‘Joint Pacific role’

Press, 20 March 1978, Page 6

‘Joint Pacific role’

NZPA Melbourne It was not in the interests of either Australia or New Zealand that the South Pacific be the scene of big Power confrontation or com-i petition, the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Talbdys) has said in Melbourne. In an address to the Pacific Institute, he said that working together, Australia and New Zealand were better able to ensure that tl.c needs of South Pacific countries were met and to reduce the likelihood that they would turn elsewhere for help. Some South Pacific countries could be tempted to seek help from big Powers, some of which had objectives that might not be the same as Australia’s or New Zealand’s. Of the two countries working together, he did not mean that they should nee-

. essarily do the same thing at the same time in pursuit of the same objects. He meant a co-ordinated approach in pursuit of the same or similar objects.

“The difference is vital,” he said. Often two countries with similar objectives can make better progress simply because there are two separate international identities involved. Each can reinforce the other.

“One can try one approach and the other a different one. The benefit is likely to be more than double what each could achieve alone.”

Mr Taiboys said he did not accept the view that the New Zealand-Australia Free Trade Agreement and other arrangements were an ob-i stacle to the development of j trade with South-East Asia, i Few Asian products com-' peted directly with those 1

Australia and New Zealand sold each other. The idea that New Zealand was somehow obstructing the development of Australia’s relations with the Asian countries, or with Papua New Guinea and other countries in the South Pacific was a dangerous myth.

The closer economic relationship between Australia and New Zealand put both of them in a better position to help their neighbours. “The stronger our own economies, the more we can do for others: and ■ our mutual commitments make both our economies stronger than they would otherwise be,” said Mr Taiboys. Opening the Australian and and New Zealand markets to each other was a first step towards opening them up to other countries and competing with the best they had to offer.