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Australia - Source: ONE News -
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New Zealand and Australia are the best of old mates, right? Closer than close. And it seems the current governments want to bring us closer still.
On TV ONE's Q + A this week, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith confirmed that a common border is on the governments' "action agenda " and "an agreement about the details" would be in place before the end of the year. The goal? Catching a flight to Melbourne or sending some produce to Adelaide would be as easy as catching a bus downtown. Smith went on to talk about "logical extensions" to our Closer Economic Relations agreement and, repeating the well-scripted message several times, stressed the "comprehensive nature" of our bi-lateral relationship.
The relationship is so benign that Australia can announce a massive $100 billion military spend-up without a murmur of concern here. We're such good mates that right now you'll probably be thinking what an odd observation that is; seeing Australia as a threat is rightly ludicrous. But few neighbours in this world would be so relaxed about such a gap in their respective military spending, so we should appreciate just what it is we have in Australia's friendship.
In Wellington, those logical extensions Smith spoke of seem to know no end. We're considering putting folic acid in our bread to bring New Zealand in line with Australian food standards, while John Key has said there's no point our starting an emissions trading scheme (ETS) until Australia has sorted out its version. We're described as a branch office for many Australian businesses.
All of which plays into a national narrative that somehow we're destined to get ever closer to Australia. Struth, we could even end up as Aussie's eighth state. Those who argue for such an outcome talk about the benefits of a stronger dollar, a united stock exchange and various other usually business-related gains. To which I say, nonsense.
Far from being inevitable, union with Australia is becoming less appealing as the generations pass. Australia is a fine friend, but that doesn't mean we'll ever want to move in together.
Looking at the arc of history, our countries are incrementally moving further apart and have been for decades. Ethnically and culturally, we are becoming a more Polynesian nation, whereas Australia's imports have drawn more heavily from continental Europe. We have developed distinct voices, priorities and ways of life. Our economic interests are diversifying, making managing a joint currency sympathetic to both markets a complete nightmare. Our strength is what we grow in our soil; theirs is what lies under their soil.
We were of course once a dependency of New South Wales and we had the chance to join Australia when it became a confederation in 1901. New Zealand representatives Sir George Grey, Captain William Russell and Sir John Hall attended the consitutional conferences held through the 1890s. But even then, when our predominantly colonial cultures were at their most similar, the mood in this country was towards independence. A cartoon from 1899 showed a kangaroo bounding off towards the horizon with New Zealand, depicted as a wide-eyed wee boy, clinging grimly to its tail.
Our representatives understood exactly what the cartoon was saying. As debate at the conferences evolved, they realised that the seat of power would be removed across a wide sea, that government monies would stay close to that centre of power, and that our best and brightest would be lured across the ditch.
Those arguments remain convincing to this day. And to the case
for continued separation we can add another hundred years of
sovereign identity and a proud independent foreign policy. So when
politicians from either country talk about "logical extensions" we
should listen with eyebrows arched. Any step closer to Australia
should be taken with full care and consideration of our sovereign
interests and in the understanding that Australia is a better
neighbour than it is a flatmate.
Current
affairs and culture website Pundit
Add a Comment:
Post new commentYady said on 2011-11-28 @ 09:41 NZDT: Report abusive post
the country is full of complacent morons who love to complain but dont get of there arse to vote.... cant beleive where this country is headed, where just like the yanks, maybe worse because we think we are better than them....shame shame shame..... who can blame us for moving to aussie... the nz government is for the nz rich list, they dont care about the poor..... shame shame shame..... and the media should be held accountable.... they done this... i want to hear the tea tapes!
Yady said on 2011-11-28 @ 09:35 NZDT: Report abusive post
those who didn't vote should be ashamed of themselves.... this country is full of moaning couch potatoes..... just what national needed... shame shame shame....
cheekychick said on 2011-11-27 @ 10:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
Michelle Boag calling Winston names is disgusting and offensive Jan
troberts88 said on 2011-11-27 @ 10:00 NZDT: Report abusive post
Yay John!
cheekychick said on 2011-11-27 @ 09:28 NZDT: Report abusive post
Winston Peters is needed in Parliament to keep them honest. Janice