCED PROLIFERATION OF PROTECTIONIST
BARRIERS, AND THE ENCROACHMENT OF BILATERALISM IN TRADE
ARRANGEMENTS, CONSTITUTE MAJOR CHALLENGES TO THE VERY
BASIS OF THE ORDERLY INTERNATIONAL TRADING SYSTEM UPON WHICH
WE ALL DEPEND,
WE NEED CONCERTED EFFORTS TO RE-ESTABLISH CONDITIONS CONSISTENT
WITH AN OPEN, MULTILATERAL TRADE REGIME. WE MUST GET BEYOND
WORDS AND EXHORTATIONS PURPOSEFUL ACTION AND A SENSE OF
COMMITMENT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED.
IN LINE WI'TH THI* S', WE OF THE REGION SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT MORE
ACTIVE, AND THEREFORE MORE EFFECTIVE IN SECURING ADHERENCE
TO THIS PRI'NCIPLE, ESPECIALLY IN RESPECT OF THE TRADE IN
GOODS THAT ARE OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO BOTH INDUSTRIALISED AND
DEVELOPING COUN4TRIES IN THE REGION.
MANY OF YOU WOULD BE AWARE THAT UNITED STATES TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE BROCK RECENTLY PROPOSED THAT A NEW ROUND
OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMENCE IN 1987, WITH
PREPARATION TO BEGIN IN LATE 1984 OR EARLY 1985.
REPRESENTATIVE BROCK HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE NEW ROUND, AMONG
OTHER THINGS,, FOCUS ON REDUCING THE NON-TARIFF BARRIERS TO
TRADE IN INDUSTRY AND AGRICULTURE, PRIMARILY GOVERNMENT
SUBS IDIES.
MANY COUNTRIES IN THIS REGION HAVE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS WITH
SUCH MATTERS AND WOULD STAND TO GAIN CONSIDERABLY FROM ANY
PROCESS WHICH MIGHT SECURE PROGRESS ON THEM,
THE DOMINANCE OF GATT BY THE ESTABLISHED INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES
AND THE TREATMENT OF TRADE IN AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AS
" SPECIAL HAS LED TO THE DENIAL OF THE INTERESTS OF FOODEXPORTING
COUNTRIES LIKE AUSTRALIA AND THAILAND. THIS
DOMINANCE HAS ALSO LED TO THE DENIAL OF THE INTERESTS OF
NEWLY INDUSTRIALISING COUNTRIES LIKE ALL OF THE ASEAN MEMBERS
IN RESPECT OF LABOUR INTENSIVE EXPORTS SUCH AS TEXTILES,
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR.
11.
AUSTRALIA FOR ITS PART WOULD STRONGLY SUPPORT A NEW ROUND
OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, BUT ONLY IF IT WAS
CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD ADDRESS SERIOUSLY AND EFFECTIVELY
THESE MATTERS-OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO AUSTRALIA, NEW
ZEALAND AND OUR DEVELOPING COUNTRY NEIGHBOURS IN THE
ASIA PACIFIC REGION'
THE CHANCES OF ACHIEVING AN APPROPRIATELY STRUCTURED
ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS WOULD BE GREATLY ENHANCED IF THE
COUNTRIES OF THIS REGION WERE TO APPLY THEIR FULL AND UNITED
WEIGHT TO ITS ACHIEVEMENT.
CERTAINLY THE DAY SHOULD BE LONG PAST WHEN NEGOTIATIONS
OF THE KIND NOW PROPOSED CAN, AS IN PREVIOUS ROUNDS,
RESTRICT SERIOUS DELIBERATIONS TO PARTICULAR TARIFF
REDUCTIONS AND SELECTIVE FORMS OF MARKET LIBERALISATION
OF-INTEREST ONLY TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL MAJORS,
THIS REGION AS. A REGION BY WHICH I MEAN THE WESTERN
PACIFIC, INCLUDING JAPAN SHOULD BE CONSIDERING HOW IT
MIGHT MOST EFFECTIVELY APPROACH THESE NEGOTIATIONS.
THE REGION NEEDS TO BECOME INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE KIND
OF IDENTIFIABLE AND SPECIAL ROLE IT CAN PLAY IN TRADE
NEGOTIATIONS OF THIS KIND.
NOT TO DO SO MIGHT WELL MEAN THAT THE COMPETITIVE EDGE MANY
IN THE REGION NOW ENJOY IN SO MANY AREAS COULD BE ERODED.
12.
