Pacific Plan puts Howard to the test

BE CAREFUL what you wish for. Two years ago John Howard went to Auckland to tell the leaders of the South Pacific to take a hard look at their collective future. They agreed and developed a Pacific Plan, which could one day become the stepping stone to a regional confederation among Australia and its small neighbours. Now Howard faces a test: if he is serious about Pacific integration, he must allow Pacific Islanders to come and work in Australia on short-term visas. He does not have long to decide. On October 26, the Pacific Plan will be put to the annual Pacific Island Forum Summit in Papua New Guinea. It is an ambitious 10-year blueprint for closer co-operation and integration between South Pacific countries. It aims to promote economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security throughout the region. Greater labour mobility is one of its key provisions.