Positive or Negative Tidal Change: A Commentary on the Proposed Compact of South Pacific States

This chapter examines the 2003 Australian Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee's inquiry which recommended closer ties with Australia and the South Pacific states by way of a formal compact and argues that formalising such a compact, however broadly based, will be difficult to achieve considering Australia's tendency to act as a regional 'Big Brother'. Although such a compact is a worthwhile ideal for the region's Island states, for it to succeed Australia may need to fully acknowledge and come to terms with its historical past and previous quasi colonial role in the South Pacific. In order to garnish full support for the proposed compact, Australia also needs to engage, in a spirit of complete reconciliation, with the difficulties and problems faced by its indigenous citizens. Not to do so may well jeopardise the whole compact ideal.