Former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr Threatens Legal Action Against New Zealand's Winston Peters

Former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has announced his intention to sue New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters for defamation over remarks made about Carr's alleged ties to China. The controversy erupted amid an ongoing debate over New Zealand's potential participation in the AUKUS defence technology pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Why this matters: The dispute highlights the growing tensions between nations in the Indo-Pacific region and the challenges of handling complexgeopolitical relationships. The outcome of this high-profile defamation case could have far-reaching implications for New Zealand's diplomatic stance and its role in the region.

The dispute began when Carr, who had previously criticized the AUKUS pact, visited New Zealand last month and addressed ananti-AUKUS forumalongside former NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark. In response, Peters made controversial comments about Carr during a radio interview on RNZ's Morning Report, which were not republished by wire services and local media because of their potentially defamatory nature.

Carr's office confirmed that he considers Peters' remarks to be "entirely defamatory" and intends to take legal action. "The lawyers are finishing the letter," Carr stated. RNZ removed the comments from the online version of the interview following Carr's response.

Under parliamentary privilege, Peters continued his attacks on Carr in the Debating Chamber, citing a 2018 article in the Australian Financial Review titled "How Bob Carr became China's Pawn." He questioned Carr's motives for visiting New Zealand and expressing views on AUKUS, stating, "What on Earth does he think he's doing walking into our country and telling us what to do? We would no more do that in Australia than he should do here. That's the kind of arrogance we don't like."

The controversy has sparked a political backlash in New Zealand, with Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins demanding that Peters be stood down as Foreign Minister. Hipkins described the allegations against Carr as "totally unacceptable" and accused Peters of abusing his office and creating legal risk for the New Zealand government. "He's embarrassed the country," Hipkins stated. "Winston Peters has abused his office as minister of foreign affairs, and this now becomes a problem for the prime minister."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has defended Peters, asserting that he is doing an "exceptionally good job" as Foreign Minister and that his comments pose no diplomatic risk. Luxon distanced himself from the specific remarks made by Peters but suggested that Carr, as an experienced politician, should understand the rough and tumble of politics.

The incident has brought New Zealand's potential involvement in the AUKUS pact back into the spotlight. While Hipkins welcomed Peters' recent speech indicating a step back from rushing into AUKUS, the Labour leader emphasized the importance of maintaining New Zealand's independent foreign policy and non-nuclear stance.

The dispute between Carr and Peters escalating, the implications for New Zealand's foreign relations and its position on AUKUS remain uncertain. The legal action threatened by Carr adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate, raising questions about the boundaries of political discourse and the potential consequences of inflammatory remarks made by high-ranking officials. The outcome of this high-profile defamation case could have far-reaching implications for New Zealand's diplomatic stance and its role in the Indo-Pacific region while the country grapples with the complexities of the evolving geopolitical situation.

Key Takeaways

• Former Australian FM Bob Carr to sue NZ FM Winston Peters for defamation over China ties remarks.
• Peters' comments sparked controversy amid NZ's potential involvement in AUKUS defence pact.
• NZ Labour leader Chris Hipkins demands Peters be stood down as FM over "totally unacceptable" allegations.
• PM Christopher Luxon defends Peters, saying he's doing an "exceptionally good job" as FM.
• Outcome of defamation case could impact NZ's diplomatic stance and role in Indo-Pacific region.