Press Association theguardian.com, Sunday 17 August 2014
Proponents of independence point to Australia’s positive experience after separating from Britain
Alex Salmond says Australia has never looked back since independence. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA
An intervention by Tony Abbott in the Scottish referendum debate has been described as “bewildering” and “ludicrous”.
The Australian prime minister’s comment that an independent Scotland would not be in the best interests of the international community were described as a “gaffe” by a spokesman for Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond.
“Tony Abbott has a reputation for gaffes, but his bewildering comments have all the hallmarks of one of the Westminster government’s international briefings against Scotland,” the spokesman said.
Abbott told the Times: “What the Scots do is a matter for the Scots and not for a moment do I presume to tell Scottish voters which way they should vote.
“But as a friend of Britain, as an observer from afar, it’s hard to see how the world would be helped by an independent Scotland.
“I think that the people who would like to see the break-up of the United Kingdom are not the friends of justice, not the friends of freedom, and that the countries that would cheer at the prospect of the break-up with the United Kingdom are not the countries whose company one would like to keep.”
Salmond’s spokesman said Abbott was the only leader out of 71 represented at the recent Commonwealth Games who had “put his foot in it”.
“Many Australians, including the great number with close Scottish connections, will look on in bafflement at these remarks – Australia is a country that has gained its independence from Westminster and has never looked back.
“Scotland’s referendum is a model of democracy, which has been cited as such internationally, including by the US secretary of state. An independent Scotland will be a beacon for fairness, justice and cooperation in the international community – and a great friend of Australia.”
Scottish Greens leader and independence campaigner Patrick Harvie said the pro-independence campaign had the support of the Australian Greens.
He added: “In contrast, Tony Abbot’s ludicrous comments indicate that he thinks the Yes campaign are a collection of comic book super villains.
“Australia has prospered as an independent country, able to make decisions for itself. I wonder how many Australians would like to see that reversed.
“After a Yes vote Scotland will take our place as a valued and respected member of the international community, just as Australia and almost 200 other independent states do already.”
Abbott spent two years at the University of Oxford and described himself as a “friend of Britain”.
He is the latest international politician to be asked for his views on the 18 September vote, joining US president Barack Obama in commenting on the referendum. Obama said his administration had a “deep interest” in ensuring the UK remained united.
