Media Release
27 February 2004
Latham Playing Catch-up on Regional Issues
Latham's Labor is desperately trying to catch up with the Government's leadership on regional issues.
Opposition Leader Mark Latham's visit to Papua New Guinea demonstrates that Labor's only policy position is to call for the Government to do what it is already busy doing. Labor needs to be better briefed if it is to have any credibility on these issues.
Australia's $800 million Enhanced Co-operation Package is a landmark agreement that will bolster economic development and law and order in Papua New Guinea. It comes on top of Australia's existing $350 million annual PNG aid program.
Mr Latham's only suggestion is for PNG officials to come to Australia for training. But this has already happened for many years under our existing aid program.
Also, as part of our leadership in the region, Australia has implemented a $200 million HIV-AIDS program. PNG is the largest recipient, with funding for HIV-AIDS education, treatment and management programs totalling $60 million.
Just 10 days ago Australia announced an additional contribution of $25 million to the Global Fund to fight HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. During that announcement I spoke about the pressing issue of HIV-AIDS in the region, particularly in PNG.
The fund's Executive Director, Dr Richard Feachem, praised Australia's leadership in the fight against HIV-AIDS within Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region: "Australia is exporting those insights, that scientific and public health understanding to other regions, and Australia has been a leader and continues to be in this area. And that's much applauded by me and others."
Yet yesterday, in PNG, Mr Latham is reported as saying: "We need to anticipate this emerging problem and deal with it now."
If Mr Latham wants to know how we have assessed this current problem and how we are working with PNG and other countries to tackle it, I would be happy to arrange a briefing.
In fact, whenever he travels abroad again, I will be happy to arrange briefings before he leaves, to enhance his understanding of the relevant issues and Australia's programs.
Media inquiries: Chris Kenny +61 02 6277 7500