Downer stresses Australia's links with East Asia
Downer stresses Australia's links with East Asia
SYDNEY (AFP): Australia's new Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, vowed yesterday to reassure East Asian countries about his government's commitment to the region, accusing the former government of creating false impressions overseas.
Downer, a former opposition leader, and Vietnam War veteran Tim Fischer, who becomes trade minister, were named by Prime Minister-elect John Howard yesterday as the men who will present a new conservative face of Australia overseas.
The two have also been handed responsibility for allaying the concern now evident in Asia about the election of a government which, it is feared, may have less commitment to the region than its predecessor.
Reflecting this, Thailand's English language daily, The Nation, said Monday that after a "golden era" of Australian diplomacy in Asia it was now likely to see "the hapless Alexander Downer" take over as foreign minister.
Of the 24 men and four women who will form Australia's first conservative ministry for 13 years, Howard is one of two with government experience. The other is John Moore, 59, who becomes Industry, Science and Tourism minister.
Both served in the latter years of Malcolm Fraser's Liberal- National party government, Howard as Treasurer and Moore in Business and Consumer Affairs.
Of the 28 ministers, 12 have backgrounds in law, including Howard and his Treasurer-elect Peter Costello and there is a sprinkling of farmers, doctors, diplomats, stockbrokers, company directors and small business people.
Downer, 44, is a former diplomat who held the leadership for only eight months before he was forced to relinquish it 14 months ago amid a poll slump following a succession of gaffes.
He handed power to Howard, who went on to a momentous and crushing victory over Prime Minister Paul Keating's Labor government at the weekend.
However, Downer has had more luck as shadow foreign minister, playing a key role in forcing the government to adopt a tougher stance against French nuclear testing in the Pacific.
Downer said his priority would be to reassure East Asian nations of the government's commitment to the region, conceding there had been damage to Australia's image but blaming comments by the ousted Labor government.
Downer said he would work "to reverse any damage to Australia's image created by the Labor Party's persistent and malicious misrepresentations about the coalition's approach to working with our regional partners."
Fischer also becomes Deputy Prime Minister by virtue of his leadership of the rural-based National Party which is junior partner in coalition with the Liberal Party which is led by Howard.
The 49-year-old Fisher, a former army officer who served 12 months in Vietnam, was described on Kerry Packer's Channel Nine Sunday program last month as "the Forrest Gump of Australian politics".
Fischer, who has a tendency to speak in cliches, was the target during the campaign of repeated personal attack by Keating, who questioned his competence and his ability to act as Deputy Prime Minister.
Costello, who at 38 is one of the youngest ministers, becomes the new Treasurer, as expected. He made his name a right-wing lawyer fighting militant trade unionism in industrial court cases before entering politics.
Another lawyer, Peter Reith, 45, was given the key industrial relations portfolio which is already emerging as the major area of reform.
It is also shaping as the government's first big battleground as militant unions embark on a campaign for big pay rises following the scrapping of Australia's unique Accord wage system under which unions sought moderate wage claims in return for non- wage benefits such as reduced taxation.
The most senior woman is Amanda Vanstone, who distinguished herself in the shadow portfolio of attorney general, but who was given Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs ministry, another key area following Howard's commitment to reducing youth unemployment.
Wit -- Page 5
Threat -- Page 11