SOUTH EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.
WITH THE REALITY OF CHEAPER A FARES TO OTHER MARKETS, I CERTAINLY SHARE THE CONCERN OF ASEAN COL RIES THAT TOURISTS MIGHT BY-PASS THEM WHILE THE FARES STRUCTURE REMAINS UN COMPETITIVE. AUSTRALIA'S AIM IS TO AVOID THIS AND TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE ASEAN COUNTRIES WHICH WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE TOURIST INDUSTRIES AT BOTH ENDS. UN QUOTE,
2. ON SINGAPORE MR NIXON SAID QUOTE:
3.
THE INITIAL COMPLAINT LEVELLED AT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WAS THAT IT WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT ASEAN TOURISM. IN FACT, WE BELIEVE ASEAN AS A REGION WOULD BENEFIT FROM INCREASED TOURISM AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES WE ARE SEEKING. WE CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND SINGAPORE'S CONCERN THAT, INITIALLY, IT MAY HAVE SUFFERED SOME REDUCTION AND A SLOWING IN GROWTH OF AUSTRALIAN VISITORS. BUT THAT PROBLEM IS A MATTER WHICH WILL BE SETTLED AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. NOW SINGAPORE'S ATTACK ON OUR POLICY SEEMS TO HAVE SWITCHED TO THE LEVEL OF ACCESS THAT SINGAPORE AIRLINES MIGHT ENJOY. WHETHER SINGAPORE AIRLINES OR ANY OTHER ASEAN CARRIER IS GIVEN RIGHTS TO CARRY TRAFFIC FROM AUSTRALIA TO A BEYOND COUNTRY IS A MATTER NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR THE OTHER COUNTRY CONCERNED. THIS IS NOT JUST THE SITUATION BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, BUT ALSO IS THE SITUATION WITHIN THE ASIAN REGION, INCLUDING WITH ASEAN ITSELF. SINGAPORE LIMITS ACCESS BY FOREIGN CARRIERS, AS DO OTHER COUNTRIES. WE ENTIRELY RESPECT THIS - IT HAS COMPLETE SOVEREIGNTY, AUSTRALIA HAS NEVER GIVEN RIGHTS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR ANY CARRIER TO CARRY PASSENGERS DIRECTLY BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND THE UK, EXCEPT TO AUSTRALIAN AND BRITISH CARRIERS.
WE
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ARE OFFERING COMPLETE EQUALITY IN PARTICIPATION IN THE CARRIAGE OF TRAFFIC BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND OUR BILATERAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING SINGAPORE. UNQUOTE.
MR NIXON DENIED, THAT THE NEW POLICY WAS ONE OF PROTECTIONISM. IT TOOK ACCOUNT OF THE ESSENTIALLY BILATERAL CHARACTER OF AIR SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS AND MODIFIED THEM IN A WAY WHICH ALLOWED OTHER COUNTRIES' CARRIERS TO PARTICIPATE EQUALLY.
4. MR NIXON ALSO ISSUED A STATEMENT YESTERDAY IN WHICH HE
DESCRIBED AS QUOTE UNFORTUNATE UNQUOTE MR RAJARATNAM'S REMARK
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Lam
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