News Stories - 31 July 08
Breakdown of WTO Doha Round talks
Australia is very disappointed at the failure to secure an outcome at the WTO in Geneva this week. It is a lost opportunity for the Doha Round, but not the end. Australia will play its part to get the Round back on track.
Australia is very disappointed at the failure to secure an outcome at the WTO in Geneva this week. WTO Members came very close to securing a deal but in the end could not quite agree on a package.
The trigger for the breakdown was over the extent to which major developing countries would have to open their agricultural markets. Positions were too divergent to enable agreement to be reached on this issue.
This is a significant setback to the Doha Round and a lost opportunity, not just for Australia but particularly for developing countries. But it is not the end of the Doha Round. Australia will play its part to get the Round back on track, building on what was achieved over the past 10 days in Geneva.
Australia committed to engagement with the Asia Pacific and ASEAN
At the recent suite of ASEAN meetings in Singapore, Mr Smith reinforced Australia’s commitment to ongoing comprehensive engagement with the Asia Pacific region, and Australia’s support for key regional fora including ASEAN, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
On 22-24 July, Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the annual ASEAN-Australia Post Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Informal Consultations, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the South-West Pacific Dialogue in Singapore. The tone of the meetings was constructive and positive, reflecting the strength of ASEAN-Australia relations.
Mr Smith underlined Australia’s commitment to the Asia Pacific region and to ongoing comprehensive engagement with ASEAN and outlined the Government’s proposal for an Asia Pacific Community.
Mr Smith foreshadowed the appointment of Australia’s first Ambassador to ASEAN and announced that Australia will provide a further $30 million in humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma adversely affected by Cyclone Nargis (in addition to the $25 million provided in May).
EAS Foreign Ministers welcomed the contribution the EAS was making to address key strategic challenges in the region. Thailand proposed to focus discussion at the 4th Leaders’ Summit in December on food and energy security and disaster management. The ARF’s role as the region’s preeminent political and security forum was reaffirmed and Ministers called for greater cooperation on disaster relief.
Ministers established enhanced measures to consider terrorism, transnational crime and nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Ministers welcomed Singapore’s input on future directions for the ARF and adopted the Australian-led Statement Promoting Collaboration on the Prevention of Diversion of Precursors into Illicit Drug Manufacture.
At the South-West Pacific Dialogue, hosted by East Timor, and including Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand, Ministers agreed to develop a Plan of Action to address priority sub-regional issues including increased people-to-people exchanges.
Australia Goes for Gold in Beijing
Australia is looking forward to participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The 2008 Australian Olympic Team will comprise 432 athletes, making it the third largest team at the Games behind the host nation, China and the USA. Australia has qualified athletes in every sport except baseball and handball.
The oldest team member is 60 (Laurie Lever, equestrian), the youngest 16 (Emily Seebohm, swimming). Eight indigenous athletes are expected to compete in a variety of sports including hockey, boxing, basketball, athletics and football.
Approximately 260 officials will support the Australian team, including a medical team of approximately 75 expert personnel.
Australia is a small nation of 21.3 million, but has won 399 medals at the 25 Summer Olympic Games since Athens 1896, including 121 gold, 126 silver and 152 bronze. Australia has won gold medals in 16 different sports. Swimming is the most successful with 52 medals, followed by athletics (18), cycling (13), rowing (8) and equestrian (6). The Australian team is hoping to finish in the top five of the overall medal tally. Australia finished fourth in both Sydney and Athens in the overall medal tally.
US Secretary of State Rice’s visit to Australia
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s home-town visit to Perth on 24 and 25 July demonstrated the closeness of the working relationship between Secretary Rice and Mr Smith, and reflected the strength of the bilateral relationship.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Perth from 24 to 25 July 2008 as a Guest of Government.
The ‘home-town’ flavour of the visit reflected the close working relationship that Mr Smith has developed with Secretary Rice over the last nine months since he took office.
