E&OE
22 September 2008
Interview with Karen Middleton, World News Australia
NEWSREADER: Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is in the US for the General Assembly of the United Nations. He'll also be meeting his Pakistani counterpart.
SBS chief political correspondent Karen Middleton caught up with Mr Smith in New York and asked him what those talks might involve in light of the massive bomb attack in Islamabad.
SMITH: Well firstly, I'll express my condolences. Secondly, I'll make the point to him that they're combating extremism, terrorism. Australia has got a lot of expertise now, in some respects regrettably, but nonetheless we have that expertise and we'll be offering whatever assistance we can to help in that effort - not military or combat, but technical assistance and advice and if they want our help, obviously we will provide it.
REPORTER: You're here in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The Prime Minister's been criticised for coming as well. Why do we need both the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister here?
SMITH: Well this is the pre-eminent week of the United Nations. The Prime Minister won't be alone. He'll be amongst about 100 leaders of nation states, Prime Ministers, Presidents. And anecdotally, or traditionally, this week is called Leaders' Week, because the leaders do come not just to show their support for the United Nations as a multilateral forum, but to have high level discussions, whether it's about climate change or the current issue of grave concern about financial stability in the international markets.
REPORTER: Well how much do you think that is going to dominate the talks this week, the global crisis?
SMITH: Well I think it will certainly dominate the informal talks. I think formally it will be climate change, food security, millennium development goals. And also a range of issues of significance to worry about - Pakistan, Afghanistan, difficulties in Burma, Zimbabwe. But I think the informal conversations amongst leaders will be the slowing of economic growth internationally and the need to get certainty into the financial markets.
REPORTER: You'll also be lobbying obviously for Australia's bid for the Security Council for 2012. Why do we need to be on the Security Council? Is this really a good use of resources? And where are you looking for the votes from?
SMITH: Well it's an election which takes place in 2012, for the 2013 to 2014 term. It's a seat on the Security Council, the premier peace and security institution of the United Nations. Australia has got a good track record. We've been on the Security Council before. We're in the top dozen in terms of defence and peacekeeping spenders and we've got a good track record in peacekeeping.
REPORTER: I know you're also seeing a number of African Ministers. Can I ask you for your response, or your reaction to Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa's decision to step down today?
SMITH: The expectation is that once South Africa's gone through its political and democratic processes, that Mr Zuma will become the President. Whether there's a caretaker president for the duration of former President Mbeki's term, time will tell. All we want to see is obviously stability and South Africa going through its democratic and political processes to ensure a smooth transition.
REPORTER: And finally and just briefly, can I take you back home again - your reaction to the polls today. We've seen, in the wake of the rise of Malcolm Turnbull in the Coalition, we've seen the Coalition doing better in two polls. How much is the Government going to have to change its approach in response to this? Are the voters sending you a message about doing better?
SMITH: Well it's no surprise to me that the Opposition are doing better. I mean, it's not said, you know, in hindsight, critically of Brendan Nelson, but the truth is he was never cutting the mustard. But it won't change our attitude or approach, which is this. We won't, in any way, be complacent. We haven't been from day one. In three years' time, or two and a half years' time, we'll be judged by how effective we've been as a Government.
So we continue to implement our election commitments and to remain in touch with the concerns of Australians, particularly a lot of Australians still under financial pressure. But if we govern well, at the next election, we hope to get the support of the Australian community.
But one thing we won't be is complacent or out of touch.
REPORTER: Minister, thanks very much for joining us.
SMITH: Thanks Karen.
[Ends]
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