28 Jun 2006

Australia urged to help neighbours

7:58 pm on 28 June 2006

Australia has been asked to do more to help its Pacific neighbours.

The call has been made by the former Governor-General Sir William Deane as chair of the Emerging Pacific Leaders' Dialogue meeting in Brisbane.

He says Australia has to assume more responsibility for securing stability in the Pacific because its problems are Australia's problems.

Sir William says if Australia doesn't do everything it can to help solve them Australia will eventually live with the consequences.