PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
LUNCHEON IN HONOUR OF THE PRIME MINISTER ALEBUA
OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
CANBERRA 5 SEPTEMBER 1988
Prime Minister
Parliamentary colleagues
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Australia and the Solomon islands are this year both
celebrating anniversaries.
1988 marks the two hundredth anniversary of the European
settlement of Australia. It also marks the tenth
anniversary of the independence of the Solomon Islands.,
Such anniversaries are important events, both for marking
progress and for looking to the future to what new
achievements lie before us.
And they offer the opportunity for countries to reaffirm
their friendship towards each other.
In the case of our two countries, we have been fortunate in
being able to do so through the recent visit of Australia's
Minister for Trade Negotiations, Michael Duffy, to Honiara
to attend your independence celebrations.
Today we welcome a very distinguished Party making a return
visit. To you, Prime Minister, to Minister Ros6 and
Premier Hagasuramo, may I extend a very warm Australian
welcome and express my wishes for a happy and constructive
visit. And in Australia's Bicentennial Year we warmly welcome your
generous participation in our celebrations.
As you saw yourself during your National Day at Expo 88 last
week, the Pacific village Display is an outstanding-success.
The Solomon Islands Pavilion and the presence of your
national performers are deservedly amongst the highlights of
the village and the display as a whole is one of the
highlights of Expo itself.
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2.
The building of a traditional canoe alongside the Solomon
Islands Pavilion excited a great deal of interest. I am
told that its launching last week during your visit was
something of a spectacular. I hope you enjoyed the ride[ I
The relationship between Australia and the Solomon Islands
is one that rests on the friendship between our two peoples.
It is a friendship forged in the Second World War, when
Australians and Solomon Islanders fought side by side in
some of the most bitter and devastatimg battles of the
South-west Pacific Campaign.
it is the close bond that led Australians to share the
tragedy your people suffered as a result of cyclone " Namu"
in 1986, and that saw us involved in the daunting task of
reconstruction and rehabilitation. In this connection, I am
delighted that Slim Dusty, one of Australia's greatest
entertainers, whose perfomances in your country did much to
raise funds after the cyclone, is with us today.
We are indeed close neighbours and by close I refer not
only to our geographical proximity but also to our
historical ties and our contemporary capacity to work
together to achieve important shared goals.
We are involved in political co-operation at the regional
and international level over important issues such as
disarmament, economic development and international trading
arrangements, issues of central regional concern.
I look forward to working with you again at the South
Pacific Forum when it meets later this month in Tonga.
On the bilateral front, the relationship includes important
trade and civil aviation natters, including the operation of
joint air service by Qantas and Solomon Islands' Airlines.
Australia has become increasingly involved in helping the
economic development strategies of your Government.
Australia's program of assistance to the Solomon Islands'
concentrates on infrastructure development, education,
training, and most importantly, on activities in the
productive fisheries and forestry sectors of the economy.
And, Mr Prime minister, I might say that your country has
given Australia, and Canberra, a special gift in the
sporting field. Mal Meninga, our great international
Rugby League player, has Solomon island ancestry.
Australia and the Solomon islands also have a long-standing
defence co-operation program.
I was pleased to hear, Prime Minister, that while you were
in Perth on Saturday, you were able to take ceremonial
possession of the patrol vessel " Lata", which was
constructed in Australia as part of our Pacific Patrol Boat
Program. 180Li
I believe the ' Lata" will be an important element in your
policing and protection of your important fisheries
resources, in co-ordination with the Maritime Surveillance
Centre which is supported by the Defence Co-operation
Program. I an also pleased that the " Lata" will participate in the
Bicentennial Naval Salute in Sydney next month.
Prime minister,
I believe the relationship our two countries have forged is
am important one and one of which we cam be proud. But we
need to keep at the hard work of co-operation for the
benefit of our own peoples and in the interest of the region
as a whole.
The relationship should not be taken for granted and I would
like to assure you that Australia does not do so.
We value the opportunity provided by your visit to Australia
to reaffirm our commitment to the people of the Solomon
Islands, and to underline the value we attach to your
friendship.
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