ONFIDENTIAL
FM CANBERRA
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 86
OF 30001OZ JANUARY 90
INFO SAVING BRISBANE, MELBOURNE, SYDNEY
FOR SPD
YOUR TELNO 42: HOME SECRETARY'S VISIT.
-
063247
MDLIAN 4043
Copy to H.O.
Amended distrit 'n
notified to ISD(0)
יך
.
1 OUTLINE IDEAS FOR MR WADDINGTON'S VISIT ARE IN MY LETTER OF 17 JANUARY TO THOMAS. A MORE PRECISE ITINERARY IS IN M.
F.T., BUT I HOPE THIS WILL BE REGARDED AS NO MORE THAN A GENERAL GUIDE. I MAY WELL WISH TO PROPOSE CHANGES LATER. DETAILED PLANNING CANNOT START UNTIL WE KNOW (PROBABLY IN MAY/JUNE) THE PARLIAMENTARY
TIMETABLE, SINCE MINISTERS ARE OFTEN OUT OF CANBERRA IF THE HOUSE IS NOT SITTING. A FURTHER COMPLICATION IS THAT A MAJOR SPORTING EVENT IN QUEENSLAND MAY MEAN THAT WORTHWHILE INTERLOCUTORS
ARE OUT OF BRISBANE ON 10 SEPTEMBER.
·
2 IN GENERAL, I SEE THE VISIT AS PART OF A SERIES IN THE LAST THIRD OF THIS YEAR, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP FURTHER THE GROWING RANGE OF LINKS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO CONSOLIDATE THE IMPROVED BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP. BUT IF THE VISIT IS TO HAVE THE IMPACT I WOULD HOPE FOR WE SHOULD BEGIN PREPARATORY WORK SOON ON THE SUBSTANCE.
3. IT MAY BE WORTH PURSUING:-
(A) RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OR JUDGEMENTS (REJ): IN JUNE 1989
SENATOR TATE (MINISTER OF JUSTICE) AND MR JOHN PATTON AGREED THAT OFFICIALS SHOULD EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF EXPANDING THE 1988
AGREEMENT (WHICH COVERS ONLY DRUGS CASES) TO SOMETHING MORE
CLOSELY RESEMBLING THE UK/SWITZERLAND AGREEMENT. I HOPE THESE
DISCUSSIONS CAN BE PURSUED NOW WITH A VIEW TO SIGNING AN AGREEMENT DURING THE HOME SECRETARY'S VISIT.
(B) DUTY OF CONFIDENCE (DOC): WE HAVE HAD EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE AUSTRALIANS (AND NZ, CANADA AND US) ON THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AGREEMENT ON THE MUTUAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE
DUTY OF CONFIDENCE. DEPENDING ON MINISTERS' DECISIONS ON THE WAY FORWARD, THE HOME SECRETARY'S VISIT MAY OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THIS ISSUE AT THE POLITICAL LEVEL.