7 Dec 2011

Fiji lashes out at Australia union body's blacklist call

12:33 pm on 7 December 2011

Fiji's Attorney-General says Australia's main trade union group has destroyed its credibility after comparing a free and open country like Fiji to nations torn apart by violent atrocity.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has called on Australia's Labour Party to add Fiji to a blacklist including Zimbabwe and Burma.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the call is absurd and a gross abuse of union influence over Australian foreign policy.

He says the Bainimarama government is particularly disappointed as this comes before an ACTU fact-finding mission to Fiji.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum says Fiji welcomes the visit as it has nothing to hide but he says it is doubtful the mission will be fair and objective.