JOURNALIST:
This is your first time in the Palestinian territories. What are your impressions so far?
TREASURER:
Well, we’ve had very useful discussions today with Abu Ala, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. I’ve met the Foreign Minister, I’ve met the Finance Minister. Obviously discussions have been dominated by the security situation and it’s going to take a lot of work to get the security situation back on track. But it’s been a useful visit for me, I think, to talk about some of the issues that are important here, to see the situation, to visit some of the Australian aid projects, which I also had the opportunity to do, and to hear first hand some of the problems that people are facing.
JOURNALIST:
Have you had a chance to see some of the issues? You spoke yesterday about the Israeli’s concerns about terror attacks but we’re staring right opposite us at a Jewish settlement and you obviously came through some checkpoints, although your way was probably cleared. Have you had a chance to see some of the problems that ordinary Palestinians are facing, which creates a lot of frustration amongst the population?
TREASURER:
Well, obviously part of the visit is to hear first hand from the various Ministers of the Palestinian Authority the problems they’re facing. And obviously they have put their view strongly to me in the course of discussions. But the reality is that until the violence can stop, and until confidence can be built, it’s hard to think how the peace process will move forward. And obviously there have got to be confidence-building measures that are put in place if the Road Map is to go forward. Nobody that I’ve spoken to has a better idea than the Road Map. That is, that the Road Map is still the best chance to take the process forward and getting that back on track and reigning in the violence seems to be the best way of proceeding with that.
JOURNALIST:
In your view, have you worked out for yourself who actually initiates the violence?
TREASURER:
Well look, obviously there are long-term disagreements between various parties to the process. But where you have a situation where suicide bombers can indiscriminately target civilians, where you have a situation where people are under threat, obviously this strikes at the heart of a country and its security. And it’s the indiscriminate nature of terrorism that I think all of the civilised world would say is something that has to come to an end. And I know that amongst a lot of the people on both sides, they see militants who are perhaps trying to de-rail peace with that indiscriminate terror. But it’s the indiscriminate nature of terror, that it strikes deliberately at civilians and people who are not engaged, that is the problem.
JOURNALIST:
What about killings on the Israeli side of Palestinian civilians who get caught in the crossfire, so to speak?
TREASURER:
Well, obviously in a security situation you have response and counter-response. But I keep coming back to this point. The ending of terror, the building of confidence, the Road Map to Peace – that still represents the best hope.
JOURNALIST:
When you were talking with the Palestinian politicians, did Yasser Arafat’s name come up?
TREASURER:
Oh, of course, in the sense that he is the head of the Palestinian Authority. Of course it came up in that sense. And he’s obviously very influential in the Palestinian administration.
JOURNALIST:
Did they make any requests that you should put to Israel regarding his fate?
TREASURER:
No. I haven’t had any requests put to me in relation to Mr Arafat.
JOURNALIST:
Is it true you’re going to deliver a $3 billion surplus and that there will be tax cuts shortly?
TREASURER:
Well, I’m rather amused to see some of the stories that are coming out of Australia which, as far as I can tell, are based on nothing except for wishful thinking. But far be it from me to crib journalists’ copy with the facts.