Canberra resists Asia integration

Despite announcement and promises to the contrary, Australia's integration into the Asian region is sure to slow with the defeat of Paul Keating's Labor government by the conservative Liberal- dominated coalition led by well known monarchist John Howard.

The policy of closely integrating Australia into the Asian region was first articulated and pursued by the Labor Party leader and Australian prime minister of the early 1970s, Gough Whitlam.

Whitlam realized that Australia's economic future lay with the Asian region rather than Britain, which was joining the European Common Market at that time, or the British Commonwealth.

Removing England's Queen Elizabeth as Australia's ultimate head of state to make the country a republic had been Labor Party policy for some time by that stage.

Both policies reflected Australia's search to find a new national identity more in tune with the change that has taken place in the ethnic make-up of the country's population over the last fifty years.

Prior to World War II, the vast majority of Australians were directly descended from British or Irish ancestors and the policy of retaining traditional links with Britain seemed natural.

In the decades after World War II, however, long-term immigration saw millions of Europeans, Asians and peoples from a multitude of other regions of the world settle in Australia.

With the change in the country's ethnic make-up has come a change in the national mentality and culture: many Australian's no longer feel any real attachment to Britain or the British monarchy and are in favor of making their country a republic.

The two policies were a radical departure, however, from the pro-British, monarchist line traditionally followed by Australia's conservative liberal-led coalition governments during their long years in office between World War Ii and the early 1970s.

As a result, both policies were opposed by the conservative Liberal and National parties when introduced.

Howard will make all the right noises regarding Asian integration but he is unlikely to make any great strides in this area.

The impetus given the process by Paul Keating is now gone and considering the history and credentials of Howard and his Liberal party concerning Australian integration into the Asian region, it is highly unlikely the policy will be given the same attention under the country's new government.

-- The Bangkok Post