Anzac PMs Concerned About ISIL Bringing The War Home

Monday, 20 April 2015, 10:22 am
Article: Francis Cook

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New Zealand Prime Minister John Key

Prime Minister Key and Prime Minister Abbott this morning held a joint press conference at Te Marae, Te Papa. Listen to full audio here:

During the conference, Abbot and Key spoke of the bond formed between Australia and New Zealand in the “baptism of fire” of Gallipoli. Abbott stated that New Zealand and Australia’s values and interests are linked, and this is reflected in the joint operation in Iraq which will begin shortly. New Zealand and Australia are the “very best of friends,” he said.

Abbott was asked by media if he was at all concerned about the apparent lack of security at the Pukeahu Memorial park where he will today open the Australian memorial.

Abbott said security was a matter of concern anywhere in the world. Asked about the arrests over the weekend, and the alleged planned attack on a police officer at the Melbourne ANZAC memorial ceremony, Abbott said the best thing New Zealanders and Australians could do was to turn up in large numbers to show support and solidarity for, “our values, our interests, and our armed forces.”

In relation to the joint Australian and NZ Defence forces deployment to Iraq, Abbott said he was “thrilled” to be working with New Zealand on the crisis. The troops heading to Iraq were the “sons of the ANZACs,” he said. He emphasised that ISIL is a “death cult” and stressed the importance of preventing impressionable Kiwis and Australians from joining ISIL. “Don’t go,” he said repeatedly.

Both Key and Abbott expressed concern about ISIL bring the war to, “our countries.”

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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott

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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (left) New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (right)

ENDS

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Francis Cook

Reporter

Francis studied History, gaining a first class honours in 2014. He is interested in politics, music and popular culture. His thesis looked at nuclear themes in Japanese film history.

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