E&OE................................................................................................
MITCHELL:
Mr Howard, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER:
Good morning Neil, nice to be with you again.
MITCHELL:
Well, thank you for your time. We are doubling the number of combat
ready troops, putting them on high alert up in the north, why?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, we're able to do it because of the defence efficiency review
which has shifted resources from the desks to the front line, and
we do live in a more uncertain environment. So there are two very
good reasons. When we came to office we put a circle around defence
spending and we quarantined it completely from any budget cuts. And
we also decided over a period of time to cut resources in head office
and shift them out to the soldiers and as a result of that we are
now able to put a second brigade on 28 day readiness.
MITCHELL:
What are the uncertain times which are concerning you?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, the region is a lot less stable now than it was. East Timor
is part of that instability but it's not the only element but
it's obviously part of it.
MITCHELL:
What's the other element, Papua New Guinea?
PRIME MINISTER:
Papua New Guinea. I think generally the region is less predictable.
We are not under any threat but we know from the experiences of past
few years that Australian forces can properly and in a very beneficial
way be called upon to participate in peacekeeping and other roles.
We've been in Cambodia. We, of course, sent very elite forces
to the gulf. They weren't needed. We have had people elsewhere,
in Namibia in recent times. So there is a pattern where calls on us
to be involved in that way are more rather than less likely. Now,
Timor is but one of those but it's obviously an important one.
MITCHELL:
What about Ambon? I mean, the situation in Ambon is awful.
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes, it is. It is very bad but bear in mind that that is very much
a domestic issue for Indonesia and we are not in the business of invading
other countries.
MITCHELL:
No, sure. Indonesia itself is going to elections though, is that unsettling
to you?
PRIME MINISTER:
I think it's very good that Indonesia is going to an election.
We applaud the fact that Indonesia post-Soeharto is now moving to
embrace more democracy. The more the better. But Indonesia faces a
very uncertain future. Indonesia is very heavily influenced and affected
by the economic downturn in Asia. There are millions of Indonesians
in absolute poverty and you have to feel a lot of sympathy for the
people of that country.
MITCHELL:
Is Indonesia in any way a potential threat to this country?
PRIME MINISTER:
I don't believe so, no. I haven't believed that for a long
time.
MITCHELL:
What are we prepared to do in Timor?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I hope nothing by way of a peacekeeping role becomes necessary.
Certainly one way or another we'll be called upon to provide
more aid and I hope that we can play a significant part because Timor
is a near neighbour. It's very close to the Australian coastline,
there's a long association with the people of East Timor going
back to World War II, they were very helpful to many of our diggers
then and we should never forget those sorts of things. I hope that
the, you know, the contestants, the combatants in Timor can settle
their differences. We would like a period of autonomy before full
independence but if it's the wish of the East Timorese to go
to full independence then that should happen. We hope the Indonesians
don't pull out to precipitously because if they do then the load
on other countries will be that much greater.
MITCHELL:
Under what conditions would Australia be involved in a peacekeeping
role in Timor?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, it's hypothetical at this stage and we have said repeatedly
we don't see any merit in hypothesising about a peacekeeping
role when we hope one is not going to eventuate or it won't become
necessary.
MITCHELL:
Does the state of readiness stop here or will there be other changes
made as well?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, you always make changes according to your assessment of the
defence need and the defence priority but we certainly think it's
a major improvement in the use of the resources we do make available
to defence to have two brigades on 28 day notice. So they, of course,
are accompanied by air and sea support elements. Now, whether you
go further than that will depend on circumstances. We intend to maintain
the present quarantining of defence from any expenditure cuts. It
may at some time in the future be necessary to put more resources
into defence. I am not foreshadowing that, I am not promising, I am
not saying it'll happen but I certainly don't rule it out.
MITCHELL:
Are you aware the UN Chief, Kofi Annan, said Indonesia and Portugal
have reached agreement on a direct ballot for a draft autonomy package
for East Timor?
PRIME MINISTER:
I heard a report this morning on that. If that has occurred well that's
a good thing but I have not had any formal confirmation through our
foreign affairs on it.
MITCHELL:
No, I have only heard reports....
