As Down Under Moves On Up, A Raft of Political and Economic Challenges Await

Australian High Commissioner Miles Kupa talks about warming Malaysian-Australia relations, potential Australian participation in the Economic Transformation Plan, talk that a Free Trade Agreement between Malaysia and Australia has fast tracked to be in place within a year (and its implications) as well as the potential for an open-skies agreement that would allow unrestricted flights between Malaysia and Australia.

He also talks about emigration, education, enrolments and how many of the 20-odd thousand students that head Down Under apply to stay on.

He also addresses public concerns over Lynas' rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, Australia's emissions-reduction plans and whether the delay of its emissions reduction targets scheme is related to the massive amount of business being conducted between China and Australia in the resources sector.

He also talks about climate change in the context of the floods in Queensland and whether this would accelerate plans to cut emissions more aggressively Down Under.

And, he responds to reports of a rift in the Labour Party and what that might mean for the country.

He then discusses Australia's opening up to Asia and whether there are limitations to the extent to which Australia is willing to engage Asia (citing Aussie reservations over Singapore's bid for the Australian Stock Exchange, as well China's one-time bid for BHP Billiton).

He ends with Australia's Asian engagement in the context of Malaysia's participation in this area.