AUSTRALIA, THE ASEAN COUNTRIES, NEW ZEALAND AND THE MARKET
ECONOMIES OF NORTHEAST ASIA SHOULD WORK WITHIN THE
MULTILATERAL SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT ANY NEGOTIATIONS ARE
ABOUT GENUINE TRADE LIBERALISATION.
WE SHOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE THE EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND
CANADA IN THIS DIRECTION.
THIS KIND OF RESULT WOULD ENSURE THAT THE REGION CAN
MAXIMISE ITS OWN GROWTH POTENTIAL AND AT THE SAME TIME
IMPROVE THE WORLD TRADING ENVIRONMENT,
THE MAJOR ESTABLISHED TRADING POWERS HAVE NEVER SEEMED
LESS ABLE TO FORMULATE POLICIES WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE
TRADING ENVIRONMENT.
WE IN THE REGION THEREFORE OWE IT TO OURSELVES TO FILL THE
VACUUM. I RECOGNISE THAT CO-ORDINATION OF A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON
THESE MATTERS WILL BE NO EASY MATTER.
AT THE VERY LEAST WE SHOULD HAVE TO PROMOTE AN ATMOSPHERE
CONDUCIVE TO THE ADOPTION OF SPECIFIC CO-ORDINATED POLICY
ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE SHARED TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES, / 13
13.
THIS OBVIOUSLY WILL TAKE TIME AND A DELIBERATE EFFORT WILL BE
NEEDED TO RECONCILE DIFFERING NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE
BASI-S OF ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING OF THE CRITICAL ISSUES.
IT IS IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL OF US THAT THE EFFORT BE MADE.,
AUSTRALIA IS PREPARED TO PLAY ITS PART. IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH
PRIME MINISTER PREM YESTERDAY, I ASSURED HIM THAT AUSTRALIA WAS
PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IN ALL RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL FORA TO
TRY TO ACHIEVE THE CREATION OF A MORE OPEN TRADING ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS GENERALLY RECOGNISED THAT THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS HIGHLY TRANSPARENT. IT IS LESS OFTEN
APPRECIATED THAT BOTH NOMINAL AND EFFECTIVE AUSTRALIAN RATES
OF ASSISTANCE TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR HAVE DECLINED
SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS By 33 PER CENT IN
THE CASE OF THE NOMINAL RATE OF ASSISTANCE AND By 28 PER CENT
IN THE EFFECTIVE RATE IN THE PERIOD 1968-69 TO 1981-82.
BUT IF OUR BEST EFFORTS SHOULD FAIL TO OVERCOME THE CONSISTENT
COMMITMENT OF MANY OF THE OLD INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES TO PATTERNS
OF TRADE THAT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST AUSTRALIA, THE ASEAN
COUNTRIES, AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN OUR REGION, WE SHOULD NOT LET
THAT BE THE END OF THE MATTER.
THERE WOULD STILL BE SCOPE FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE EXPANSION
AMONG COUNTRIES WITHIN OUR OWN REGION, ON A NON-DISCRIMINATORY
BASIS, BUT FOCUSSED ON COMMODITIES IN WHICH COUNTRIES IN OUR
OWN REGION ARE THE MOST COMPETITIVE SUPPLIERS.
AUSTRALIA WOULD BE WILLING TO JOIN OTHER COUNTRIES IN OUR
REGION IN A REGIONALLY BASED SEARCH FOR A NON-DISCRIMINATORY
AGREEMENT ON TRADE EXPANSION THAT SERVED THE NATIONAL INTERESTS
OF EACH OF OUR COUNTRIES.
THE RECENT HOBART TRADE CONFERENCE ON PROTECTIONISM AND THE
ASIAN PACIFIC REGION'WAS A USEFUL FIRST STEP IN EXPLORING
THE POSSIBILITIES SUCH AN APPROACH MIGHT OFFER.
THE RATE AT WHICH THE BILATERAL TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND THAILAND HAS DEVELOPED IN RECENT YEARS
SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS REAL SCOPE FOR JOINT ACTION OF THE KIND
I AM ADVOCATING.
THAILAND, A COUNTRY RICH IN HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES,
CLEARLY HAS THE CAPACITY AND FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE ITS OWN
DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO REGIONAL GROWTH PATTERNS.
THE THAI ECONOMY IS PROVING TO BE AMONG THE MOST ROBUST
WITHIN THE REGION.
ITS TRADITIONAL STRENGTH AS A COMMODITY PRODUCER HAS LONG
BEEN RECOGNISED.
