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PRIME MINISTER
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MIMiSTER, TilE HON P J KEATING MP
DINNER FOR PRESIDENT RAMOS OF THE P11ILIPPINES
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, TUESDAY 22 AUGUST 1995
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On behalf of the Government of Australia and all Australians, I warmly welcome
President Ramnos, his wife and his party to Australia.
Before you left Manila, Mr President, you said that you were embarking on a journey
of friendship and opportunity.
That is exactly how we see your visit, too.
And although you are making your first visit here as President of the Philippines, you
and your service to your country are widely known in Australia.
People here along with much of the rest of the world were deeply moved in early
1986 by the images we saw of the tense struggle taking place in Manila where the
People's Power movement and Mrs AquinQ. stood their ground in support of
democracy. You played a courageous and vital role in that struggle.
In the following years, when the restoration of democracy was threatened time after
time, we observed and deeply admired your loyalty in defending the rebirth of your
country's democratic political institutions.
And in your first three years as President, you have displayed the same tenacity and
courage in implementing reform, in opening up the Philippines economy and allowing
it to regenerate.
The Philippines return to growth well over 5 per cent expected this year and the
large amounts of foreign investment now flowing into your country, are reflections of
your personal conumitment to responsible economic management and deregulation.
In your efforts, you have been able to draw on a private sector with business and
managerial skills that are highly regarded throughout the region. We particul1arly
welcome the members of the business delegation you have brought with you.
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Mr President, you made an important point in a speech last year, and you have since
demonstrated its truth: the truth that political democracy, social discipline and
sustained economic development are not incompatible.
By your succcss at home in consolidating democracy and reforming the economy you
have also given the Philippines a new standing in the regional and international
community. It is very fitting that you and the Philippines will have the honour of
hosting the summit meeting of APEC leaders in 1996.
Mr President, you will find Australia much changed since your last visit in the late
1970s.
We, too, have opened up our economy. With the assistance of eight successive
accords with the union movement we have ensured that the Australian business
environment has become more competitive. Last year Australia had one of the fastest
growing economies in the OECD and corporate profits were at historic highs.
Moreover, that growth has come with low inflation and high job growth.
Our utilities, telecommu ni cations industry, waterfront, civil aviation, and rail transport
have undcrgone dramatic reform. We have introduced a national superannuation
scheme to help lift our savings. Our education and training systems have received
massive investments.
But beyond these changes, Australia has been coming to terms with its history, with its
region and with its own society.
With native title legislation, a new epoch has begun for our indigenous peoples an
historic wrong-has been righted, at least in legal terms, and we are determined to see
that social justice follows.
Our place in the Asia-Pacific region is no longer disputed. Geography and economic
integration have driven this trend. But there is more to it than geography and
commerce. Important changes are taking place in the way Australians think about themselves not
leug because more than half the immidgrants joining Australia's multicultural society
each year come from Asia.
And Australians are now debating our future constitutional arrangements.
The changes have been fundamental. But they have been achieved without rejecting
our history.
In all this, it seems to me, there are important parallels with the recent experience of
the Philippines. Both of us have had to come to terms with our history and the
necessities which global change is imposing on us. We understand that we have to
make our own way in the world. We have thought hard about the sort of societies we
wish to be, and what our role will be in the world of the 2 1st century.
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And, not least, we have had to work hard to rework the images others hold of us.
I amn sure that your visit will contribute to this process for both our countries, Mr
President:* Australia and the Philippines have a good foundation on which to build.
Mr President, you said you come here as a friend and the commemorations this year
for the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the war remind us what close and longstanding
friends we arc. The Philippine government'-in-exile of President Quezon was
headquartered in Australia during the war. Earlier today we launched at the War
Memorial a book on the Battle of Leyte Gulf. This was the largest engagement by
Australian vessels during the war, and that victory began the liberation of the
Philippines. Australia hits provided economic assistance to the Philippines for many years. We are
a significant source of training for your defence force.
Our trade is growing well. But there is no doubt that our economic ties ought to be
more substantial than they are at present.
I am confident that this will happen. The opportunities have never been greater as our
two economies have opened up. A sign of what lies ahead can be seen in the MOUs
and agreements we witnessed being signed this morning and in the number of very
senior Australian businesspeople who are present at this dinner tonight.
I amn very pleased to join you, Mr President, in urging our business leaders and
investors to look at the new opportunities which are opening up for Australia and the
Philippines to do business together.
In all we do together bilaterally, we have the invaluable resource of the Filipino
community in Australia, now numbering around 120,000. It has doubled in size at
every census since 196 1.
Let me assure you, Mr President, that Australia and its government value our citizens
of Philippine origin, and we will care for them.
Our bilateral links wil also be strengthened by regional developments, like APEC and
the discussions we are having about closer links between the ASEAN Free Trade Area
and the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Agreement.
Australia and the Philippines and you and 1, Mr President have been working very
hard to set up in APEC a structure which will strengthen the region economically and
increase its stability as it enters a period of historic economic and strategic change.
This visit has a particular significace. Not only are you the first President of the
Philippines to visit Australia, but you ame the first foreign Head of State I have ever
welcomed here who has an Australian grandchid.
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That makes you doubly welcome as the leader of a great regional country with which
we want to develop close relations.
And evin more deeply as family.