During her visit, Secretary Rice attended a dinner hosted by WA Premier Alan Carpenter; addressed students at Mercedes College, visited the Special Air Service Regiment base at Swanbourne to thank the troops for their efforts in Afghanistan, and laid a wreath at the WA State War Memorial in Kings Park.
The visit highlighted the Australia-US relationship, particularly the enduring strategic alliance, which has a formidable legacy of shared sacrifice. But also the forward-looking nature of the relationship, based on practical cooperation and close consultation on matters of regional and global significance.
The visit also provided an opportunity to highlight Western Australia’s booming economy. Economic growth in WA averaged almost 8 per cent per annum between 2001 and 2007 (more than twice the national average).
News Stories- 24 July 2008
World Youth Day 2008
Half a million Australians and international pilgrims celebrated a very successful World Youth Day in Sydney. The Pope used the occasion to apologise to victims of sexual abuse by the clergy.
World Youth Day (WYD) 2008 was held in Sydney from 15-20 July, preceded by the Days in the Dioceses program which ran from 10-14 July in various dioceses throughout Australia. The local Catholic Church organisation responsible for coordinating the event, World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08), estimates that up to half a million people participated in WYD activities, including 110,000 international pilgrims from over 170 nations.
Key events included a welcoming mass led by Cardinal George Pell (Archbishop of Sydney and Melbourne), a concert at Sydney Opera House, a welcoming ceremony for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, the Stations of the Cross and the concluding Papal Mass.
WYD has received wide and predominantly positive domestic and international media coverage, focusing on the Pope’s visit, his appreciation of the Government’s apology to the Stolen Generations, his apology to victims of sexual abuse by the clergy, Australia’s multicultural society and the large turn-out at events. 2,000 media were accredited for WYD08.
WYD events were watched live by an estimated international TV audience of 500 million. Combined with internet audiences, this figure increases to 1 billion. Pope Benedict XVI visited Australia from 13 to 21 July. This historic visit was the Pope’s ninth apostolic visit outside of Italy, and his first to Australia. Highlights from the Pope’s visit included: an indigenous welcome to country; meeting native Australian animals at Taronga Zoo; praying at the tomb of the Blessed Mary MacKillop; his procession around Sydney in the Popemobile on ‘Super Holy Thursday’; and lunching with 12 young people from across the world, including two from Australia.
Prior to his departure, he thanked the 8,000 WYD volunteers, the State and Federal governments and the people of Sydney and Australia.
On 19 July, the Pope delivered a heartfelt apology to the victims of sexual abuse by clergy in Australia. The Holy Father said: “Indeed, I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured, and I assure them that as their Pastor, I too share in their suffering”.
The apology was delivered during a special service at St Mary’s Cathedral for the dedication of a new altar before seminarians and other young religious people. The Pope also attended a private meeting with a small group of Australians who had been victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy and held a private mass with some victims.
The Australian Federal and New South Wales (NSW) State Governments supported WYD both financially and with in-kind assistance.
The Federal Government provided $35 million to World Youth Day 2008 and half of the $41.05 million compensation package provided to the New South Wales racing industry for the use of Randwick Racecourse.
The NSW Government was heavily involved in the preparations for World Youth Day. It established the World Youth Day Coordinating Authority to manage logistical issues such as accommodation, transport, security and other services for pilgrims. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship established a special three month fee-free visa for registered pilgrims in order to facilitate ease of processing, and to encourage overseas visitors to arrive earlier or stay longer in Australia.
Australia ratifies the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Disabilities Convention)
Australia ratified the Disabilities Convention on 17 July 2008, making it one of the first developed countries to do so, and underscoring Australia’s commitment to promoting and protecting the human rights of persons with disability.
On 17 July 2008, Australia became the 30th country to ratify the Disabilities Convention. Which enters into force for Australia on 16 August 2008.
Australia remains at the forefront of countries committed to upholding the rights of people with disability.
The Disabilities Convention is part of the Government's broader long term commitment to improving the lives of people with disability and their families
and the Government will soon commence consultations on whether Australia should become party to the Optional Protocol to the Disabilities Convention.
