Strained

Vanuatu

relations

Australia has cancelled a naval visit to Vanuatu in protest at the expulsion of its acting high commissioner in Port Vila.

HMAS Jervis Bay and HMAS Darwin were due to visit Vanuatu from July 9 to 12, but Foreign Minister Gareth Evans said it would not be appropriate to proceed with the visit in light of the Vanuatu government’s actions.

Vanuatu has accused the diplomat, James Pearson, of interference in the state’s internal affairs and gave him 24 hours to leave the country. Senator Evans spoke with Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Maxime Carlot, but failed to convince him to rescind the deicison which Australia claims was unjustified. But Carlot did agree to give Pearson an extra day for his departure.

Diplomatic relations between Port Vila and Canberra froze over Australia’s reaction to the Business Licence Act amendments. Vanuatu described the reaction as “hasty” and an interference in its internal affairs.

The amendment gave Vanuatu’s Finance Minister powers to refuse or revoke business licences without giving reasons and without having his decision challenged in court. Pearson was reported to have said its impact on the Vanuatu economy could affect Australian aid to the country.

In reply, Vanuatu’s deputy Prime Minister, Gethy Regenvanu, said policy matters to do with the coutnry’s economy remained solely with the Vanuatu government, exercising its internal, sovereign and constitutional rights.

He said he did not need “gratuitous explanations” on the

internationally accepted diplomatic practices under which

Australia’s concerns were chanelled.