Julie Bishop - Member for Curtin

Foreign Minister trip to Fiji

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Published on Monday, 30 April 2012 01:29

Foreign Minister Bob Carr should use his trip to Fiji tomorrow as an opportunity to re-establish relations with Commodore Bainimarama.

I have urged the Government for some time to end the approach taken by former Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd of not making contact with the Fijian government.

This approach has led to Fiji's further isolation from the Australian government.

It would be constructive for Mr Carr to offer support for Fiji to hold elections and for the country to return to democratic rule, thus paving the way for a normalisation of diplomatic and trade relations with Australia.

The Coalition does not condone in any way the military coup or the abandonment of democratic values and the rule of law.

Nor does the Coalition support a weakening of sanctions at this time.

The Coalition does support ongoing dialogue with Commodore Bainimarama and members of his regime, particularly as the deadline approaches for the 2014 elections previously announced by the Commodore.

Op-Ed published in The Australian on 15 March 2012