Transcript
Lionel Aingimea: That was really the voice of the people, the voice of the people and so therefore, what they want is obviously put through and it came out in the ballot. So it is the voice of the people that spoke and the result is basically what the people want.
Mackenzie Smith: You've talked about the need for unity in Nauru, what do you think has caused disunity?
LA: When we talk about unity, we want to talk about ... so that means all Nauruans and everybody living in Nauru. So that is the whole purpose for us being here is to work for the advancement of Nauru.
MS: Nauru has been criticised as authoritarian under the Waqa administration, how are you going to break with that?
LA: What people thought about the Waqa government is an opinion of other people, whether that is correct or not depends on how Nauruans take it up here. And then both that opinion that is held internationally and the opinion of Nauruans are totally two different things. So people are working together.
MS: What's going to change under you?
LA: There'll be a change in regards to policy touching on the public service and all the other departments that the ministers are under. So there'll be ... we've got a new, young, fresh ministry, and they've got new, fresh ideas, so they'll bring that into the fore. And after the hundred days that we hold office you'll be able to hear in Parliament when we next sit in Parliament.
MS: The government blacklist that was in place, there's reports that that's been disestablished. What's happened?
LA: For us standing, we've basically said, everybody can find a job and if they can find a job then they get the job based on their merit. And that's basically it ... so if there's any Nauruans who wants to get a job, go for it, be able to fight for your family.
MS: Have passports been given back to members of the Nauru 19?
LA: Basically what's happened is we've left that call to the judiciary. That's completely up to the judiciary, if the judiciary wants to make orders in regards to those who have been charged because of the riot that they did, that's completely up to the judiciary, that's not up to government. We never interfere with the judiciary ... this government and previous governments have never interfered with the judiciary.
MS: Many people, including Justice Muecke would say that Nauru has interfered...
LA: No, sorry, we don't believe that. No, no government has ever interfered with the judiciary and it would be incorrect for anybody to infer that. That's a matter of opinion based on people on what they want to think but that is not the truth.
MS: So there's been no changes with regard to the treatment of the Nauru 19?
LA: That's a judiciary matter, that's a court matter. Why should ... government can't interfere with any court matter. That would be wrong for us to do that and for any government to do that. Basically for us to take a stance on on any criminal matter, that would be wrong for us to do that.
