Interview with Sky News - Chile
Topic: Chile
Transcript, Proof copy E&OE
1 March 2010
ASHLEIGH GILLON: Again, the world is now looking on in horror as another country deals with such a devastating quake. Joining me now from Perth is the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith. Minister, good morning and thank you for joining us. Is it any clearer today whether any Australians have been caught up in the quake?
STEPHEN SMITH: Fortunately, to date we don't have any indication that any Australians have been caught up in the earthquake. Our officials and their families we know are safe. Our problem is, of course, that we've got over 400 Australians registered as being present in Chile. Our experience is that there's always more Australians in a particular area than are registered. And because of the size of the earthquake, the scale of the disaster and the fact that communications are down, it's been very difficult to try and make contact with those registered Australians. So our officials are working painstakingly through that, but communications are difficult. But, to date, despite the fact we now have a death toll of over 700, we don't have any evidence that any Australians have been caught up in it. But I hasten to add that it is early days, and communications and getting in touch with people is a substantial problem.
ASHLEIGH GILLON: So you expect that we will see that death toll rise over the coming days, Minister?
STEPHEN SMITH: Regrettably, we think that's the case. The initial tally started off at just over a hundred, and it's been rising slowly but terribly since then. The scale of the disaster is enormous, and that's why we've indicated to Chile that we stand ready, willing and able to assist. For the present, what the Chilean authorities want to do is to try and get a better handle on circumstances, to see whether they do need that international assistance. And, of course, given the distance between Australia and Chile, in terms of emergency rescue and assistance, 2 it's much more likely that any international assistance will come from South America, from the region itself. It's more likely, I suspect, that we'll be called upon to see what we can do for long-term reconstruction. But, if we are asked to provide anything by way of technical expertise for emergency assistance or for search and rescue effects then, obviously, we will make that available.
ASHLEIGH GILLON: Was that one of the lessons, do you think, that was learnt from Haiti, that the aid effort needs to be coordinated in order to be helpful?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, not just from Haiti. Regrettably, we've had too much of this type of experience in recent years, in the last couple of decades, whether it's an earthquake, whether it's a tsunami. And one of the things we have learned, is that we do have to get the disaster relief and the disaster management properly coordinated. And in the immediate aftermath of such a terrible natural disaster, the first 48, 72 hours are always difficult. And often, the best thing that a nation can do is to indicate its preparedness to help, and then wait until the nation state involved gets a better understanding of what is required. We're, of course, also liaising with the United Nations disaster relief agencies, and other nation states in the region, in particular the United States. So, we expect that, in the first instance, it'll be United Nations agencies and the region itself which will be called upon. But we indicated very early yesterday morning to the Chilean authorities that we would provide whatever emergency relief or assistance they sought. But to date, they're trying to get a handle on what's actually required, and the scale of the disaster and that, of course, is compounded by the fact that communications are very difficult.
ASHLEIGH GILLON: Minister, I understand that Japan is still on tsunami alert, but the threat to the Pacific is pretty much over now, isn't it?
STEPHEN SMITH: Effectively, the tsunami alert, so far as we're concerned, and the Pacific Islands are concerned, was called off late yesterday or overnight. The tsunami alert system that we have in place now is a very good one and that certainly helped people prepare, and take the necessary precautions. But, so far as the aftermath was concerned, certainly Australia and certainly the Pacific Islands, no real difficultly was caused by the earthquake. But it was a very good example of the early warning tsunami system that we now have in place, and Australia has been at the forefront of ensuring that's the case. We, of course, have seen terrible tsunamis in our region directly following on from the earthquake in Indonesia some time ago, some years ago. 3 So, that is another example of where the international coordination is much better these days than it was in the past.
ASHLEIGH GILLON: Minister, just on another matter, I know you’re about to head to India where the Commonwealth Games will be held later this year.
We’ve learnt that athletes including the Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice may not compete in those games because of security fears. Are those fears warranted?
STEPHEN SMITH: A couple of points. Firstly, it is of course always a matter for the individual athletes concerned and the individual sporting associations as to whether they compete, that’s the first thing.
Secondly, the Commonwealth Games are in October so there is a bit more time to go before people have to make final decisions.
Thirdly, yes, I’ll be on a plane later this afternoon heading to India.
There’s really three purposes to my trip. One is we have a strategic partnership with India. We want to take India to the front line of our international relationships, so obviously I want to advance that.
Secondly, we want to have a discussion about the efforts we’ve been making on the difficulties that Indian students have been facing in Australia.
And thirdly, we want to have a conversation about some of the high-profile sporting events, in particular the Commonwealth Games, that we’ll see in India in the course of this year. We’ve been pleased to date with the cooperation and coordination that we’ve received from Indian officials.
The Hockey World Cup is on at the moment and that is being seen very much as a dry run, if you like, for the Commonwealth Games. So I’ll be taking the opportunity of attending the Australia versus India game which is being nominated as a friendship game.
But I’ll be discussing with my counterpart security arrangements for the Hockey World Cup, for the Commonwealth Games and making sure that those arrangements are in place. But as I say, to date we’ve been pleased with the way in which the Indian officials have been cooperating not just with Australia, but with other countries involved in the Hockey World Cup and also in the Commonwealth Games.
ASHLEIGH GILLON: Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, safe travels, thanks for joining us on Sky News today.
STEPHEN SMITH: Thank you, thanks very much.
END
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