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes, I have just heard reports. Look, anything which represents a
further agreement between Indonesia and Portugal for getting a proper
expression of the will of the East Timorese people we accept. I mean,
bear in mind that we before Christmas changed our position in relation
to Timor. I wrote to Dr Habibie, the Indonesian President, and said
the time had come for a change in Jakarta's attitude. And we
are very much for the East Timorese people being allowed to decide
their own future. We think it would be better if they had a period
of autonomy inside Indonesia but if they refuse to go down that path
then they have a right to insist on independence. We only hope that
Indonesia helps them, it doesn't pull out too quickly, it doesn't
leave them with inadequate resources because it is quite a poor country
with a low living standard.
MITCHELL:
Tell me, do Indonesian forces continue to train in this country?
PRIME MINISTER:
We don't have, to my knowledge, we don't have any training
exercises going on at the moment. We still have significant links
between our defence forces and we'd like to continue that.
MITCHELL:
It wasn't so much the training exercises but senior officers
actually coming here....
PRIME MINISTER:
My understanding is that that has not occurred for some time.
MITCHELL:
Should it?
PRIME MINISTER:
I have no objection to it, no. I am all in favour of the....look,
the more links of that kind you have it stands to reason it's
a matter of common sense the more links you have of that kind the
less likely you are of some dim distant future moment fall into belligerence.
MITCHELL:
I think there is a, there's a public perception isn't there
that if we have an enemy in this region it is Indonesia?
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes, I think that's very misplaced because the logistic capacity
of the Indonesian forces, if you look at it in a clinical fashion,
to mount any kind of offensive against a neighbouring country are
just not there. I have never seen myself in the time I have been in
politics, I have never seen Indonesia as being in any way a military
threat to Australia.
MITCHELL:
Are you aware of the reports from Timor of significant numbers dying
from preventable diseases....
PRIME MINISTER:
I have.
MITCHELL:
...people are arming themselves. Reports that as many as 5,000
weapons in the arms of pro-integrationists [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes, it's a very unsettled situation and I did hear a news report
this morning that agreement had been reached between the warring factions
in East Timor for, in effect, cease fire talks and I hope that materialises
because they really do have to try and dissolve their differences.
But it is going to be a very difficult area of foreign policy for
Australia months, perhaps years, into the future and we will have
to play a major role because we are seen by the world as having a
very direct interest. We are very close to the region, to the country,
and the rest of the world will expect us to play a big part.
MITCHELL:
Okay, we'll take a quick call specifically on this issue. Peter,
go ahead please.
CALLER:
Good morning Mr Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes Peter.
CALLER:
I was interested to know what part the reserves will play in this
area up north with the inconsistency and the devastation of the reserves
that's been done by the senior people in the defence forces.
And to quote that the command of many reserve regiments are now being
filled by permanent officers at the detriment of reserve officers
which gives them no career path to be able to take part in this sort
of action.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I can't, Peter, give a detailed operational response to
that because the actual process of putting together the additional
brigade and all that goes into it is really a matter for the people
in uniform and not for prime ministers and ministers. But I do understand
from what I have been told by the Chief of the Defence Force that
there could be some reserve contribution but the precise level of
that and how it might occur I can't answer.
MITCHELL:
Okay, thanks Peter. Mr Howard, on something else the Jeff Kennett
defamation which I am sure you would have known something or read
something about, and he has lost the case. Do you think this indicates
that public figures, or politicians particularly, are fair game?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I don't want to comment about Jeff's case. I mean,
I haven't discussed it with him, I have read about it. I don't
think it's fair or right or proper of me to talk about what his
office has called a private legal matter. And I am not going to do
that. Are politicians fair game? Well, no, I don't think they
are fair game but when you go into public life you naturally cop a
fair bit. But I can understand any public figure getting angry when
allegations about their personal behaviour which aren't true
are made. Now, that's a general statement. I think all of us
value our reputations. We are certainly very sensitive when anything
is said that involves our families, our wives, our children, our husbands,
our children, our loved ones. That's perfectly human.
MITCHELL:
I guess that's the point, I mean, you have to cop too much, has
it perhaps moved a little do you think?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I think it's more invasive and intrusive than it used to
be but that's the character of life generally. We are a lot more
disrespectful of personal privacy and taste and civility now than
we used to be. Now, in one sense, people rejoice in that as a marvellous
expression of freedom and liberal thinking and liberal behaviour yet
we pay a price so far as civility is concerned and courtesy. It's
very very difficult for me to sort of lay down some kind of standard
about it. I don't think people in public life should be fair
game.
