John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

I will provide Senator Payne with what information I have on this matter, and if it does not fully satisfy her I will obviously ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can add any further information. I can say that the government is gravely concerned about the situation in Fiji, particularly recent statements by the Fiji interim government that it does not intend to honour its commitment to hold an election by March 2009. At their meeting in Niue on 21 August, Pacific Islands Forum leaders responded firmly on these issues, as you know, condemning the statements and making it clear that they expect the interim government to meet its election commitment.

Leaders also expressed serious concern that the interim government did not attend the forum. Mr Bainimarama has shown his contempt, I think, for the region by not attending and explaining himself. The forum leaders’ resolutions followed a successful visit to Fiji by the forum’s Ministerial Contact Group in July. That group confirmed that an election by March 2009 is still possible providing there is political will on the part of the interim government. Forum leaders have directed the Ministerial Contact Group to continue to monitor the situation, including by possibly making another visit to Fiji. The group will report to leaders before the end of 2008 and make recommendations on further measures. Forum leaders will then consider convening a special leaders meeting this year to consider further measures, including the possibility of suspending Fiji from the forum.

The forum has shown that abuse of democracy in the region is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Australia urges the interim government to heed the concerns and expectations of its Pacific island neighbours and to work with the forum to ensure that an election is held by March 2009.