The Convention removes barriers faced by people with disability and enhances opportunities to participate in social and political decision-making processes
it also recognises their rights to education, health, work, adequate living conditions, freedom of movement and equal recognition before the law.
The Government’s assessment of the Convention involved substantial collaboration between government and non-government stakeholders, including direct consultation with people with disability and their representative organisations.
These consultations confirmed that Australia’s legislation, policies and programs comply with the obligations in the Convention.
Australia’s timely ratification of the Convention gives us the opportunity to participate in the inaugural Conference of States Parties, which will elect the first United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, meaning Australia will have an opportunity to positively shape and strengthen the operation of the United Nation’s newest human rights treaty body.
The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper
Australia’s proposed support for an emissions trading scheme will form the centre-piece of the government’s aim to reduce emissions by 60 per cent on 2000 levels by 2050.
The Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong, released the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) Green Paper on 16 July. It sets out options and preferred positions on emissions trading, support proposed to help households and trade-exposed businesses and a flexible fuel price-offset mechanism.
Under the centre-piece emissions trading mechanism, the Government will limit how much carbon industry can emit and then sell permits up to that limit, creating incentive to seek cleaner energy options. From commencement the scheme will cover stationary energy, domestic transport, fugitive emissions, industrial processes, waste and forestry sectors and all six greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol.
The recently released independent Garnaut Climate Review examined the impacts of climate change on the Australian economy and recommended medium- to long-term policies and policy frameworks.
It does not represent the views of the Australian Government but was an important input into the government’s thinking.
The Government will provide a firm indication on interim national targets and trajectories by the end of 2008, taking into account work being undertaken by the Treasury and the Garnaut Climate Review.
The Green Paper and fact sheets are available at www.climatechange.gov.au/greenpaper/factsheets/index/html.
News Stories - 18 July 2008
Fiji: political developments
Australia and the international community remain united on the need for the Fiji Interim Government to meet its commitment to the Pacific Islands Forum to hold a democratic election by March 2009.
Foreign Minister Smith and the other members of the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group visited Fiji from 14-16 July for talks aimed at helping Fiji return to democracy, and thus return to its position as a fully fledged member of the region.
The Contact Group – which was set up by Forum Foreign Ministers in March this year – comprises the Foreign Ministers of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu. The Group is chaired by Tonga.
The Group held frank and informative discussions with the Fiji Interim Government, other political leaders and officials. The discussions covered:
- the preparedness of the Interim Government to meet its commitment to the Forum to hold an election by March 2009
- the prospects for political dialogue among key leaders.
The Group reaffirmed the continued commitment of Forum countries to support Fiji to return to democracy through elections by March 2009.
The Group will provide a report to Forum Leaders in preparation for their 39th annual meeting, to be held in Niue in August this year.
Australia, with its Forum country partners, strongly supports an independent and inclusive political dialogue in Fiji. Such a dialogue can help create a better climate for a free and fair election. It can also contribute, in the longer-term, to national reconciliation and economy recovery in Fiji.
The Interim Government’s recent appointment of a Supervisor of Elections is a small but definite step in the right direction.
In response to this appointment, on 30 June, Foreign Minister Smith announced that Australia had agreed to the appointment of an Acting High Commissioner and a Consul General (Sydney). This will improve diplomatic communication between Australia and Fiji and follows on from the recall, by the Interim Government, of its previous High Commissioner from Australia in July 2007.
Despite these positive developments, the Government remains very concerned about recent statements by Commodore Bainimarama.
This includes indications that an election will not take place until the Interim Government’s People’s Charter is in place and that an election could be delayed by his plans to change Fiji's electoral system.
Australia will not be revising its targeted travel sanctions until the Interim Government demonstrates full and genuine progress towards meeting its commitment to hold an election by March 2009.
We remain deeply concerned by recent death threats made against Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji, and have followed up with Fiji authorities.
Australia recognises and appreciates the efforts of the international community to encourage the Interim Government to return Fiji to democracy and the rule of law.
