Subjects: New Zealand; social security agreement
E&OE................................
JOURNALIST:
Will it change the relationship between the two countries?
PRIME MINISTER CLARK
I think it will improve it. We'll be talking more on Monday. I'm very happy with the outcome.
JOURNALIST:
...(inaudible) more details?
PRIME MINISTER CLARK:
You'll hear it all on Monday. But from the New Zealand point of view it's a good deal.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard, are you pleased to finally see this issue put to rest?
PRIME MINISTER HOWARD:
Oh look, I think it's been a very positive process on both sides. We've still got a few bits of fine tuning to do but it's a win win for both countries. It's not a question of one country being advantaged. I believe it will strengthen the relationship between our two societies and that's very important to me and it's very important to the Australian people.
JOURNALIST:
In terms of the dole issue it's not going to leave any disaffected New Zealanders working and paying taxes in Australia?
PRIME MINISTER HOWARD:
We'll talk a bit more on Monday. But it's been carefully constructed so that it's a fair outcome for both countries and the people of both countries.
JOURNALIST:
Does this undermine the Anzac spirit cutting back on payments?
PRIME MINISTER HOWARD:
Heavens no. Nothing will ever undermine the Anzac spirit.
JOURNALIST:
Why's it taken so long to sort it out?
PRIME MINISTER CLARK:
It's been an irritant going back to the middle of the 1980s. So this government decided to come to grips with it and I think we've got an arrangement that is durable and I think it's fair.
[ends]