Split In Australian Govt Over Asian Immigrants

Howards own deputy prime minister Tim Fischer this week indirectly criticised Howards inability to stand up for Australias non-discriminatory immigration policies, saying attacks on Asian immigrants by party members could damage Australias export prospects in this continent.

I reject the comments of any individual who would jeopardise boosting our trade, investment and tourism... Fischer said at a Cities of Asia-Pacific conference in Brisbane, which was also attended by Milind Vaidya, the mayor of Bombay.

Fischer was commenting on the remarks of right-wing independent MP Pauline Hanson who in in her maiden speech in parliament had said: I believe we are in danger of being swamped by Asians. Calling for an end to Asian immigration and an abandonment of multi-multicultural policies, Hanson had attacked the politically correct policies of the previous Labour government. Especially, she targetted the affirmative discrimination that Keatings Labour party had for the recent decade practised in favour of the native tribes of Australia, the Aborigines. For the first time since the White Australia policy was officially laid to rest some thirty years ago, the spectre of a country openly divided along racist lines has begun to haunt Australia.

 

In a scathing attack, Greg Sheridan of the Australian newspaper said: John Howard just never gets his rhetoric right on race and Asia..he has damaged Australias standing in Asia (and) he has failed to demonstrate leadership on basic issues of human decency in Australia..

But Milind(?) Vaidya, at the same Cities of Asia-Pacific conference was quoted by The Australian as giving a more tolerant view: Hanson is not formulating the foreign policy of Australia, he said, adding that bilateral trade relations would not be affected unless the government fell in line with her policies.

But Howard is increasingly being unable to shake off the impression that he is becoming a victim of right-wing political pressure groups. Analysts say this is the reason why he often makes schizophrenic comments during visits abroad, catering to the conservative, domestic voter, rather than enunciating national foreign policy.

Howards latest gaffe came during a visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, his first visit as prime minister to an Asian country in the third week of September which become a major national embarrassment.

In a prepared speech at the presidential palace Howard said: We do not claim to be Asian. Like every other country in the Asia-Pacific, we bring our own distinct culture, attitudes and history to the region.

As his hosts heard him in silence, Howard went on to add: Neither do I see Australia as a bridge between Asia and the West as is sometimes suggested. When compelled to clarify, he added to the tension: he said he had been referring to Australia as being a bridge not in the cultural or political sense, but in the economic sense.

Howards statements were not only widely castigated across the south-east Asian region, they caused a huge storm of protest right across the business and political community across Australia. Analysts said he was seeking to revert to the old Australian relationship with Europe and the US rather than maintain primary association with the region.

Incredibly, Howards foreign minister Alexander Downer in his first policy pronouncements after the government was elected in March openly spoke of a closer engagement with Asia (which) is the Australian governments highest foreign policy priority. ...A tide of Australian engagement in the Asia-pacific has been gathering momentum for more than half a century. Australian governments, both Coalition and labour, have been energetically pursuing our interests in the region... Downer said.

Comparisons between labour prime minister Paul Keating and Howard are today becoming inevitable. Aggressive, even combative about Canberras place under the sun, Keatings foreign policy initiatives, especially on Asia, were focussed on the eastern countries of Japan,Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia. India and the other countries of south Asia remained on the periphery of his vision. Howard, on the other hand, is seen by many Australians as an unimaginative leader, focussing much more on domestic policy. His cancellation of his visit to India stems in part from a fear that he may be seen as junketting around the world, especially if theres cricket involved - a game he is supposed to be crazy about.

Analysts also point out that new foreign policy approaches were definitely on the cards after Howard was sworn in. And Downer had vocalised that by saying that in both economic and security terms India is emerging as a major and dynamic regional player.It may not surprise Australians if Howard changes his mind again and catches a flight to Delhi - and watch the cricket game in Chandigarh - later this month.