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The Council has
noted over the last eleven days the damage done to Fiji’s economic and social fabric
by the failure of the authorities in Fiji to resolve the crisis quickly.
Australia exports over $600 million worth of goods
to Fiji annually, and with imports of $400 million each year from Fiji is by far the
largest destination for Fiji manufactured goods. Australian companies and individuals have
capital investments in Fiji of at least $1 billion dollars.
The Council wishes to see the crisis ended quickly
and constitutionally to minimise the damage done to Australian businesses, and also to
prevent the collapse of key industries in Fiji’s fragile economy.
The Council believes that sanctions against trade
with Fiji, whether imposed by the trade union movement or the Australian government, will
only hurt ordinary working people in Fiji, as well as cause damage to Australian companies
and employees.
Collectively, Australian companies exporting to
Fiji employ many Australians. They also employ thousands of ordinary Fiji citizens of all
races and contribute substantially to Fiji’s economy. Australian tourists to Fiji
contribute directly to the employment of thousands more.
Sanctions will lead to financial losses by
Australian companies exporting to Fiji, possible job losses in Australia, financial losses
to Australian companies with investments in Fiji and job losses for ordinary citizens of
Fiji with resulting hardships. In some cases, trade with Fiji may be lost to
non-sanctioning countries, and never recovered by Australian companies.
Job losses amongst ordinary working people of
whatever race will hit hard in Fiji those who can least afford it, who have no social
security net and very limited personal and family financial resources to fall back on in
times of economic hardship, and who have no political clout to remedy the
extra-constitutional action which has lead to the current situation.
Since Australia is a major source of foodstuffs for
Fiji, sanctions could also lead to a shortage of imported food in Fiji with consequent
implications for the nutrition and health of ordinary people in Fiji, especially children.
In addition to calling on the authorities in Fiji
to resolve the crisis quickly and constitutionally, the Council also calls on those
advocating or implementing sanctions on Fiji to carefully consider the welfare of those
who will be hardest hit.
NOTE FOR EDITORS: Enquiries should be directed to
Mr Ross Porter, President, Australia Fiji Business Council (Tel 02 9948 2711)
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