MORE RECENTLY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN PROCEEDING RAPIDLY.
OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR INVESTORS,
EXPORTERS AND CONSULTANTS.
0
BILATERAL AUSTRALIA/ TAHI IAND TRADE REFLECTS THIS,
IT HAS BEEN GROWING RAPIDLY,
AS IT HAS DONE SO THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE SHARE COMMON INTERESTS
HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY. APPARENT.
As COMMODITY PRODUCERS BOTH OF FOODSTUFFS AND MINERALS
WE HAVE AN INTEREST IN SEEING THAT THE ADVANTAGES OF AN OPEN,
MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM ACCRUE TO THESE PRODUCTS.
IN THIS CONTEXT IT IS IN OUR MUTUAL INTERESTS TO WORK TOGETHER
TO DISMANTLE THOSE BARRIERS BOTH TARIFF AND NON-TARIFF
IMPEDING TRADE BASED ON RATIONAL ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES.
SECOND, AUSTRALIA HAS TECHNOLOGY, EXPERTISE AND EQUIPMENT WHICH
CAN ASSIST THAILAND IN ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER IN THE FIELDS OF RURAL AND MINERAL
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO IN THE AREAS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
PRIME MINISTER PREM EXPRESSED INTEREST YESTERDAY IN AUSTRALIA
INCREASING ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THESE AREAS IN THAILAND, AND I
HAVE AGREED THAT AUSTRALIAN AND THAI OFFICIALS SHOULD WORK
TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR THE CONSIDERATION
OF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS,
NEEDLESS TO SAY IF EFFECT IS TO BE GIVEN TO THESE PROPOSALS
BOTH GOVERNMENTS WILL REQUIRE THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF THE PRIVATE
SECTOR IN BOTH COUNTRIES,
16.
I AM SURE THAT IT IS HELPFUL TO ALL OF YOU HERE TO HAVE
THIS SENSE OF THE PRIORITIES OF OUR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS
FOR FUTURE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
THAILAND,.
As FOR THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT, IT IS DETERMINED TO IMPROVE
AUSTRALIA'S EXPORT PERFORMANCE,
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY TAKEN STEPS TO GIVE EFFECT TO
THIS INTENTION,
IT HAS ANNOUNCED A NUMBER OF MEASURES DESIGNED TO ENABLE THE
EXPORT FINANCE AND INSURANCE CORPORATION TO OFFER MORE
ATTRACTIVE AND FLEXIBLE FACILITIES IN THE FIELD OF EXPORT
FINANCE. THIS WILL BE OF BENEFIT NOT ONLY TO AUSTRALIAN EXPORTERS,
BUT TO THOSE WHO WISH TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF AUSTRALIAN
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE CURRENT EXAMINATION OF AUSTRALIA'S
AID PROGRAM BY THE JACKSON COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS
SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED TO $ 60 MILLION THE TOTAL FUNDING"
COMMITMENT PERMISSIBLE TO THE AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPMENT
ASSISTANCE BUREAU TO PROVIDE AID GRANTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH
EFIC LOANS TO ASSIST COUNTRIES ENTERING UPON DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS BASED ON AUSTRALIAN SOURCES, S. 117
17,
As WELL AS TAKING SUCH STEPS TO ASSIST AUSTRALIAN EXPORTERS,
AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE MORE OUTWARD LOOKING, THE
GOVERNMENT IS DEVELOPING A MORE TARGETTED APPROACH TO EXPORT
DEVELOPMENT. A MEDIUM-SIZED COUNTRY LIKE AUSTRALIA CANNOT
AFFORD TO SPREAD ITS EFFORTS TOO THINLY, AND ACCORDINGLY
WE ARE GIVING PRIORITY TO DEVELOPING THE ECONOMIC LINKS
WITH THE ASIAN PACIFIC REGION,
A FURTHER FACTOR ENHANCING ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN
AUSTRALIA AND THAILAND HAS BEEN THE USEFUL, IF NOT DRAMATIC,
CONTRIBUTION TO THAILAND'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
OF AUSTRALIAN INVESTMENT.
FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1983 THE NUMBER OF APPROVALS
OF AUSTRALIAN INVESTMENT PROPOSALS BY THE THAILAND BOARD
OF INVESTMENT EXCEEDED THOSE OF ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
A NUMBER OF JOINT AUSTRALIAN-THAI VENTURES ARE THE LEADING
COMPANIES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SECTORS IN THAI INDUSTRY.