MITCHELL:
Have you ever sued anyone?
PRIME MINISTER:
No. I've never issued any writs. I've felt like it on occasions
and once or twice I've got some advice to do it. But as to whether
I should do it, but I have never sued, no. In 25 years I have never
sued.
MITCHELL:
Why not?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well maybe I haven't felt strongly enough about what people have
said about me. Maybe I haven't been as heavily defamed as others.
Look, I'm not claiming that as a virtue. I'm certainly not
claiming that as a virtue, and look every individual has a perfect
right to defend his or her reputation. And any of my colleagues, whether
they're in State politics or Federal politics who take action
to defend their reputation, well they have a perfect right to do so.
MITCHELL:
Mr Howard, cricket. Now something close to your heart. But I wonder
if these anti- siphoning laws are just not working. The fact that
we can't even see highlights of that magnificent win against
the West Indies on free-to-air television.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well that's a hard one. I don't know that they're not
working. It's my understanding that the law was followed and
no offers were forth coming in relation to the free-to-air telecast.
And your concern is whether you ought to be able to have highlights.
Well the problem is that when do highlights stop being highlights
and become a telecast.
MITCHELL:
Well, they were offered but they say the price was too high which
is an easy way to guarantee exclusivity isn't it.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well Neil, I'm a great advocate of cricket being available at
the lowest possible cost to the greatest number of people. That applies
to all sports. On the other hand people are entitled if they buy a
product to get value for it. I'll have a look at it but I don't
want to signal by that response that we're going to change the
existing arrangements which we think in a difficult situation aren't
too bad. But I can understand people being angry they couldn't
see an extended version of that win.
MITCHELL:
Applying it to all sports, you're aware the dispute from the
ABC and the AFL. The ABC not wanting to provide AFL coverage in inter-state,
and the AFL pulling the plug. I mean the principles apply there.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I think there are some different considerations there aren't
there. I don't think that's quite on the piece with the
siphoning laws.
MITCHELL:
No, no it's not. But it's the same principle of being available
as broadly as possible.
PRIME MINISTER:
Yeah it is. Look everybody wants to watch sport. There's an overwhelming
view in the Australian community that major sporting events, and that
obviously includes test cricket and the AFL football if it includes
anything, and it includes a lot more as well. They are events that
should be available free to air, but it's also a very...telecast
rights and broadcast rights are a very valuable commodity and trying
to strike a balance between those two is sometimes difficult. And
the anti-siphoning laws are an attempt to, as it were, excise from
straight commercial considerations, major events like the AFL and
test cricket. And normally it works. Sometimes it doesn't work
so well.
MITCHELL:
The Telstra legislation. If that's blocked if there is not more
sold, what does that do to your budget strategy? You're relying
on that money aren't you?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well it's part of the budget for future years but it doesn't
fundamentally alter the position that our budget is in a healthy position.
The reason we want to sell Telstra is that we think you'll end
up with a more competitive and effective telecommunications carrier
and it really is silly being, to use that old expression, half pregnant
when it comes to the ownership of our public....ownership of our
major telecommunications company, what is now the largest company
in Australia.
MITCHELL:
But if it's not sold you'll have to cut your costs surely?
PRIME MINISTER:
It's not going to have a dramatic effect. What it will mean is
that some of the investment we would like to make in improving communications
in rural Australia won't be able to be made. And people who are
stopping the further sale of interests in Telstra are really voting
against us spending hundreds of millions of dollars on upgrading communications
facilities in the bush.
MITCHELL:
It's a brave week in the Senate isn't it with Senator Harradine.
John Elliott amongst other things suggested the discussions going
on between the Liberal Party and the Labor Party about altering the
power of the Senate. Is that true?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well if they are I'm not involved in them.
MITCHELL:
Well presumably you'd know.
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes, there aren't.
MITCHELL:
Chris, go ahead please.
CALLER:
Good morning Mr Howard.
PRIME MINISTER:
Good morning Chris.
CALLER:
And Neil. Mr Howard, I was very interested to hear you suggest before
that we're such good friends with the East Timorese, especially
during the Second War and afterwards. I was just curious, we haven't
been that friendly with them for the last 20