FED: Downer says tolerance helped Aust weather Asia crisis

AAP General News (Australia)
02-23-1999
FED: Downer says tolerance helped Aust weather Asia crisis

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER says a tolerant multicultural society and open political
and financial system have helped Australia weather the Asian financial crisis.

And he says Australia has provided an example to the rest of the region.

But both Mr DOWNER and Defence Minister JOHN MOORE have warned that a collapse in defence
spending due to the crisis is threatening the stability and security of the region.

Mr DOWNER has told the Singapore Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies that
Australia's resilience to the Asian …