Joint Media Release
with Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Minister for Defence
23 December 2008
Expulsion from Fiji of Australia’s South Pacific Defence Advisor
It is deeply regrettable that the Fiji Interim Government has today rejected the appointment of Australia’s Defence Advisor to the South Pacific.
The Defence Advisor has been in Suva on a visitor visa awaiting a decision by the Interim Government on his longer term status.
The interim Government has today indicated that no visa will be granted.
This is an important position, not only in relation to Fiji but also to the four other Pacific island countries, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru, all close neighbours of Fiji, to which the Defence Advisor position is accredited.
This is unhelpful and destructive behaviour by the Fiji Interim Government which should instead be focussing all of its efforts on returning Fiji to democracy – as it has previously promised to do.
It follows the recent expulsion and denial of consular access to a New Zealand journalist and the expulsion of two Australian journalists earlier this year.
Fiji should be one of the premier economies of the Pacific and a return to democracy and a politically stable future for Fiji is vital to its people and to the Pacific.
The Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group recently visited Fiji to consider progress towards democratic elections and is preparing recommendations for the Special Leaders Meeting in Port Moresby expected in January 2009.
Media enquiries: Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555