Volunteer Coastguard, Coastguard, Philippines, Drought and Leadership

Doorstop Interview

Transcript - Yeppoon Volunteer Coastguard Facility, Queensland - 28 November 2002

E & OE – PROOF ONLY

CREAN: Well, yesterday I announced Labor's commitment to establish a Coastguard, because Australia needs a maritime policing authority. It needs a cop on the beat. We're going to support that by investing in vessels and in people to man those vessels. But the other great thing about Australia is the Volunteer Coastguard that exists now. And here we've got a great example of it. These are people that give up their time voluntarily, they support Search and Rescue and they can provide information about unusual sightings.

What we want to do is to enhance their capacity so in the package announced yesterday I've allocated $124 million to support Australia's Volunteer Coastguard effort. $124 million over four years to support their training, support them with equipment but to also look at initiatives that encourage the growth of that volunteer movement. Incentives such as reductions and discounts on boat registrations for people who are members, tax deductibility in relation to certain equipment. We've got to be supportive of the volunteer movement because they're the eyes and the ears of the country in terms of coast watch and we need to support them in their search and rescue activity. I want the volunteers to be part of the Australian Coastguard. It is about better protecting, better defending, better securing and better saving our natural borders. A nation of 37,000 kilometres of unprotected coastline needs a Coastguard and the volunteers are going to be a vital part of that operation.

So I thank them for the work that they've done to date. They've been a fantastic contributor to us as a nation and in safety, rescue. We want them to do more but if we expect them to do more they have to be helped to do more and that's what we'll resource them to do.

The other point I would make is that in the development of this, Kirsten Livermore, the Member for Capricornia, has been actively involved in the discussions with the organisations representing the Volunteer Coastguard movements so the initiatives that we are talking about today have arisen in those discussions. They know what their needs are, it's our task to help them meet those needs because they're serving the country proudly. We want them to be able to serve in a different way as part of Australia's newly formed Coastguard.

JOURNALIST: The Government says it will do nothing to improve the job already being done by Customs and Coastwatch, what do you say to that?

CREAN: Well you see the problem is that Customs hasn't got, in terms of its operations, the co-ordination that's needed for a Coastguard. What we need is an authority capable of all of the policing authorities associated with gun running, with people smuggling, with drug running as well as the illegal fisheries. What we need is the co-ordinated activity and quite frankly, whatever the Government says, they can't get over this hurdle, there is no maritime policing authority in his country, none. And for a country with 37,000 kilometres of coastline, it needs a policing, law enforcement function. That's what the Coastguard will do, it will still work with Customs, it will work with Defence, it will work with the Water Police but you need the one authority, the co-ordinated role, which is what Coastguard will do.

JOURNALIST: How significant a role would Central Queensland play in this?

CREAN: Well Central Queensland plays an important role now. I've just been talking with them about the area of coverage, the number of volunteers that they have and the equipment they have. They perform a fantastic role. But if we expect them to perform an expanded and enhanced role we've got to enhance their capacity, that's what the package is about doing. Central Queensland provides vital Search and Rescue and surveillance activity, we want to help them do more.

JOURNALIST: Philip Ruddock says we haven't had a people smuggling boat turn up for twelve months without your plan.

CREAN: Look, is he really suggesting that we've solved the problem of people smuggling? I don't believe anyone thinks that. But it's not just people smuggling that a Coastguard is essential for this country for. It's drug running, it's illegal arms and here we have the conference about new arrangements to stamp out firearm use, we haven't even got a Coastguard to stop the illegal entry of those firearms. And we have our fisheries at risk. These are all the issues that Mr Ruddock won't talk about. But everyone knows there are problems. Now if you've got a problem, I say you need a solution. The Coastguard is that solution. And instead of the Government finding excuses not to do things, they should get behind this initiative. It's affordable, but it's essential. It will enhance Navy's capacity, it takes nothing away from the Navy. It will enhance Navy's capacity, it will bring in the Volunteer Coastguard. We will become a more secure nation because we will have an effective policing authority on our borders.

JOURNALIST: Why come to Yeppoon when you've already launched it in Brisbane?

