Clinton To Address Australian Lawmakers

SYDNEY, Australia (AllPolitics, Nov. 19) -- After a hasty switch of airplanes, President Bill Clinton arrived in Canberra, Australia, for a wreath-laying ceremony and talks with Prime Minister John Howard. Later, he planned to address legislators in the Australian capitol.

The switch of planes was explained by security officials as a mechanical mishap. As the president and first lady were being transported to the Sydney airport, a presidential Boeing 707 was warming up its engines. But police and administration officials bounded toward the jet, and later told reporters the plane, which showed no outward signs of problems, had malfunctioned. The presidential entourage boarded a U.S. Air Force Boeing 747 for the 45-minute trip to Canberra.

Upon arriving in Canberra, the Clintons visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the president laid a wreath in honor of Australians who died defending their country. Later, Clinton was scheduled to meet with Howard and to address legislators in an address CNN will carry live at 12:05 a.m. (EST).

The president also plans to take in a few sights like the Great Barrier Reef, and, of course, to hit the links. Pro golfer Greg Norman is set to play a round with Clinton. Mrs. Clinton has a speech scheduled at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday.

The Clintons were greeted at Sydney's airport earlier by a 21-gun salute and the cries from well-wishers. "I've wanted to come here all my life," Hillary Clinton gushed to the crowd. It is the president's first visit as well.

After puffing up U.S.-Australia relations publicly, and discussing a few nettlesome trade issues in private, Clinton will attend the 18-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in the Philippines. In addition to trade matters, talks will include China's human rights record as well as relations between North and South Korea. The final leg of Clinton's nine-day trip will take him to Thailand.

In 1992, Australian farmers upset over U.S. price supports on dairy exports demonstrated in the streets during former President George Bush's visit. While nothing like that is expected this time, Prime Minister Howard has indicated he will raise Australian objections to U.S. trade policies which some believe cost thousands of Australian jobs and millions of export dollars.

"Don't be too polite, Mr. Prime Minister, when you meet the president," warned Australian opposition spokesman Martin Ferguson. "We are talking about Australian jobs which need defending."

The U.S. has quibbles of its own, having launched a complaint at the World Trade Organization concerning an Australian leather maker that receives export credits for sales to U.S. car companies.

Clinton will also be sounding themes aimed at Americans. Namely, he'll stress the U.S. benefits from trade with the rapidly expanding Pacific Rim economies.

Clinton To Address Australian Lawmakers

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