Transcript
BEN LILLEY: Broadly speaking what we try and do is to improve the lives and well-being of people in the Solomon Islands and through that to uphold Australia's good reputation in the Pacific and to represent the values that the Australian government professes to hold. And we are finding that as a result of Australia's actions in Manus some of those efforts are being undermined. Particularly we feel that Australia's reputation in the region is being harmed and we feel that the Australian government's actions in Manus aren't consistent with the values that it seeks to uphold and some of the values that we are working towards as development workers in the Pacific.
BEN ROBINSON DRAWBRIDGE: Has your work been compromised directly by events on Manus?
BL: I think it certainly has impact on the attitudes of Solomon Islanders towards Australians. Particularly Australians working in public health they think that the Australian governments' actions in Manus are detrimental to the public health of the Asylum seekers that are being housed there. And it is difficult I think for development workers in the Pacific to present Australia as a model practitioner of public health if Australia is acting in a way that is harmful elsewhere in the region.
BRD: And are you aware of Solomon Islanders questioning people within your group?
BL: It certainly comes up from time to time. I think the average Solomon Islander is probably not aware of the full extent of what is happening on Manus but certainly those in the government are very well aware and I think those who have a particular interest in public health and in governance are very aware as well.
BRD: So is it almost like the actions of the Australian government are eroding trust of the work that this group is doing?
BL: We feel that the actions of the Australian government are not consistent with the values that we are looking to represent and while we do not think that our daily lives or our daily work have been adversely affected in a substantial way as yet we feel that that could well be the case if Australia continues to act in its current fashion in Manus.
BRD: Well it is quite alarming because I suspect individuals like you cant function unless you have the trust or respect from people on the ground?
BL: Yes I think that's certainly true and I think it is very sad and it is a great shame because Australia does a lot of great work in the region and there are a lot of great Australians working in the Pacific committing themselves to improving the lives and well-being of our neighbours in the Pacific and it is very unfortunate that those efforts are being undermined by the Australian government's actions in Manus Island.
BRD: So what is your group calling on the Australian government to do?
BL: To immediately bring all the asylum seekers on Manus Island to Australia for processing and we would like those asylum seekers to be immediately given access to good quality healthcare and our related services.