Australia’s participation in the Shanghai World Expo 2010
Australia signed the contract of participation for the Shanghai World Expo 2010 on 4 July, confirming we will take part in the biggest world exposition in history.
Australia has allocated $85 million to Shanghai World Expo 2010 which includes preparatory design work. DFAT is leading efforts to create a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation presence, commensurate with the breadth and depth of political and economic relations with China.
Organisers expect 70 - 80 million people will visit the Expo, which runs from 1 May to 31 October 2010.
The Australian Government is building a striking, high capacity pavilion, which will include innovative exhibits, bilingual staff and a cultural program showcasing Australia’s dynamic arts and culture.
We will deliver messages about contemporary Australia directly to the seven million people expected to visit the Australian pavilion.
In addition, we will host a comprehensive business program in the pavilion’s VIP area to promote trade and inwards investment. We will work in partnership with Austrade, the states and territories, Commonwealth and private sector stakeholders to deliver 200-250 events over the 184 days of the Expo
we will showcase not only the well-established industries at the core of the Australia-China trade relationship, but also emerging areas for growth, such as our services sector.
The Commissioner General for Australia, Peter Tesch, signed the official contract of participation at a ceremony in Shanghai on 4 July.
Australia’s Expo preparations and the signing ceremony, which featured a recorded video message in Chinese from Prime Minister Rudd, received widespread, positive coverage in the Chinese media.
A dedicated website,
includes detailed information on the pavilion design, programs, project updates and commercial opportunities.
Establishment of the National Indigenous Health Equality Council to progress Indigenous health issues
Australia is committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The Australian Government’s efforts to reduce the 17 year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians have taken another step forward with the establishment of the National Indigenous Health Equality Council (NIHEC), announced in March. On 10 July 2008, the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, announced membership of the Council.
The Council will bring together the Australian Government, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, including the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector, and the broader health sector, to work towards the attainment of equal health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.
The Council will assist in the development and monitoring of progress towards a set of health-related goals and targets to support the Government’s commitments on life expectancy and child mortality.
Professor Ian Anderson, a leading researcher in Indigenous health with wide ranging experience of the health sector, will Chair the NIHEC
Dr Mick Adams, currently the Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and a well recognised expert in Indigenous men’s health, will be the Deputy-Chair.
As a first priority, the Government will ask the Council to consider how to boost the participation of Indigenous people in the health workforce boosting the Indigenous health workforce is critical to closing the life expectancy gap
a new report, Pathways into the Health and Workforce for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: A Blueprint for Action, focuses on promoting and improving pathways between schools, vocational education and training and higher education; and retaining and building the capacity of the existing workforce by addressing ongoing support and career development needs
the NIHEC will have an ongoing role in progressing recommendations contained in the report.
This is the latest in a series of steps taken by the Government to deliver on its commitment to work in partnership with the Indigenous community to close the life expectancy gap. Federal, state and territory governments have committed over $547.2 million of funding to improving support for Indigenous children and their parents. Significant additional resources are being provided for:
- enhancing maternal and child health services;
- supporting Indigenous drug and alcohol services;
- tackling high rates of smoking in Indigenous communities;
- strengthening primary care, improving workforce supply and boosting Indigenous health infrastructure in the Northern Territory;
- and strengthening the Indigenous health workforce.
News Stories - 11 July 2008
Climate Change - G8 Outreach Summit & Major Economies Leaders’ Meeting
The Prime Minister continued his advocacy for an effective global response to climate change at the 2008 G8 Summit Outreach Session. The Major Economies Leaders’ Meeting provided the opportunity for ongoing high-level dialogue among major established and emerging economies on the issue.
The Australian Government welcomes Japan’s leadership in placing climate change as a central theme of its G8 Presidency. The Prime Minister continued his advocacy for an effective global response to climate change at the 2008 G8 Summit Outreach Session and Major Economies Leaders Meeting in Toyako, Japan on 9 July.
Australia welcomes the G8 Leaders’ vision of a goal of at least a 50 per cent reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 undertaken by all major economies consistent with respective capabilities and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
This represents a step forward from the 2007 G8 Leaders’ Summit outcome and another advance towards achieving international consensus at the UN Climate Convention in Copenhagen in 2009.
