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TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME-MINISTERl THE HON P. J. KEATING, MP,
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOLLOWING ADDRESS TO BUSINESS
LUNCH* ERAWAN HOTEL, OANGKOK, THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 1994
E& OE PROOF COPY
0; Mr Prime Minister, my name Is Bruce Crompton, Gold Corporation,
Thailand. Is it your Government's pol icy to continue with projects such
as the Friendship Bridge, It's unbelievable the amount of good will that it
has created in this area?
PM: Thank you. Well the answer to that Is yes it Is. Australia each year
commits a substantial proportion of its natural resources, or certainly its
fiscal resources, its budget resources to foreign aid, that is development
and program _ aid. Aid we try and mainlaki're'asonable share of-our
budgetary appropriations to this task. We think In well-judged, wellresearched
projects that we can undertake some which, are often
beyond the capacity of national governments to do, particularly in public
Infrastructure of the variety of this bridge across the Mekong. And just
yesterday I announced inl Vientiane that we are now providing that
country, Laos, with a four year tollig program of aid which will be
devoted to public Infrastructure, to education and to health. So, I think,
we see a role for ourselves in the region doing things like the Friendship
Bridge. Things whilch often are difficult for some national governments
to do, to find resources and do. The main thing is that we pick the right
projects, There are always many oN offer, but some better than others
to be taken up. It is certainly our intention to keep doing the sorts of
things we are doing with the Bridge.
0: ( inaudible) from the National Newspaper ( inaudible)
PM-I was looking for business people rather then journalists, but anyway I
often travel down market.
0: As you talking about theGATI itha to be reported that the..
( inaudible) will try to push human rights cause In the next meeting In
( inaudible) what is Australia's position in this issue? 9: 37 No. 012 P. O1/ U2
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PM; In the issue of?
Q: Human rights and ( Inaudible)
PM: Well. Australia is a true liberal democracy. Australia is a very deep
rooted democracy and that democracy has expressed Itself in a respect
for human values and human endeavour and human rights which I think
I could say few in the world have, if not emulated, done better or are
more committed to those ideals. As you know, Australia has been In a
number of international conflicts over this last century, never for one
square centimetre of territory. Always out of indignation at the actions
of others against the liberties of other people. So Australia regards its
concern for human rights as very much a natural offspring of its society,
of its sense of culture and democracy and tolerance and it will put Its
views forthrightly and strongly where ever we think human rights are
being violated. Now, we have put these views often and consistently In
places where, often in foreign policy and trade terms, has not been
entirely convenient for us to put them but we have put them
nevertheless. And will continue to put them. And I don't believe, and
never have believed for a second, that Australia's democracy or values
need be compromised or that it is a burden for Australia to share these
views in various parts of the world. But, by the same token, Australia
does see national relationships in the broad and the Important thing is to
be effective in trying to improve human rights in some countries. We
believe one can be most effective doing this in a broader relationship of
many parts. So that, therefore, the cost to countries of losing parts of
this relationship become more expensive. And I think we have been
more effective in making our voice heard In human rights by maintaining
a broad relationship with a nation that we are dealing with. And, I think,
in terms of our own debate about this subject, it's a matter whether one
wants to be heard ineffectively or whether one wants to be effective. If
one wants to be effective, one does not have to compromise values of
the kind which you have asked me and to which I have referred.
Q: If I may, Bruce Clark, Avacor Company. Mr Keating, you have built a
fantastic bridge in Non Khai. I have seen it and it is great. I would like
to ask you whether AIDAB is contemplating anything as regards a
coordinated computer controlled motor traffic system here rather than a
rail traffic system.
PM Well, I think that, I am quite sure that a number of members of the
government of Thailand will know by now and if they don't I will tell them
that one of the things that Australia has developed is a sophisticated
clty traffic computerised traffic system which spirits traffic around a
number of Australian cities on the basis of a central control. And this
has worked very effectively because it provides a monitoring role, as
well as a computerised dispersion role and so good is the system we
think it has got international market ability. We don't think that we've
actually sold it to a number of countries. So while I'm not exactly a
travelling salesman for these things I am quite happy to give them a kind
reference on the way through. Thank you very much