PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 4 March 1985
As host of the ANZUS Council due to meet in Australia in July the
Government has decided that it is necessary at this point to
announce the postponement of the meeting.
The serious difficulties between the United States and New Zealand
have arisen following the New Zealand Government's decision on
United States naval vessels.
In the light of the New Zealand decision, the United States
response to that decision, and other recent developments including
the curtailing of intelligence exchanges between the United States
and New Zealand, it is clear that the holding of a regular ANZUS
Council Meeting at the present time would be impracticable.
These developments need to be kept in perspective. As I said at
the White House on 7 February, an important aspect of the ANZUS
relationship has become a matter of close concern. But the ANZUS
Treaty remains. It needs to be emphasised that this point is not
in dispute between any of the ANZUS partners.
The pre-eminent responsibility of the Government is to ensure the
protection of Australia's essential national security interests,
and it will now do this through bilateral channels with both
partners while the present circumstances prevail.
In the case of the United States, the Australian Government has
been reassured by views expressed to it publicly and privately by
President Reagan and other senior representatives of the
Administration, that the Australian/ United States Alliance under
ANZUS remains as strong as ever.
In the case of New Zealand, we propose to pursue our important
defence relationship on a bilateral basis reflecting both our
traditions and the common need to respond to regional security
requirements.
Further announcements on specific arrangements in regard to both
relationships will be made shortly.