Aust could be left behind, Abbott warns

28 Oct 2012, 5:33 pm   -   Source: AAP
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the government's Asian white paper lacks specific detail. (AAP)

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the government's Asian white paper lacks specific detail. (AAP)

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the federal government's Asian white paper contains laudable goals but no funding.

The federal coalition has broadly welcomed the thrust of the Asian Century white paper but says it lacks funding and specific detail.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was responding to the government's release of the document setting national goals to 2025 to improve productivity, skills, education and Asian language learning and cultural ties.

"The opposition broadly welcomes the Asia white paper," he told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.

"What it contains is commonsense but predictable.

"It's full of laudable goals but not very many specific initiatives and certainly no commitment of money."

Mr Abbott said the government was scrambling to overcome "serious failures" in its relationships with Asia, such as its earlier ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia.

"The government is playing catch-up politics with its new commitment to Asian languages and its `Australia Awards'," he said.

Mr Abbott said Labor was strong on aspiration but weak on delivery of its policies.

He described the white paper as "one of a piece" with a government that was more talk than action.

"I think we take Asia more seriously than this government and I have said repeatedly that we need more Jakarta and less Geneva in our foreign policy," he said.

He also said the paper's goals on education and innovation were in contrast to cuts to university research in the mid-year budget review released last week.

The best way Australia could take part in the Asian growth story was by keeping its economy strong.

"My fear is unless the government can do more to boost our domestic activity economy, inevitably we are going to be left behind," Mr Abbott said.

"The Australian moment in the Asian century could easily pass."

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