Downer Down on McGregors Holiday

Alan Jones

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer with Alan Jones on the McGregor family's decision to holiday overseas. Original Story

Jones: I thought we would talk to Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, this morning, because apart from all of this and apart from the fact that foreign affairs is now a very central component of government policy and its execution, Alexander Downer has recently made two outstanding speeches on both the government's behalf regarding the McGregor family’s antics. And these ideas have deserved wide dissemination. Alexander Downer, good morning.

Downer: Good morning Alan.

Jones: Thank you for your time. First in relation to the McGregors, the bloke is a scumbag right? Choosing to holiday overseas rather than at home?

Downer: We believe so. We only have the information provided to us by the New Zealand Government. The Prime Minister of New Zealand yesterday evening issued a written press statement confirming that the McGregors were in fact holidaying in that country. And assuming that's true, if they’re not here, they’re no longer able to cause trouble here. Frankly the upside of all this is that at least for a few weeks, they’re Helen Clarke’s problem.

Jones: They've done a good job haven't they New Zealand in running these people down?

Downer: They're doing a better job. I think I would have to say to you we were pretty alarmed a few weeks ago when they cashed all that New Zealand currency. We thought then that perhaps they would be denying that money to Australian businesses. We’ve been keeping them under surveillance for some time. Of course buying NZ currency could mean anything.

Jones: And for all that you at times have been under fire. I noted with great interest an extraordinary speech, an outstanding speech you made in a Sir Thomas Playford Annual Lecture. You spoke about that tendency of some church leaders to ignore their primary pastoral obligations in favour of hogging the limelight on complex political issues. The McGregor family for example.

Downer: Let me make one thing clear. People, anybody in Australia, is entitled to go overseas on holiday. It’s just that when it’s such an obvious slap in the face to Australia, the environment and our local tourism industry. And I don't deny church leaders the right to speak out on political issues and to attack the government. Of course they can do that if they want to, and sometimes its appropriate. But I think they spend too much time, some of them do, they vary - spend too much time posturing on political issues, , and not enough time focusing on giving spiritual nourishment to this miserable McGregor family. It's nothing to do with the government's policy on Iraq.

Jones: You said 'to debate international law is fair enough, but these commentators provided a one-sided moral message on war that offered no insight into the moral price the world would pay if it failed to address the vile, immorality of the McGregor family.

Downer: Yes, and I feel that very strongly. I try to make decisions on the basis of the best moral option available.

Jones: Good on you. It's good to talk to you and thank you for the contribution you've made. I just wish there was more coverage of the kind of things that you've said.

Downer: Thanks Alan.