PM Transcripts

TEL 15. Jan. 96 10: 49 No. 001.-Py 01
PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
DOORSTOP, RAAF FAIRBAIRN, MONDAY, 15 JANUARY 1996
E& OE PROOF COPY
PM. I will just give you a brief comment. On this, as all of my overseas
trips, I will be going to look after Australia's economic and security
interests. Of course, I have been to Singapore three times. This is my
first visit to Malaysia, but I have met the * Prime Ministers of both
countries on many occasions. These are old relationships for
Australia, but we need to keep them in a contemporary setting and
hence the value of the visit and talking to them and doing things with
them. I think it is worth reminding people that our two way trade with
both these countries is about $ 10 billion and it is growing at 20 per
cent a year. So, these are two very important countries to Australia
and I am looking forward to going.
J Flow important is it that Australia consolidates its relationship with
Malaysia?
PM: It is important that we consolidate our relationship with all the countries
of ASEAN and our near neighbourhood and we have been doing that.
we hav-egot very good bilateral relationships with Indonesia, most
obviously manifested in the treaty last year, with Singapore who we
have worked with on many other Issues as well and Malaysia and the
Philippines. I don't think our relationships in the area have been any
better.
J: Will you be pressing the Prime Minister on the Gillespie children?
PM: No, I think, as with all human questions this is, like many family things
a human tragedy, but it is essentially a legal matter. But, any
information Mrs Gillespie has I am happy to hand on to our High
Commissioner and he can propose it.
ends