7 July 2008
Interview - Australia Network
Subject: Solomon Islands 30th anniversary of independenceJournalist: Mr Kerr, Solomon Islands 30 years Independence, a few years ago it didn’t look as though it would make it did it?
Duncan Kerr: Look, Australia has done such a wonderful job working with the Pacific community through RAMSI but of course this is still a country with great difficulties in front of it. We are rebuilding strong relationships with Derek Sikua’s government and today of course is an opportunity also to meet with the Opposition and to continue to have an engagement with the Pacific Islands leaders and foreign ministers that have come to attend the celebrations.
Journalist: Were you encouraged by the comments he made about RAMSI that it will be extended for another year and that the time for RAMSI to go has not yet come?
Kerr: I am absolutely delighted that the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands has put his reputation and name on the line saying that this is a welcome intervention. It has enormous public support but of course in the past there has been some political opposition within the Solomon Islands from the former Prime Minister. But I'm hoping to meet the former Prime Minister, who is now the leader of the opposition, today and I think that we can put that sort of past behind us. There is an opportunity for a completely renewed relationship between Australia and Solomon Islands and person to person meetings of this kind are a way of advancing that case which is to the benefit of both our countries.
Journalist: The Samoan Prime Minister is here as well and there's been that little bit of trouble relating to that accident and the Samoan RAMSI officer. Have you had a chance to speak to him yet?
Kerr: Well I've talked informally to him but I don’t know whether any formal announcements have been made and I certainly don’t want to pre-empt anything that might be said.
Journalist: But he’s been talking with the Solomon Islands Government I imagine?
Kerr: I understand so but again, without there being formal confirmation of that, I think it would be wrong of me to speculate.
Journalist: What else did you take out of, I know it was in Pijin, but I hope someone gave you a running translation, out of the Prime Minister’s speech?
Kerr: I’ve got rough Pijin so I followed it pretty well. It’s a very ambitious agenda the Prime Minister has set for himself and for the Solomon Islands but he has developed through his Government a Medium Term Development Strategy which we welcome. And it’s very plain that the Solomon Islands are looking forward and we want to work with them to work out realistic areas where we can coordinate our activities both through RAMSI and through bilateral arrangements through AusAID so that real development and real progress on the ground can be achieved. And that’s why the Prime Minister of course developed the Port Moresby declaration, to give us bench marks and to say how we were going to relate with respect with our Pacific Island neighbours.
Journalist: Is there any message you brought from Mr Rudd to the government here on the 30th anniversary?
Kerr: A continuation of rebuilding of a strong relationship of course and a continuation of a direct personal relationship between the two governments, broadening it out to make sure that there is a discussion and dialogue that goes to what is practical, what is realistic but at the same time welcoming the Solomon Islands very ambitious plans for the future. They are ambitious. Not all perhaps will be achieved but it is very important the government of Solomon Islands, and of other Pacific Island countries, develop their own priorities and we will work with them, as far as we can, to get the best possible outcomes in those circumstances.
Journalist: 100 kilometres of road a year, I think he announced?
Kerr: 100 kilometres of road and other very ambitious targets but we have said that if the Solomon Islands does identify its priorities, for example in infrastructure, we will be ready to meet with them as we develop a partnership agreement. Were not trying to impose objectives that Australia has - we will look to work with Solomon Islands Government on its objectives. We wont be able to do everything and that’s perhaps something we need to discuss between us, we can achieve much but perhaps not everything, but still its so important that the Solomon Islands Government has done that task of prioritising what it wants and we’re happy to join with them to do what we can to make sure that the highest priorities from both governments point of view can be best advanced.
Journalist: Thank you very much.
Kerr: Thanks.
Media inquiries: Duncan Kerr's office - 02 6277 4991