Building regional links cornerstone of policy

THE Coalition will refocus the priorities of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

THE Coalition will refocus the priorities of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on "promoting the economic interests of the Australian people and Australian businesses".

It will, at the same time, it pledges in its foreign policy statement, review within six months the department's diplomatic resources "to ensure it is consistent with our interests" -- anticipating increased foreign posts and staffing.

Much smaller countries, including Finland, Belgium and Greece, now have larger diplomatic networks than Australia.

The Coalition will aim to build on the Lombok Treaty with Indonesia signed by John Howard, broadening and deepening security, economic and educational links and doing "all we can to repair the trade relationship following the live cattle export fiasco".

In contrast with the Rudd government, under which Canberra took Tokyo to the International Court of Justice in a bitter dispute over whaling, it will build "a stronger strategic partnership" with Japan -- which is expanding its security role under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- and pledges it will finalise the long-delayed Australia-Japan free trade agreement.

The statement says the Coalition anticipates returning to the stable and fruitful relationship enjoyed with China from the Howard years. "The Howard government showed that it was possible to have a strong relationship with China while managing differences over sensitive issues like ministerial contact with the Dalai Lama and Taiwan."

It will restore annual ministerial-level visits to Taiwan, Australia's sixth biggest export target. It will review the effectiveness of sanctions against the Fiji military regime with a view towards normalising relations in the run-up to elections due by September 2014.

It says the relationship with India "could and should be much closer", with uranium sales -- viewed by New Delhi as a key indicator of engagement -- still awaiting the conclusion of a safeguards agreement. The Coalition wants to develop "a genuine strategic partnership" with India.

The first big foreign policy initiative to be implemented will be the New Colombo Plan, with $100 million spent over five years on sending students to universities and work experience in the area the government is now calling the Asia-Pacific-Indian Ocean region. The Coalition will refocus aid on this region, especially on Indonesia, PNG and the Pacific, and consider increasing the number of Pacific islander seasonal workers.