WHILE THE LEVEL OF AUSTRALIAN INVESTMENT IN THAILAND IS
NOT LARGE, THE MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND EXPERTISE ACCOMPANYING
IT ARE OF PARTICULAR RELEVANCE.
AUSTRALIA'S EXPERTISE IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING,
MINERALS DEVELOPMENT AND AGRICULTURAL AND MINING MACHINERY
DEVELOPMENT ARE WELL RECOGNISED, / 18
18.
THEY FIND A PARTICULAR APPLICATION IN OUR AID PROGRAM TO
THAILAND. THAT PROGRAM, . WHICH THIS YEAR IS EXPECTED TO TOTAL AROUND
MILLION, IS DEVOTED PRINCIPALLY TO AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS
BUT IS ALSO SUPPORTING THAILAND'S EFFORTS TO REPLACE OIL
IMPORTS WITH INDIGENOUS ENERGY RESOURCES AND IS CONTRIBUTING
THROUGH ROAD AND DAM CONSTRUCTION TO'THAILAND'S INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT. OBVIOUSLY THE RANGE AND DEPTH OF AUSTRALIA'S RELATIONS WITH
THAILAND IS CONSIDERABLE,
THIS CONTRIBUTES IMPORTANTLY TO PROSPERITY IN BOTH OUR
COUNTRIES. IT ALSO CONSTITUTES A VERY SOUND BASIS UPON WHICH TO DEVELOP
CO-OPERATIVE POLICY ACTION INTO THE LONGER TERM.
THIS FINDS PARTICULAR AND IMMEDIATE APPLICATION IN OUR SHARED
INTERESTS AS COMMODITY PRODUCERS,
WE HAVE BOTH SUFFERED THE CONSEQUENCES OF RECESSION IND. UCED
FALLS IN COMMODITY PRICESj AND BOTH STAND TO GAIN FROM A
RESTORATION OF COMMODITY PRICES THAT JUSTIFY INVESTMENT. / 19
19,
THE SITUATION IN THE SUGAR MARKET IS A MATTER OF ESPECIAL
ANXIETY. AUSTRALIA AND THAILAND HAVE BOTH BEEN WORKING TOGETHER I
BELIEVE VERY EFFECTIVELY IN THE HOPE OF SECURING A NEW
INTERNATIONAL SUGAR AGREEMENT, WITH EEC MEMBERSHIP, WHICH
WOULD STABILISE PRICES AT LEVELS REMUNERATIVE FOR EFFICIENT
SUGAR PRODUCERS,
THE SUBSIDISED SUGAR EXPORTS OF THE EEC HAVE IN PAST YEARS
GROSSLY DISTORTED WORLD SUGAR MARKETS TO THE DETRIMENT OF
BOTH THE THAI AND AUSTRALIAN SUGAR INDUSTRIES.
PROBLEMS IN THE TIN MARKET HAVE ALSO BEEN OF CONCERN NOT
ONLY TO AUSTRALIA AND THAILAND, BUT ALSO TO MALAYSIA AND
INDONESIA.
AUSTRALIA SHARES THOSE CONCERNS,
IT IS, I BELIEVE, A STRONG REGIONAL INTEREST THAT STABLE
CONDITIONS BE RESTORED TO THE TIN MARKET.
ACCORDINGLY AS I YESTERDAY ADVISED PRIME MINISTER PREM WE
HAVE DECIDED IMMEDIATELY TO JOIN OUR ASEAN NEIGHBOURS,
THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA, AS MEMBERS OF THE RECENTLY
FORMED ASSOCIATION OF TIN PRODUCING COUNTRIES ( ATPC).
WE SEE THIS AS USEFULLY COMPLEMENTING ACTIVITIES OTHERWISE
BEING MOUNTED UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL TIN AGREEMENT ( ITA).
MORE GENERALLY AUSTRALIA IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A STRONG,
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS NEIGHBOURS
IN ASEAN AND THE WI* DER REGIO0* N OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC.
THE ASEAN COUNTRIES HAVE BECOME A MAJOR MARKET FOR
AUSTRALIAN GOODS AND EVERYTHING POINTS TO0 CONTINUATION AND
INTENSIFICATION OF THIS PATTERN.
FIELDS SUCH AS BANKING, COMMUNICATIONS, SOFTWARE, INTERMEDIATE
TECHNOLOGY, CONSULTING SKILLS AND EDUCATION ARE ONLY NOW
OPENING UP.
