Quoted

“No.”

Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s re sponse to calls by Torres Strait islanders for inde pendence from Australia.

“It seems that whenever the Government wants to change a decree to suit its convenience, it does so in private.”

Fiji Taukei spokesman Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, criticising the Fijian Government’s system of rule by decree.

“The move will be seen by the majority of Fijians as serving the self-interest of the Australian Labor Govern ment, at the expense of labour principles and values in the region.”

Fiji’s deposed Prime Minister Dr Bavadra protesting in a letter to the acting secretary of the Aus tralian Labor Party oyer the resumption of Australian aid to Fiji.

“I am confident that I have a good ministry and a clear majority in Parliament and must now concentrate on get ting Government policies in place instead of internal bickering.”

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Paias Wingti after telling sacked politicians Mr Ted Diro and Mr Ururu Matiabe that there was no place for them in his ministry.

“A dead issue.”

PNG Defence Minister Mr Pokasui on the gifts that Indonesia’s retiring armed forces chief Mr Benny Murdani gave to leading fig ures in Papua New Guinea.

Mr Hawke