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PRIME MINISTER
PA1tTIAL TAzS1ITOr NEWS CONFERENCE, CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA
HEADQUARTERS, SYDNEY 21 JANUARY 1990
R OE PROOF ONL~ Y
JOURNALISTi Can you give us an update of the situation in
Bougainvi lle?
PM No, I'll be getting a report, a detailed report in the
morning from my Ministers. But the position of Australia
in regard to Papua New Guinea and Bougo'nville should be
clearly understood. As I've said, there will be no Australian
troops going into Papua New Guinea to take sides in this issue.
Papua New Guinea, despite the misapprehension of some people and
the implications of somue commtntators is a totally sovereign au~ d
independent nation and it must resolve its owh internal disputes.
Having said that.-some mont1% s ago I personally took the
initiative to ensure that should be any deterIoration of the
situation In Bougainville which put at significant risk Australian
lives, of Australian residents there, that we should have the
understanding and agreement from the Governmefit of Papua Now
Guinea that we would be able to move in there to vrotect those
lives. That's thp -nriti. nfl. We will do, whate~ ver is necessary
to protect Australian lives if that becomes the situation that
requires our actioh. But we will not be involved. in the internal
dispute.
JOURNALIST: Auatralian lives are already at risk though aren't
they?
PM Of course they are at risk. But what we're talking about
is the situation reaching a stage where there is general risk
to Australian liveS Or a situation for instance where hostages
could be taken, Now we were not going to allow a situation a*
far as 1, was concerned that if that positi~ n arose we would
then got into a neh* otiatinx nQsitiQn with the Government of
T'aouq New Guinea and waste days and day. if that situation were
to arise. We've cot the understanding in Tvlace. I trust that
it doesn't reach that pco3. tion but it's fairly grave.
JOURNALIST; What about the osibilitv of more eav~ r~ inent. like
PM: Well as I've said in response to questions like that in the
l'ast couple of dAyB, I'll wait and get the detailed report from my
Ministers at the beginning of this week. M 1 9 V 1 9 4z: 1 I
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JOURNALISTI What WQlld the Australian Government doc in the
event of a kidnapping?
PMl Yo. x don't expect m e to answer a hypothetical question like
that Ourcily.
ends