8 Nov 2010

Australia's leader doubts Fiji's commitment to 2014 poll

8:08 pm on 8 November 2010

Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, says Canberra remains very sceptical of Fiji's promise to hold an election in 2014.

Ms Gillard says it's important for Australia, the United States and other nations to work together on Fiji to try to ensure the poll is held.

Her comment follows reports the US and some other countries had talked directly with Fiji's interim government, bypassing regional moves to diplomatically isolate the military led regime.

Ms Gillard says Australia is very sceptical that the elections which the regime has said it will hold in 2014 will actually occur.

She says it's important to maximise pressure to give the people of Fiji the appropriate opportunity to exercise a vote and pick their government.