Thank you to Nic Maclellan and Tarcisius Kabutaulaka for the comments on my article. I am pleased for the opportunity to reply.
Maclellan’s summary of my proposal in “The Fix” oversimplifies and unfortunately dismisses it with some superlatives. My article proposes the development of a comprehensive approach to Australia’s relations with select South Pacific countries. It is addressed principally at states that share a strong heritage with Australia, based on common law and use of the English language – and even then, the priority is on the four most vulnerable micro states, Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu and Nauru. It deliberately avoids discussion of other parts of the neighbourhood where Dutch, Portuguese and French influences colour perceptions.
