17 - Australia and the South Pacific: The Rationalist Ascendancy

Summary

In the early 1990s it might have been expected that the Pacific islands region would fall off the Australian policy maker’s map. This seemed plausible given Canberra’s preoccupation with Asia and the end of the perceived security problem in the South Pacific. Instead, Australian decision makers embarked on an ambitious campaign to radically transform the regional economic order. The region was almost seen as part of Australia; ’the backyard’ that needed to be brought into line with Australia’s push into Asia and with Australia’s reform agenda in the face of new global economic pressures. This move was strongly influenced by an organisational initiative to place Pacific islands affairs and development assistance under a junior Minister. While some interpreted this as a downgrading of the area in Canberra’s foreign policy priorities, it had the effect of bringing more attention and energy to the relations with the Pacific islands than if they had been left in the Foreign Minister’s hands. Under the leadership of Gordon Bilney, the South Pacific returned to the priority list in Canberra, even engaging the Prime Minister from time to time.