‘Can hardly be surprised’: Waleed pushes Keneally over Pacific

The Project host Waleed Aly has pushed Labor’s Kristina Keneally on a plan he says “hardly solves” Australia’s fragmented ties with the Pacific.

The Project host Waleed Aly has pushed Labor’s Kristina Keneally on a plan he says “hardly solves” Australia’s fragmented ties with the Pacific.

The Labor Party on Tuesday announced a “comprehensive plan” for Australia to improve its diplomatic, security and strategic ties with its Pacific neighbours and curtail Beijing’s growing influence after a security deal was struck between the Solomon Islands and China that is a slap in the face to Australia.

The first element of the plan involves establishing a new $6.5m Australia-Pacific Defence School which would provide local training for defence and security forces.

The second involves doubling Australia’s funding for aerial surveillance of illegal fishing to help 15 Pacific Island countries, who are estimated to lose about $150m a year in lost access and licensing fees.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he was assured the Solomon Islands did not want a Chinese Military presence. Labor Senator @Kkeneally tells us if Labor has been exaggerating the threat during the election campaign. #TheProjectTVpic.twitter.com/mQpFCjRcLO

— The Project (@theprojecttv) April 26, 2022

An Anthony Albanese government would also put an extra $8m a year towards the ABC over four years so it is able to boost content to the Indo-Pacific, promoting Australia’s values, identity and interests.

Australia’s relationship with its Pacific neighbours appear strained after the Solomons opted to sign a pact with China that would allow Beijing to build a military base on Australia’s doorstep.

It is a problem Labor suggested could be solved under its plan, but Aly told Labor’s home affairs spokeswoman Senator Kristina Keneally that she was overlooking a critical aspect.

“You’re right this is about the whole South Pacific, it’s also really more about the United States than it appears to be about us,” Aly said.

“The US, in the middle of last year, announced a new military base in the Federated States of Micronesia. They’re planning to extend these (agreements) with three different North Pacific states (Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands) that allow for free military movement across those countries.

“Looking at that, China would probably understandably say, ‘hang on, if you’re going to up your presence, we’re going to up ours’.

“Do you hold the view that America is the only country in the world that is entitled to establish a military presence across a region like this.”

Keneally attempted to answer the question.

“We, of course, are an important strategic partner with the United States and it underpins much of our foreign policy and strategic security,” she said.

“The point here is we raised concern when the Port of Darwin was sold to a company linked to the Chinese Communist Party.”

Aly interjected, telling her that her comments were “quite beside the point”.

“The point is about American expansion in the region and given that we are seen as allies indistinguishable from the US, we can hardly be surprised when China wants to turn up on our doorstep and throwing money at it doesn’t solve that problem.”

Keneally told the program that China does not share the same values as Australia and the United States and that Australia “should be concerned that as Mr Morrison pulled out of the Pacific, China walked in through an open front door and established this relationship with the Solomon Islands.

Speaking about Labor’s plans on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said it was farcical.

“But the Prime Minister slammed the Labor’s “solution” which he claimed proved the opposition did not understand the issues the region faces.

“They think the way to solve the problem with the Solomon Islands is to send in the ABC,” Mr Morrison told 2GB.

“I mean, it‘s farcical when their answer to solving the Solomon Islands program is to have Q&A in Honiara.

“I don’t think that’s a true reflection or an understanding of the challenges that we face, and we’ve been very focused on investments in the Pacific to keep Australians safe.”

— with NCA NewsWire