A good week for Australia in the Pacific

Fortunately, the Minister has been low profile leaving the running on regional issues with Senator Penny Wong and the Prime Minister! Could he kindly resume his low profile?

Now for the good news!

Firstly, the announcement that the United States will significantly lift its profile and spending in the region.isoverdue and welcome. I have long advocated it and it will be welcomed by the Federal Government.

It will infuriate China of course and if it is implemented in a careful way it can contribute to lessening China's influence or at least slowing its growth.

The US announcement comes on the eve of a significant diplomatic event......The arrival in Australia of the new US Ambassador, Caroline Kennedy, arguably the best connected diplomat any US administration has sent to Australia.

One hopes she might provide regional leadership beyond the domestic role representing the USA in Canberra.

Australia needs to help ensure the US engages even more substantially with the region. Australia can help the US keep the right focus.

The other good news this week is that the deal for Telstra to buy Digicel has been finalised, and past all regulatory requirements.

This is a good deal. It is in the Australian national Interest. It puts our largest Telco in the box seat to guide the growth of telecommunications.

This purchase is costing Australia one way or another over a billion! It will cost more as aspects of Digicel's services and infrastructure need investment.

China won't be happy with the purchase being concluded - and we should expect it to respond in time.

But this is an important advance in our regional telecommunications engagement.

Overall a good week for Australia!!