Q&A Segment of Joint Press Conference at the Signing of the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Q: PMs, Dennis from The Australian. Singapore and Australia both face domestic threats from Islam’s extremists and regional tensions from territorial claims. In what way, realistically, can an enhanced Singapore-Australia relationship have an effect on those two threats?

PM Lee Hsien Loong: Well, on the terrorism question, I think the countries work closely together, quietly under the radar, exchanging intelligence, and keeping each other posted on what is happening because it is not a national threat, it is an international one because terrorists operate across borders and governments need to operate across borders too. I think the cooperation can go beyond that. PM Abbott yesterday visited our religious rehabilitation group and Khadijah Mosque and was briefed on how we have tried to turn around some of the people who have been led astray, how we have tried to help the families of those who were detained, and how we have tried to guide the Muslim community in Singapore to not be misled by deviant, extreme and unsound interpretations of the faith to do very evil things like what ISIS is doing. I think these are areas all of us are working on and which we can exchange notes and learn from one another.

On the regional territorial issues, these are issues which concern many countries in the region. They concern claimant states in the first instance, but they also concern the user states – people whose shipping or trade routes pass through the South China Sea or the disputed areas in the East China Sea, and they concern all the countries which have an interest in the stability and security of the Asia Pacific region. So we cannot take sides on the specific issues, but we have a vested interest in leaning towards peaceful management and resolution of these items and that is the basis on which Singapore and Australia work together and talk about these subjects.

PM Tony Abbott: Well Dennis, first of all, the situation in the Middle East, this conflict is reaching out to our region, as you know. People have gone from Australia and from our region to fight with these terrorist armies in the Middle East. So it is important that we cooperate, share intelligence and work together to do what we can to keep our country safe. I was certainly pleased to be at the Khadijah Mosque yesterday to talk to experts there about what is happening here in Singapore to try and ensure people who might be tempted by these death cults, are brought back from the brink as it were.

On the South China Sea, obviously there are some issues. Singapore and Australia take no side in the territorial disputes but we certainly deplore any unilateral alteration of the status quo. We think the disputes should be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law and like Singapore we strongly uphold freedom of navigation on the sea and in the air. We can focus on the South China Sea if we wish and think of the problems, but frankly I would rather look at the habits of cooperation which are developing in our region thanks in large measure to ASEAN. And it has worked like the East-Asia Summit which has been brought together by ASEAN. It is a very good way, not just of diffusing tensions but building cooperation. And while there is always a temptation to focus on things that could go wrong, I would rather focus on all the many things that are going right. The most obvious example of that is the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) which Singapore, Australia and almost 50 other countries including many of our traditional friends and partners are signing up for in Beijing.

Q: Could you elaborate on some of the tangible and practical benefits of the new agreement, specifically with the review of the SAF Trade Agreement – are we looking at the Open Skies Agreement or some other outstanding issues featuring strongly in the review or the agenda and are there obstacles moving forward?

PM Lee: Well FTAs can be sensitive issues. They are win-win but they have to structured well and presented well. I think our focus on the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement review will be in the first instance dealing with professionals’ access to professional services, to each other’s markets, access for individuals working in each other’s countries. The Open Skies Agreement is something which Singapore is interested in, but is something which will take a little longer to discuss.

PM Abbott: I would be disappointed if within the next 12 months we cannot have much more effective mobility between our two countries at every level and more professional recognition between our two countries because this is one of the world’s greatest business centres along with London, New York and Hong Kong. Singapore is becoming one of the really great business hubs around the world and I think Australians have much to contribute here just as Singaporeans have much to contribute to our own country, so I think that will be at the heart of the changes which Andrew will be working on or leading over the next 12 months. I also think it is important to deepen the defence partnership. This is a partnership that goes back to the early 1970s, with the five power defence arrangements between Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand. For the last couple of decades, there has been substantial Singaporean stationing and training in Australia and I would very much like to build on that because that would be good for Singapore and regional security.

