What such judgements failed to take into account, of course, was more than a year of concerted and fundamental economic reform by the Coalition Government, an effort that had transformed our nation and had given our economy the strength and flexibility to cope with the crisis. That is why, as our region entered its worst economic crisis in five decades, Australia went from strength to strength. And that is why we had the resources, and the knowledge, to help put our neighbours back on the path to recovery. Australia's efforts over the last two years in relation to the economic crisis and East Timor have won us respect, recognition and praise in our region, and around the world. Economists hold Australia up as the model for others, the example of how attention to the economic fundamentals can ensure solid growth even in the harshest of international environments.
Governments seek our advice and assistance on reform and governance issues.
Leaders around the world have commended Australia for taking the lead on East Timor, and commentators in East Asia praise Australia for showing that countries in our region can act to solve our own problems. To be sure, voices of criticism about Australia's action over East Timor can still be heard. But we need not be overly concerned about them, for three reasons. Firstly, the critics are vastly outnumbered by the supporters of Australian action, including in the East Asian region. Secondly, most of the negative comment comes from those who are pursuing short-term domestic agendas, which will soon pass.