Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News

Transcript, E&OE, proof only

Subjects: Japan earthquake; Libya.

17 March 2011

KIERAN GILBERT: Foreign Minister Mr Rudd, thanks very much for your time. You've advised Australians in Tokyo and affected areas in the disaster area to leave if they — if they're — don't have to be there. Now can you explain the reasons for that? Are their concerns about radiation a factor in that advice?

KEVIN RUDD: The advice that we got from officials yesterday having examined the material before us in the National Security Committee of our Cabinet, was that we have a real problem in terms of the infrastructure in Japan. That is if you look at what's happening in Tokyo and the eight affected prefectures, we have uncertainty of water supply, we have uncertainty of power supply, we have problems with train services, we have problems with public transport services, many schools have closed and there is this repeated series of aftershocks.

So what we said very clearly in our travel advice of 2.30 yesterday afternoon Australian time, is that those Australians whose location in Tokyo and those eight affected prefectures is not essential, they should consider departure. We've also said that consistent with that advice that we'll be making the same advice of course directly available to the dependents of Australian officials at the Australian Embassy.

KIERAN GILBERT: The French government is citing concerns about radiation and the fallout from the Fukushima plant, that isn't a factor as far as the Australian government is concerned?

KEVIN RUDD: Well Kieran what we'd do and we'll be doing it again this morning and we were doing it again last night is going through all the data available to us, who are our reference countries here, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, ourselves. And in particular we go to our National Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authorities. In our case the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Authority, in the US case the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and their parallel bodies around the world. We will look at new information as it comes to hand and of course as soon as we're advised that we need to adjust the travel advisory, let me tell you we will.

In the last period overnight for example there have been changes to what the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission have said about the exclusion zone as I understand it around Fukushima, we'll be examining that first up this morning with the officials, team of officials in Canberra. And of course we'll make any appropriate adjustments to our own travel advice based on all those inputs.

KIERAN GILBERT: What's the latest advice you have on the plant itself in Fukushima? And are you satisfied with the level of advice that's been given to the international community from the Japanese authorities?

KEVIN RUDD: Well I've seen many reports from various sources around the world concerned about the flow of information. I also note that the US regulatory authority, the one I just referred to before, has described the flow of information or the availability of data from that particular Japanese authority as being sufficient.

I also notice that the NRC, that's the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is itself now embedding a number of staff in Japan. I notice the Director-General of the IAEA is himself now travelling to Japan to ensure the continued flow of information.

The truth is, given the difficulties earlier in this particular crisis — I'm talking about day one, day two, there were obviously concerns about whether we were getting everything that we needed around the world. Obviously the Japanese are under extreme pressure at the time but it's important that we continue to have all of our experts working on the data as it becomes available.

We have people in our body, the Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Authority working 24-hours a day. They've been doing it in teams for many days now looking at every bit of data that comes in from around the world, and then we cross reference it with the Americans and others and with the IAEA and then we reflect upon — reflect that as appropriate into our own travel advisories.

KIERAN GILBERT: There have been reports of building frustration among some of the Australians stranded in the quake and tsunami affected areas of Japan, they can't get out, they're frustrated at the level of support that's been offered, do you understand that level of frustration, is there anything more that the Australian government could have done?

KEVIN RUDD: Of course I understand that frustration. Just imagine what our fellow Australians have gone through at this time. Earthquake, tsunami, nuclear concerns and basically the total collapse of infrastructure in that band of the Japanese island of Honshu.

Therefore what we've had is our consular officials out there in the midst of all that literally going through morgues, going through hospitals, going through emergency centres to identify Australians.

For example it's in and around Sendai yesterday, we had some success in locating a group I think of somewhere between six, eight and 11 Australians. One of those is reported I think in today's Daily Telegraph, the Miller family. I think the Tele says I had something to do with getting them out, that's not true.

I'll tell you who did have a lot to do with getting them out: the Australian Embassy in Tokyo and our consular team on the ground who are working round the clock in teams with the local prefectural authorities or what's left of them to find these Australians.

And by the way Kieran the number based on what I've seen in our reports from 5.30am this morning, as of yesterday we had 103 unaccounted for Australians, that number has now come down to 55. But for us we'll continue working at it until we bring that number further down in terms of clarity.

KIERAN GILBERT: I know you've got a busy day but I just want to ask you one more question about Libya. It looks like the Qaddafi forces are closing in on the rebel held city of Benghazi. You've been calling for a no fly zone in that country to be enforced, are you frustrated and is there a risk now that the deliberations globally simply have been too slow and it will be too late that Qaddafi will hold onto power and crush the democracy protesters?

KEVIN RUDD: Well firstly we are deeply concerned by what's happening in the military situation on the ground within Libya and the nature of the military conflict that is occurring there and particularly the reported successes of the Qaddafi regime. Secondly, as you know the Australian government's position since I think 25 February has been that a no fly zone is an important measure in terms of supporting those opposition forces on the ground.

I heard last night for example when I was being interviewed on another program, a direct report from a opposition field commander referring to the impact of air operations on what was going on on the ground for them. Therefore the Arab League has spoken with a clear voice last Saturday, they want a no fly zone.

Unfortunately the G8 meeting in Paris two days ago did not produce that resolution. It now is up to the UN Security Council. Our position is this is really important, it's been our position for a long period of time that this is a necessary measure, the position of the Government is that we call upon the Security Council to respond positively to the request and the public position of the Arab League who said that they want this no fly zone on the ground in Libya as a matter of urgency.

KIERAN GILBERT: But it all looks too late doesn't it?

KEVIN RUDD: Well look, each day that passes from my point of view and from the Government's point of view was one day too late. What are we now up to Kieran, it's 17 March, we began calling for this on 25 February when this battle was at its peak. But the business of Australian diplomacy is not to give up, the business of diplomacy is to keep batting away and to seek to influence change.

We worked directly with many of the foreign ministers of the Arab League for example to try and support the position which they took themselves on last Saturday in support of this no fly zone action. That has not been reflected in the decisions of the G8 meeting in Paris.

Now it's a matter for the UN General Assembly. I'm deeply concerned about the unfolding military situation on the ground and its humanitarian consequences.

KIERAN GILBERT: Foreign Minister, thanks for your time.

KEVIN RUDD: Thanks for having me on the program.

END

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