Q: Thank you Prime Ministers, you both have spoken about the need to be good neighbours to each other, but also good regional neighbours as well, and I think it is fair to say that both countries have had criticisms levelled at them from Indonesia, so going forward, how do you deal with Indonesia and can I ask you both to reflect on how Indonesia has pushed both Singapore and Australia into a closer relationship?

PM Lee: I would not put it like that at all. Indonesia is good friends with Singapore and I am sure Tony would say Indonesia is good friends with Australia too. We have a very good relationship with them, with President Jokowi and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) before him. In fact, we are the biggest investor to Indonesia and a major source of tourism and trade. I think this would continue for some time. As close neighbours, issues inevitably arise once in a while, it is unavoidable. Even between Australia and New Zealand, you have issues and it is not just over Rubgy or Cricket – but you are the best of friends! And so are we between Singapore and Indonesia.

PM Abbott: Well said Loong. This is a friendship which is for things, not against things, it is a friendship that is for others and not against others. I don’t take a zero sum view of the world, I never have and never will. I think if you strengthen one friendship, you make it easier to strengthen other friendships. You make yourself a better and more appealing friend if you like. So I certainly don’t see that this is driven by difficulties with any other countries. I see this as driven by the natural complementarities and the bed rock of common values and instincts that Australia and Singapore have.

Q: Thank you Prime Ministers. My question is on some of the points mentioned earlier. With regard to travel and mobility are there any plans to make Singapore and Australia more seamless in the near future? And secondly, with regard to counter-terrorism, specifically with regard to the threat of self-radicalisation, what can both Singapore and Australia bring to the table in terms of  expertise and practically, what sort of cooperation can we be looking at, thank you.

PM Lee: I think in terms of travelling to Australia, Singaporeans already enter virtually visa-free. So I do not think there is an issue, we are very happy with the arrangements. In terms of self-radicalisation, this is an issue for many countries. Australia is facing it, we are facing it, the Europeans and Americans, even China has got people who are radicalised and are going to the Middle-East. So, it is a conundrum because if there is a network, you can penetrate the network – you can find out who is trying to subvert whom and you can break it up and pre-empt things. When a lone person turns rogue, how do you know that it has happened? And where do you begin to pick up that threat - that is the big challenge. Sometimes they reach out and they meet other friends, sometimes they will cross boundaries and when they do, this gives us a lead to get into this. I think that is one way we can cooperate. The other way is to compare notes and profiles of the people who are radicalised – what motivates them, what vulnerabilities they have. Maybe this helps us to be more sensitive in picking up future cases.

PM Abbott: Thanks Loong, for so many of us, the idea that one would want to kill in the name of God is almost unimaginable, but plainly, there are people in even pluralist, liberal societies under the rule of law such as Singapore and Australia – there are people that feel that way. We just have to work together as best as we can to share experiences and learn the lessons and do what we can to bring out in everyone, the better insures of our nature, to do what we can to encourage everyone to be his or her best self. If I may end on this, in a period of many marvellous opportunities and experiences - one of the best of them was to have the opportunity to go on a stroll with you (PM Lee) last night in Bishan Park as part of the 50 Barbeques (BBQ) which our High Commissioner organised to honour Singapore on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of its foundation. In such a diverse crowd, a crowd which certainly illustrated the rich diversity of Singapore, eleven if I might say so, with some Australians, some of whom may have been living here for many years and of course Australia itself is a pretty diverse community these days. What a marvellous opportunity to see human beings at their best, what a marvellous opportunity to sense what all of us have in common and to cherish the values and aspirations that all of us deep down have and that is what we need to be looking for constantly – looking for the things we have in common. Reinforcing the golden rule of ethical behaviour, act to others how you would have them act towards you or if I had to draw on a gospel phrase – Love your neighbours as you love yourself. That is essentially what we need and I am pleased that that is what our countries bring out in our citizens and will build on that in the months and years ahead. Thank you.

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