AUSTRALIAN so-called "smart sanctions" against the Fijian regime have been misguided and pushed the interim government closer to China, an analyst says.

A paper released yesterday by Anthony Bergin, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says the sanctions have not worked and travel bans against the regime had been too broad.

Had the sanctions worked, "the interim government in Suva would not have moved to its current position", the paper says. "Smart sanctions have pushed Fiji away from its traditional friends and suppliers to others, notably China."

Dr Bergin says Australia should criticise the regime's failure to hold elections and human rights abuses.

But he added: "Fiji isn't Zimbabwe … We should emphasise the rewards we will give when real progress is evident. This could include sending a signal that we would invite Fiji to participate in our new Pacific seasonal worker pilot scheme."

But professor Brij Lal, from the Australian National University, backed the sanctions, saying Australia should avoid punitive measures but must send a signal of disapproval to the regime.

Jonathan Pearlman