3 June 2009
Interview: ABC Radio National with Fran Kelly
Subjects: Safety of Indian students, net exports, Merauke five
FRAN KELLY: The Federal Government has set up a task force now to discuss the recent spate of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne. Yesterday, there was another assault. A 21 year old Indian student attacked by five males armed with a Stanley knife. He was injured; not seriously though. Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean has been briefed overnight by our High Commissioner in New Delhi, John McCarthy. Simon Crean, good morning.
SIMON CREAN: Good morning, Fran.
FRAN KELLY: Minister, what's the latest message from the Indian Government to Australia about all of this?
SIMON CREAN: Well, I think it's twofold, Fran. Obviously, they're under enormous pressure because of the way in which it's publicised up there. They do accept that the Government is sincere and committed to resolving this issue, dealing with the issue, that we understand the significance of dealing with it and that we are taking appropriate steps. They're fully briefed on the statements that have been made, not just by the Prime Minister and - but all of us as ministers. I spoke also yesterday with my counterpart, who's just been sworn in. He clearly is fully briefed and we are reassuring them that we are not just doing everything possible, we've increased the coordination. And so, the Foreign Minister's statement in Parliament yesterday about the coordination and the task force is an important step in that direction. I've spoken also this morning with the Victorian Premier, John Brumby, and, clearly, we are just going to have to lift the effort to try and deal with the sensitivity and the way in which we are demonstrating that this, not just is of concern to us, but we are doing something…
FRAN KELLY: Well just…
SIMON CREAN: … to address it.
FRAN KELLY: Well, just in terms of that, in terms of lifting the effort, this task force, is this to do more to protect the Indian students or to protect the relationship with India?
SIMON CREAN: It's obviously about the students, Fran. I mean, if people are going to send students down - and there is a big Indian population, understand that, in Australia. It has been a growing Indian population and a lot of it is student-based. But if they're coming here, it's not just because we've got good education facilities, it's because they believe that this is a safe country. These incidents dispel that second belief. And if we're going to continue to attract not just them as students, but students generally, the Australian brand, which is about, in my view, tolerance, acceptability, inclusion, that's a brand that we do have to protect, and it is about being that welcoming dimension. So, it is about the protection of the students, but it's also important for what we are and what we stand for.
FRAN KELLY: And in terms of that brand, and if we think about it in brand terms as education's one of our biggest exports, are you seeing signs yet of that market taking a hit? Are students pulling out?
SIMON CREAN: No, not seeing signs of that. And, obviously, this is one of the issues that we have to address too. But this is not the first time that this has been raised with us. I think that the most recent incidents have highlighted and, in some cases, sensationalised it, particularly with the very tragic circumstances of the student in a coma, but it's something that we have been addressing since we've been in government. The coordination effort, the discussions with the police, the attempting to deal with, you know, more patrols, more community outreach, dealing with the incidences - incidences quickly as we can after they happen to try and ascertain the circumstances that motivated it. All of those things is what we have got to pull together as a community. And I think that the announcement yesterday is a reinforcement of a whole of government approach, but also a whole of governments. This something all of us have got to be in because - because that brand is an Australian brand.
FRAN KELLY: Minister, can I go to the economy now. Do you think Australia will go into recession today when the GDP figures come out?
SIMON CREAN: Well, we'll have to wait for those figures, Fran. But regardless of what the figures show, we know that Australians are doing it tough, that Australia is not immune from the global recession. The world is in recession. It's impacting on us. It's impacting on us in many ways. So, let's just wait and see what the figures are. But…
FRAN KELLY: If we don't go into recession today, though, will it make the Prime Minister's warnings of the most dire economic situation in 75 years look a little hollow?
SIMON CREAN: I think dire - the dire circumstances are appropriate. I mean, this is the worst recession in 75 years. It's a deeper recession, because three-quarters of the world is in it, unlike previous recessions. And it's a recession that's impacting despite the significant cushions that Australia has - it is impacting on us. So, that's why we've been taking a multi-faceted approach to policy. It's why we've been concentrating on lifting consumption, lifting investment, lifting government expenditure and doing what we can on the trade front. And I think that the trade figures yesterday were an important example of where another cushion is. Net exports can be a significant contributor to growth. They have been over the last quarter. But there's no point just concentrating on a quarter, Fran. We've got to be in it for the long haul. And that's why we have been active in trying to lift our trade performance, encouraging stronger exports, keeping our markets open and resisting any of those stupid, misguided calls that go for protectionism. I produced a report on Monday that showed the benefits of trade to Australians’ living standards, lifted them between $2,700 and $3,900 a year, and the significance of trade to Australian job opportunities. People who call for the stop to trade talks, the no signing of trade agreements, are totally misguided. In the name of protecting jobs they're denying job opportunities. And that's what we've got to resist. And that's got nothing to do with one quarter's set of figures. It's got everything to do with the long term economic strategy for this country.
FRAN KELLY: Minister, could I ask you briefly, as acting Foreign Minister, there are five Australians currently detained in West Papua. They've been there for nearly nine months. They arrived without the correct visas. What's the Government doing about their plight? Because they say the Government's spineless, no one's doing anything, talking tough to the Indonesians to get their release.
SIMON CREAN: No, well, we have been talking tough, Fran. And many - many…
FRAN KELLY: Nine months is a long time.
SIMON CREAN: Over a dozen representations. Yes, it is a long time. I don't deny that. And these are very unfortunate circumstances. I wouldn't like to be in their position. But the fact of the matter is they landed without flight security or immigration checks, they were found guilty in the District Court, they were acquitted and now it's been appealed. This is what's called the legal system. And, you know, when people go into other countries they've got to accept the consequences of that legal system. We will do whatever we can to deal with the circumstances, because we think that this should be progressed much more quickly. We will continue to make those representations.
FRAN KELLY: Okay.
SIMON CREAN: But we're dealing with circumstances - we're dealing with the circumstances of another country's legal system.
FRAN KELLY: And just very briefly, Minister, we're almost out of time. Joel Fitzgibbon's concession that he failed to declare a gift is - is it good enough performance by the Minister?
SIMON CREAN: Of course it is. He's gone straight into the Parliament at the earliest opportunity from - on his return, he didn't get back till yesterday - into the Parliament to declare the omission.
FRAN KELLY: All right. Simon Crean, thank you very much for joining us on Breakfast.
SIMON CREAN: Thanks, Fran.
FRAN KELLY: Simon Crean is Trade Minister and acting Foreign Minister.
[ENDS]
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