AUSTRALIA HAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT TO OFFER IN THESE AREAS
AS WELL AS IN NEW AND GROWING MARKETS FOR RAW MATERIALS,
PRIMARY PRODUCTS, AND PROCESSED GOODS.
REALISATION OF THE FULL POTENTIAL PRESENTED BY THESE
OPPORTUNITIES WILL HINGE IN PART ON A VERY CONSIDERABLE
STEPPING UP OF AUSTRALIAN INVOLVEMENT WITH THE REGION.
AUSTRALIAN INVESTMENT IN GROWTH MARKETS, A CAREFUL BUT
DELIBERATE SEARCHING OUT OF JOINT-VENTURE OPPORTUNITIES,
AND DELIBERATE ATTENTION TO CONSOLIDATING AND DEVELOPING
SUPPORT SERVICES, PARTICULARLY IN BANKING AND TRANSPORTATION,
ARE AMONG THE ELEMENTS MOST CRUCIAL TO SUCCESSFUL, LONG-TERM
CONSOLIDATION AIND EXPANSION OF THIS INVOLVEMENT, ./ 21
21.
THIS IN TURN PRESUMES AN ABILITY TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS,
POLICIES AND ATTITUDES NECESSARY TO MATCH THE DEMANDS OF
THE REGION.
WE ARE HELPED CONSIDERABLY IN THIS, AS I SUGGESTED AT THE
OUTSET, BY THE UNDERSTANDING GENERATED BY THE INCREASINGLY
LARGE TWO-WAY FLOW OF PEOPLE BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND THE
ASEAN COUNTRIES,
WHAT HAS BEEN LACKING UNTIL NOW, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN A
COHERENT STRATEGY,
THE TIME HAS COME TO MOVE BEYOND PIECEMEAL, OFTEN INCONSISTENT,
RESPONSES TO VAGUE GLIMMERINGS OF OPPORTUNITY, TO A CAREFULLY
TARGETTED, DELIBERATELY INTEGRATED APPROACH THAT COMBINES
THE BEST THAT ON-THE-SPOT EXPERIENCE CAN OFFER WITH NECESSARY
CAPITAL EXPERTISE AND POLICY BACK-UP.
WHILE REALISATION OF THIS OBJECTIVE WILL REQUIRE A GREAT
DEAL OF EFFORT, * A COMMITMENT TO DELIBERATE, ., BALANCED, AND
CONSISTENT APPROACHES IS IN AUSTRALIA'S VIEW VITAL.
WHAT IS NEEDED NOW IS MOST CAREFUL ATTENTION TO MATTERS
SUCH AS CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO A CONFIDENT INVESTMENT
CLIMATE, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MECHANISMS FOR TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFER, AND THE ADOPTION OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC POLICIES
SUPPORTIVE OF DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES APPROPRIATE TO
CONTINUED GROWTH IN INCOMES WITHIN THE REGION,
22.
ALL GOVERNMENTS WITHIN THE REGION DO, I BELIEVE, SHARE AN
INTERST IN SUCH MATTERS,
I HAVE ALREADY SUGGESTED THAT A PARTICULAR APPLICATION OF
THAT INTEREST WOULD LIE IN THE GENERATION OF A JOINT
REGIONAL APPROACH TO ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN SHOULD A FUTURE
ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS MATERIALISE,
BUT LOOKING FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE AND CONSIDERING THE
DEPTH OF SHARED INTERESTS BETWEEN COUNTRIES OF THE REGION,
CO-OPERATIVE ENDEAVOUR BETWEEN US SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED
TO TRADE MATTERS.
THE MORE WE CAN CONSOLIDATE ECONOMIC AND TRADING INTERESTS
BETWEEN ALL COUNTRIES OF THE REGION, THE GREATER NOT ONLY
WILL BE THE CONTRIBUTION TO INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY PROSPERITY
BUT ALSO THE STIMULUS TO INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
RECOVERY,
ACCORDINGLY RATHER THAN BEING CONTINUALLY DAUNTED BY THE
COMPLEXITIES AND SENSITIVITIES OF ACHIEVING EFFECTIVE
CONSOLIDATION OF SUCH INTERESTS, WE SHOULD, AT BOTH THE
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEVELSj BE PREPARED TO PUT ASIDE THE
BLINKERS AND BEGIN SERIOUSLY EXPLORING THE SCOPE FOR WELLCO-
ORDINATED, TRULY CO-OPERATIVE APPROACHES,
UTLIMATELY WE ALL STAND TO GAIN FROM SUCH APPROACHES,