E&OE
ANNA HENDERSON:
I spoke to the Shadow Foreign Minister, David Coleman, today, as the Opposition announces plans for a new role for a Hostage Envoy, to help Australians behind bars overseas, if elected.
DAVID COLEMAN:
We want to do everything we can to support Australians in need. I mean, these people are in unimaginably difficult circumstances. The former hostages themselves have been calling for the special envoy role for some time. People like Kylie Moore-Gilbert and many others. And we think it’s the right thing to do. It was recommended by a parliamentary inquiry. We’re seeing this happening in the UK. We’re seen it happen in the US. We’re seeing Canada look at it as well.
ANNA HENDERSON:
And in relation to Ukraine, there is, of course, this plan for the Coalition of the Willing. So far, your side of politics has said they wouldn’t engage with that. But are there any circumstances under which you could see the Coalition being a part of that group of the willing?
DAVID COLEMAN:
We’ve made very clear our view that the Prime Minister has got this wrong. And let’s think about what the Prime Minster is proposing here. Peacekeepers, by definition, are stationed close to the front line, close to the former front line of the frozen conflict. Now here, the conflict obviously is in Ukraine. Europe has about half a billion people upon whom to draw for the purpose of providing peacekeepers. And the counterparty is Vladimir Putin. So we think the notion of putting Australian troops close to that former front line, effectively relying on undertakings from Vladimir Putin, is absolutely the wrong thing to do and not in Australia’s interest.
ANNA HENDERSON:
Do you think that Ukraine does need to essentially look at where things are now and recognise that Crimea becomes a part of Russia?
DAVID COLEMAN:
There is no peace which is acceptable, which is not acceptable to Ukraine.
ANNA HENDERSON:
Polls do suggest that support for the Coalition is flagging at a critical point in the lead-up to the election. How much do you think the comparisons to Donald Trump and some of the policies, which are quite similar, have hurt the Coalition’s chances?
DAVID COLEMAN:
Well, look, we always pursue our own policies, and our policy agenda is very strong. It is an Australian agenda and it’s in incredible contrast to what we’ve seen from the Government.
PRESENTER:
That’s Shadow of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, David Coleman, speaking there with our Chief Political Correspondent Anna Henderson.
[Ends.]
HON DAVID COLEMAN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MEMBER FOR BANKS