Tony Abbott at UN: Australia ‘leads by example’ on global issues
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Version 0 of 1. Tony Abbott has completed his transition from criticising Kevin Rudd’s excessive posturing on the world stage to launching into it himself by using a UN address to assert that when it comes to global affairs, Australia does not preach, but rather leads by example. Abbott is fond of borrowing the former Labor prime minister Ben Chifley’s famous “light on the hill” construction, and he did it again in an address to the UN general assembly in attempting to articulate his view of Australia’s place in the world, and the method by which it should contribute to global affairs. “To build this better world, we need to respond sensibly to the problems before us, whether through bodies such as the UN or in coalition with like-minded countries; and as well we need to work purposefully to create stronger and more resilient people and communities,” Abbott said in the speech in New York. “A stronger economy won’t solve every problem, but it will make almost every problem easier to tackle. Richer people aren’t necessarily better people, but the problems of plenty are invariably easier to deal with than those of want,” he said. Abbott said Australia would use the opportunity of being chair of the G20 “to promote private-sector-led growth: growth, because this is the best way to generate jobs and improve everyone’s quality of life; private sector-led, because profitable private businesses are the best source of real, sustainable wealth”. “Freer trade, more investment in infrastructure, a modern and fair international tax system, stronger global economic institutions and a more resilient financial sector are all parts of our G20 agenda to strengthen the world economy,” he said. “Rather than preaching, we’re trying to lead by example.” Abbott went through his shopping list of domestic priorities, from scrapping Labor’s clean energy package to budget repair, as part of framing the agenda for the G20. Abbott recounted elements of Australia’s record in global engagement under the UN banner. The prime minister noted when leadership was required Australia provided it “in Bougainville, in Timor-Leste and in Solomon Islands”. “In Korea, Cambodia, Kuwait and Afghanistan; in Somalia and Sierra Leone and in other troubled places, Australians have lent a hand under the UN’s banner. We have only 21 personnel in South Sudan now but have conducted an airlift of equipment that has supported a much larger force.” He said Australia was a comparatively small country, but it was wealthy, “with global interests and with some global reach”. “We’re strong enough to be useful but pragmatic enough to know our limits.” Abbott said. “Under successive governments, for more than 100 years, Australia’s determination has been to advance our interests, protect our citizens and uphold our values. We have never believed that we can save the world single-handedly; nor have we shrunk from shouldering our responsibilities.” He portrayed a world beset with problems – Islamic State, Russian aggression in Ukraine, Ebola and economic stagnation – all of which could be overcome. The prime minister, who was strongly critical of Russia following the MH17 tragedy, took aim at the Putin regime again. Australia was naturally sympathetic towards Ukraine as it struggled to “preserve its independence and territorial integrity against a bully”, Abbott said. |