The Major Economies Leaders’ Meeting, in which the Prime Minister participated, provided the opportunity for ongoing high-level dialogue among major established and emerging economies on the difficult issue of climate change.
The Government is keen to use every opportunity to build consensus towards a strong post-2012 outcome in the UN negotiations.
Since ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, the Australian Government has worked through key high-level forums to drive multilateral climate change negotiations.
The UN has launched two-year negotiations where, given the scale of responding to climate change, all must contribute.
The global community needs a long-term global goal for emissions reductions.
Advanced economies need economy-wide emission reduction targets and developing nations require specific commitments to action.
The Australian Government recognises that all countries have unique national circumstances, and legitimate energy security and development needs
the nature of countries’ contributions will be determined by factors such as economic and social development, technology, and potential for least-cost abatement.
The Australian Government is committed to doing our part in the global challenge against climate change. We have a domestic target of reducing emissions by 60 per cent from 2000 levels to 2050. Our main policy response is a domestic emissions trading scheme scheduled to start in 2010.
Australia needs transformational technologies and the Australian Government is committed to driving development and commercial deployment of carbon capture and storage technology.
In June, the Government signed the Indonesia-Australia Forest Carbon Partnership, to support Indonesia to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Activities under this agreement will show how these reductions can be successfully included in a future global climate change agreement.
The Australian Government will continue to work with those vulnerable nations in our region to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
Mr Smith’s visit to Vietnam and Thailand
Mr Smith conducted successful visits to Vietnam and Thailand from 1-4 July. The visits reflect the priority which the government places on strengthening relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Mr Smith’s visit to Vietnam was the first official bilateral visit by a Minister of the new Government. The visit celebrated the 35th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations with Vietnam by the Whitlam Government in 1973.
Mr Smith had productive discussions with Vietnam’s senior leadership, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nong Duc Manh, and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Parties agreed that the relationship was broader and deeper than ever, and discussed opportunities for further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Mr Smith urged Vietnam to maintain the momentum of economic reform in the face of Vietnam’s current economic challenges and highlighted the potential for increased Australian investment in Vietnam’s financial services and mining sectors.
Australia and Vietnam agreed to reinvigorate Australia-Vietnam strategic talks at senior officials level to maximise opportunities for cooperation arising from Vietnam’s increasingly active role in regional and international affairs.
The visit recognised the importance of Australia’s development assistance program with Vietnam, estimated to reach over $100 million in 2008-09
Mr Smith announced a $3.5 million contribution to help Vietnam improve electricity supplies to rural communities as part of a broader Mekong sub-regional program worth $30 million over four years.
Mr Smith also announced Australia’s plans to provide up to $500,000 to help train senior members of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Government of Vietnam in fighting corruption.
Mr Smith’s visit to Thailand (2-4 July) was the first bilateral visit by an Australian Minister since Thailand’s military coup in September 2006.
During the visit Mr Smith emphasised that Australia welcomed Thailand’s return to democracy and hoped Thailand could resolve whatever internal political difficulties it had in a democratic way.
Australia and Thailand are looking to reinvigorate the already strong bilateral relationship.
People-to-people links are significant with increasing numbers of Australians visiting Thailand (over 650,000 in 2007) and increasing numbers of Thais studying in Australia (around 19,000 enrolments in 2007).
Trade links have expanded in recent years, underpinned by the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA).
Thailand is now Australia’s eight largest two-way trading partner.
Mr Smith’s visit laid the groundwork to strengthen engagement across the broad range of areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade, defence, counter-terrorism and law enforcement.
Notably, Australia and Thailand hope to soon commence negotiations on expanding the scope of TAFTA, particularly in the area of services and investment.
Mr Smith and his Thai counterpart, Mr Noppadon Pattama, also agreed to develop a Joint Plan of Action to strengthen bilateral cooperation and intend to hold a Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation later this year in Perth.