The war in Afghanistan has dominated annual United States-Australia security talks and a decision on a further Australian troop commitment to the conflict is likely ''within weeks''. However, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon remains mired in controversy about his relationship with a Chinese-born businesswoman.Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Mr Fitzgibbon held discussions with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates at the Australian-United States Ministerial Meeting in Washington on Thursday.
Speaking at the post-meeting press conference, Mr Smith referred to ''an international consensus to pursue a greater military contribution'' in Afghanistan.
''We had a discussion about what, if anything, more Australia could do in the civil reconstruction or training area, in military contribution, and also, importantly, any temporary contribution we could make for the [Afghanistan] election in August of this year,'' Mr Smith said.''No decisions were made, no requests made, and no commitments given, but it was a very helpful discussion.'' Mr Smith said he and Mr Fitzgibbon would report to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and cabinet and a decision would be taken ''in a matter of weeks''. Mr Gates said the decision was Australia's alone but ''we and the Afghans can use all the help we can get''.
Australia and the US also discussed Iran's nuclear activities and condemned North Korea's recent launch of a Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile. Mr Fitzgibbon reaffirmed the Government's advocacy of a greater role for China in regional and global affairs.''China's rise will inevitably change, in significant ways, the strategic dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region,'' he said in a speech to an American strategic think tank. ''Australia needs to have a healthy relationship with China, not least because it is our largest trading partner. We are also keen to work in partnership with China because it is a critical player in ensuring security in our region.
''We want to expand our defence engagement with China, in order to generate trust, mutual understanding and greater openness.'' The Defence Minister continued to be dogged by media questions about his ties with businesswoman Helen Liu. Speaking on the ABC's Lateline, Mr Fitzgibbon attributed his failure to declare to Parliament two trips to China paid for by Ms Liu to his difficulties in managing office paperwork. ''It was just untidiness, basically,'' he said. ''Seven and four years ago I was in Opposition, always under-resourced, and I didn't put the letters in.'' Mr Fitzgibbon said he had a ''very close personal relationship'' with MsLiu and she did not expect anything in return from her ''small and modest'' gifts.
Mr Fitzgibbon expressed strong support for his friend. ''I do know that Helen Liu is a highly regarded and respected Australian businesswoman,'' he said.''Her name has been dragged through the mud over the course of the last few weeks and her reputation has been tarnished in a highly defamatory way. I'll certainly be taking any action I can to ensure she's not personally attacked in that way in the future.''Mr Fitzgibbon said he had not spoken to Mr Rudd about his failure to declare the two trips to China or what he has described as a ''rogue element'' within his own department who had conducted an unauthorised covert inquiry into his relationship with Ms Liu.
''I spent seven hours with the Prime Minister on Monday dealing with very significant issues around the [defence] white paper outcome, and Afghanistan ... He didn't raise the controversy with me. He's not a shy person, as you know. I'm sure if he still harboured concerns, he would have raised them with me.''
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