A division of the Liberal Party of Australia
SPEECH TO ASIA-PACIFIC FORUM
23 January, 2007
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Mr Chairman, distinguished colleagues
Meetings such as this one exemplify the commitment that Asia Pacific nations have to work cooperatively together to achieve a prosperous region. A fundamental ingredient to our prosperity in the future is peace and security.
However, there are major challenges to peace and security and very significant ones are addressed in this agenda item – terrorism, illegal drug traffic and organised crime. In many cases they are interlinked and, together, they pose a significant challenge to our goals of a peaceful and prosperous region.
Terrorism
The evolving and transnational nature of terrorism calls for a comprehensive and united response that addresses the economic, social and political and ideological factors that encourage extremism and conditions in which terrorism can flourish. Terrorism contravenes the laws, religious beliefs and values of all countries concerned and should not be associated with any religion or race or nationality. It is a threat to the right to life, the most fundamental of human rights.
Our efforts to combat terrorism must cover aspects such as law enforcement and intelligence, diplomacy, border and transport security and the prevention of terrorist financing and related crime. We also need to support education, governance, the rule of law, and development assistance.
The focus of Australia's counter-terrorism efforts has been practical, involving operation-level capacity building in key areas such as law enforcement, anti-terrorist financing, emergency response coordination, and border and transport security in South-East Asia. Australia has committed to the further development of the APEC Regional Movement Alert System. Australia also works with regional neighbours to promote tolerance and counteract terrorist propaganda.
We are pleased to acknowledge progress not only in our region (such as through the ASEAN Regional Forum and APEC) but also in global cooperation to combat terrorism. In particular we note the Russian-US Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, and the adoption on 8 September 2006 by the United Nations General Assembly of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy.
And I draw attention to The Australian ASEAN Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat Terrorism.
Illegal drug traffic
While the fight against Terrorism is paramount, and has been the subject of much discussion already at this Forum, we should also recognise the impact which organised crime and drug trafficking has on the people of the Asia-Pacific Region. It destroys lives, causes mental health problems and social dislocation. The largest source of income for criminal organisations is narcotics trafficking. So large is this income, that it should be regarded as a threat to human and state security, and economic development. Australia continues to work with other countries in the region to address Drug Trafficking, people smuggling, money laundering and trafficking in Arms. Our approach includes bilateral and regional capacity building and law enforcement activities.
Initiatives such as the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime are welcomed and we look forward to its implementation.
Australia has worked very closely with our regional neighbours in the fight against drugs through strong partnership between the AFP and regional police forces – with, I might add some remarkable results.
For example, in November 2005 Australia worked with Indonesian Police to close the worlds 4th largest clandestine laboratory and in August 2006 helped Malaysian police dismantle the largest ever illicit drug factory.
We have helped established Transnational Crime Team in 5 Pacific Island Nations and supported Transnational Crime Coordination Centres in both Indonesia and Thailand.
We are also supporting the Asia Collaborative Group on Local Precursor Control to combat the manufacture of synthetic drugs in the Pacific Region and have helped establish the Pacific Precursor Working Group.
There are 3 counter narcotic United Nation Treaties, but many Nations, particularly many small Island Nations in the Pacific, have not acceded to these Treaties.
I urge all nations to become partners to these Treaties and also those dealing with terrorism.
Conclusion
Terrorism, the illegal drug trade and organised crime have no borders, similarly our efforts to combat them must also have no borders. Efforts to combat each of these crimes, will reinforce and complement other efforts, particularly counter-terrorism efforts.
While we acknowledge that perhaps we have achieved historic levels of engagement with our neighbours in the region and beyond on these issues, we urge cooperation to ensure that the international response is more effective. In particular we urge greater cooperation, coordination and compliance with the commitments we have made. It is not just a matter of adopting resolutions – we must work to implement these decisions. The success – or otherwise – of our efforts depends on our willingness and ability to work with each other.
I commend the resolution to the meeting.