Peace Action Wellington has received information that Australian Prime Minister John Howard will be visiting Wellington at the end of this week, February 15-17. This visit will mark his first visit since March 2003 just days before he helped George W Bush invade Iraq, sending Australian Special Forces troops and Navy frigates.

‘No doubt the Labour Government would be keen to keep Howard’s visit far from the public. We can only speculate as to the possible agenda of talks between Howard and Clark but it is sure not to include any criticism of Australian foreign policy’ said Peace Action Wellington member Valerie Morse

‘As the Australian government positions itself ever closer to the US, it pulls New Zealand with it. Indeed, the New Zealand government has been hand-in-hand with the Australian Liberal Party on its troop deployments to Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and Tonga. Lest we forgot, New Zealand also sent NZDF troops to Iraq in 2003 to assist the occupation.’

Links: Howard's Wellington schedule | Peace Action Wellington | 2003 Feature: Protestors greet Australian PM | Howard out! Weblog