NEWSROOM: 06 April - 19 April 2008

Australia, New Caledonia in joint military exercise
11 April 2007 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

The Australian defence force is in New Caledonia taking part in an exercise aimed at preparing the island's military forces to respond to civil unrest in the aftermath of a tsunami.

Exercise Southern Cross has been carried out every two years since 2000.

The ABC's Kerri Ritchie says the exercise also has the involvement of France, New Zealand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

Members of the French foreign legion will be carrying out a parachute exercise, while a beach landing will also be staged.

It is hoped the exercise will improve cooperation and communication between the participating countries in the event of natural disasters or political instability.
 

Recruit Workforce from Pacific Islands
09 April 2007 - Source: Pacific Magazine

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) says temporary migrants from Pacific Island countries should be sent to Australia to work on farms, report Rural Press.

The NFF says there is a shortfall of 100,000 employees across the farm sector, and has released a policy initiative—the Workforce from Abroad Employment Scheme—to redress the balance.

“While we must encourage Australians into agricultural careers, and the Government should provide incentives and resources to this end, even if Australia’s record low unemployment fell to zero, domestic manpower could not fill our labor needs.

“Our scheme provides mutual benefit to farmers and workers.

"It provides new skills and training to employees coming to Australia temporarily – skills they take home.

"Further, the remuneration received by temporary employees far exceeds what they could earn at home – representing a boost for them, their families and their local economies.

“And horticulture is ideal for on-the-job training.
 

Smith Denies Fiji Coup Allegations
07 April 2007 - Source: Pacific Magazine

Australia’s Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says accusations that Australia international law in the leadup to the 2006 Fiji coup are an attempt to distract attention from Fiji’s military Government keeping democracy on hold.

The Fiji Human Rights Commission has released a report alleging Australia secretly sent SAS soldiers and weapons to Fiji and its navy ships entered Fiji waters in preparation for a potential intervention in late 2006.

But Smith has told ABC radio, “We've seen these spurious allegations before…”

“The Australian military were effectively on standby so as to ensure the safety and welfare of Australian nationals should that have become necessary.”

“This is just another device, another potential distraction to put the interim Fiji Government, the military Government, in the position of sliding out of a faithful undertaking that it gave to Pacific nation states,” Smith said. That undertaking was to hold elections in the first quarter of 2009.
 

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