Woolcott confirms what Rudd cannot

Senator the Hon Helen Coonan
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate (archive)

Special Envoy Richard Woolcott this morning confirmed what Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and their representatives in the Senate have been unable to do – that Australia’s regional neighbours have no interest in forming a new Asia Pacific Community, Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesperson Helen Coonan said today.

“Mr Woolcott, charged with investigating this grandstanding plan of Mr Rudd’s, has today confirmed exactly what was suspected and the silence from the Rudd Government is deafening,” Senator Coonan said.

“He has now said that the countries involved would much rather build on the existing institutions, such as APEC and the East Asian Summit.

“Yesterday I asked three questions of Senator Chris Evans, who represents Mr Rudd in the Senate, regarding the progress of Mr Rudd’s APC idea.

“Three times he dodged the question – now we know why.

“The fact remains though, that this is yet another example of ex-diplomat Mr Rudd’s stumbling handling of foreign policy.

“He barely consulted anyone before launching this plan.

“Mr Woolcott, heading the project, had two hours notice prior to Mr Rudd’s announcement.

“Mr Rudd’s Asia Pacific Community plan received a very cool response from regional countries at the time of its announcement but the Prime Minister pushed ahead with it.

“Last week at APEC, the plan was trivialised and virtually disposed of with a simple notation.

“Mr Rudd still has his head in the sand, rejecting any notion that the plan was not welcome.

“The Rudd Government is unable to admit when they are wrong – this is a dangerous trait and, as a result of this particular misstep, over half a million dollars of taxpayers money has been wasted on pursuing this foolish and totally unnecessary plan for an Asia-Pacific Community,” Senator Coonan said.

“I urge Mr Rudd to stop wasting taxpayers money, finally drop this plan and get on with supporting the existing institutions that serve the region well.”

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