CREAN: What was launched in Brisbane yesterday was the overall Coastguard package. Here today is to demonstrate the great work that the Volunteer Coastguard movement does but why we want to enhance their capacity to do more. Tomorrow of course I'm going up to Cairns where I'll be visiting the Naval base there where one of the purpose built Coastguards will be based. I think what it demonstrates is that this is not just a solution to be announced in capital cities. This is something that's going to tap in to the community involvement, tap into regional activity, look for job opportunities in terms of the building of the vessels as well as their repair and maintenance and showing the closely working relationship that the new Coastguard will have with the Navy.

JOURNALIST: Well what do you think of the closure of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines?

CREAN: Well I'm still to get a briefing as to why that was necessary. I only found out about it on the news. But what it highlights, again, is the threat to this nation and its security. What it does, in my case, is reinforce the need why we need a Coastguard.

JOURNALIST: Do you have any idea what this threat might be?

CREAN: No I don't and I sought a briefing about that but of course I've been travelling so I haven't had the opportunity for that briefing.

JOURNALIST: What do you think about the legal basis for a pre-emptive strike on Iraq?

CREAN: There is no basis for a pre-emptive strike on Iraq. The United States or anyone else contemplating that needs to go back to the United Nations before any such decision is taken. I've consistently argued that the issue of Iraq has to be pursued through the United Nations, that's where it should be pursued.

JOURNALIST: Is the Federal Government softening the public so it can go into Iraq?

CREAN: I think the Federal Government has been in difficulty on this. It was talking up the need for war, no one wants war, what we want is peace. We can secure the peace if we make the United Nations work. We've got to get behind the United Nations.

JOURNALIST: What about the possibility of Australian forces being sent into Iraq?

CREAN: If the United Nations system works that may not even arise. What we want is a peaceful diplomatic solution, I've been calling for since April. It's what should be pursued now through the United Nations Resolutions.

JOURNALIST: So you disagree with the Federal Government's handling of this?

CREAN: I think the Government has handled it badly but I'm pleased that it has stopped the war talk rhetoric and started getting behind the peaceful initiative. It's now backing the United Nations and that's the appropriate action to take.

JOURNALIST: As the next election draws closer, are there others in the Labor Party with their sights on your position as leader?

CREAN: No.

JOURNALIST: Do you feel challenged?

CREAN: No.

JOURNALIST: We understand there are.

CREAN: Well then your understanding is wrong in that regard. There aren't. I'll be leading at the next election and I expect to win. But we'll not win unless we're putting out the policies that show that we have a different approach. Now the Coastguard is a classic example of that. We all agree Government and ourselves that we need to better secure our borders. We've had to address this issue of the threat to us and national security. The Coastguard is a very practical example as to how one goes about it and I think it has strong public support.

JOURNALIST: Do you feel under pressure by people like Mark Swain?

CREAN: Mark Swain? Is he Tom Swain's brother? I don't know Mark Swain.

JOURNALIST: Wayne Swan, sorry, Wayne Swan.

CREAN: Next question.

JOURNALIST: Are you going to answer that questions do you feel under pressure?

CREAN: No I don't and there is no pressure there, he's answered that, let's get on with something else.

JOURNALIST: Is the Federal Government doing enough about drought?

CREAN: No it's not. It's not doing enough about drought and I'm pleased that the Prime Minister went into drought territory yesterday. I've been urging him to go for weeks. But what he has to do is speed up the means by which money is paid to farmers. I've proposed a seven day initial turn around and then a 28 day final determination for exceptional circumstances. That's what the Prime Minister should adopt. And he also has put drought on the agenda at next weeks COAG meeting. Why can't he talk with the states, stop the bickering between the two and actually get a solution that suits farmers? He can only do that if he talks with the states but he won't put drought on the agenda. The irony is, John Howard says that agenda will talk about water. How can you talk about water policy in this country at the moment unless you're about to talk about drought? The Prime Minister has to put drought on the agenda. He has to work better with the states and he has speed up the payment to the farmers and I hope, that out of his visit yesterday, he's learnt the importance of that. All I want him to act on it now.

JOURNALIST: Apparently there was rumour in National Party ranks that you were going to unveil the State Keppel MP candidate for Labor today, is that correct?

CREAN: Well it's one of those rumours that I've never heard of so you've got information that they've fed you and they're completely wrong.

ENDS