News Stories - 24 April 2008
The Australia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) Ministerial Forum
The 18TH Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum produced a range of substantive outcomes. The Ministerial delegation, led by Mr Smith, was the most senior to visit PNG, demonstrating the importance of the relationship. A joint understanding was signed on the preservation of the Kokoda Track, as were a number of MOUs and a forward looking statement on a bilateral partnership for development.
The Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum is the focal point for managing our relationship with PNG. It is meant to be held annually.
However, the Forum has not been held since 2005. The 2006 Forum was cancelled due to the Moti Affair. Australian and PNG elections meant the Forum could not convene in 2007.
On 22 and 23 April, six Australian Ministers and three Parliamentary Secretaries travelled to Madang in PNG for the Forum, demonstrating the importance that the Government places on Australia’s bilateral relationship with PNG. PNG Foreign Minister Abal led a PNG delegation of 17 Ministers.
It is a time of great change in Australia’s relations with the Pacific. The new Australian Government is committed to working with Pacific Island countries as an equal partner rejuvenating the relationship with PNG is a high priority for the government, given the close historical and people-to-people ties, and PNG’s leadership role in the region.
This year the Forum had productive and open discussions on a wide range of issues including development assistance, police and defence cooperation, the Kokoda Track and climate change.
During the meeting, Australia and PNG signed a joint statement of understanding on the preservation of the Kokoda Track and MOUs on police cooperation, the establishment of an Australian Tsunami Warning System and tourism cooperation.
Australian and PNG also agreed to negotiate a Heads of Agreement for a bilateral Partnership for Development – in line with the Prime Minister’s Port Moresby Declaration - in time for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Niue in August and to rebadge and revise the capacity building program that deploys senior Australian government officials to PNG.
At the conclusion of the meeting a comprehensive communiqué was signed by Foreign Ministers.
The 19th Forum will be held in Australia in 2009.
Continental Shelf recommendations
The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf provided its recommendations to Australia confirming Australia’s jurisdiction over 2.55 million square kilometres of seabed beyond 200 nautical miles.
On 21 April, the Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism announced the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf had confirmed Australia’s jurisdiction over 2.5 million square kilometres of continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the coastline.
Australia made a submission to the Commission, consisting of 10 regions, in November 2004 following eight years of marine surveys and four years preparing and compiling the submission.
At Australia’s request the Commission agreed not to consider for the time being the region adjacent to the Australian Antarctic Territory.
Australia will shortly proclaim the outer limits of the Australian continental shelf into law on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission.
Australia will also deposit a description of the continental shelf boundary with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Governor-General at 60th Anniversary of State of Israel
The Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, and Mrs Jeffery are travelling to Israel at the invitation of the President of the State of Israel, His Excellency Mr Shimon Peres, to represent the government and people of Australia during this, the 60th anniversary of Israel.
The visit is the first by an Australian Head of State.
Australia greatly values its strong and long-standing friendship with Israel, a friendship based on shared democratic values, strong cultural ties and commercial relations.
The visit will provide an opportunity to reinforce these relationships at the very highest levels.
The Governor-General and Mrs Jeffery will also participate in veterans’ commemorative events including officially opening, with Mr Peres of The Park of the Australian Soldier in Beersheva on 28 April.
The central feature is a sculpture by renowned Australian sculptor, Peter Corlett, commemorating the charge of the Australian Light Horse Division’s 4th Brigade against the Turkish positions at Beersheba on 31 October 1917.
The charge of the 4th Light Horse was a significant Australian military event in World War I.
The Park features a landscaped recreational area and innovative playground catering for children with disabilities.
News Stories - 18 April 2008
Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC will be the next Governor-General of Australia.
The Queen has approved the appointment of Ms Quentin Bryce AC, currently Governor of Queensland, as the next Governor-General of Australia, taking up office on 5 September this year.
Ms Bryce will be Australia’s 25th Governor-General, the first female in the position and the 11th Australian-born.
She has been Governor of Queensland since July 2003.
The Governor-General designate was born in the small town of Ilfracombe in western Queensland in 1942 and she and her husband, Adjunct Professor Michael Bryce AM AE, were married in 1964. They have two daughters, three sons and five grandchildren.
Prior to being appointed Governor of Queensland, Ms Bryce had a career as a lawyer, academic and senior public office holder.
Her former roles include:
- Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner
- inaugural Director of the Queensland Women’s Information Service and
- founding chair and Chief Executive Officer of the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
In announcing the appointment, Prime Minister Rudd said Ms Bryce had been an inspiring Governor and had served the people of Queensland with great distinction.
The current Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffrey, AC CVO MC, and Mrs Jeffrey, welcomed the appointment of Ms Bryce.
The office of Governor-General was established by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.
In addition to being The Queen’s representative in Australia, the Governor-General also has specific constitutional and statutory powers.
Since the passage of the Australia Act in 1986, the only action performed by The Queen under the Constitution is the appointment of the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Governor-General’s website has a special page relating to the Governor-General Designate: http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/category.php?id=22.
The Phnom Penh Dialogue on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace and Harmony
Mr McMullan attended the opening ceremony of the Fourth Regional Interfaith Dialogue in Phnom Penh. The Regional Interfaith Dialogue seeks to foster understanding and build harmonious relations between faith communities in the Asia-Pacific region, including through practical Action Plans. Now in its fourth year, there is increasing evidence of the Dialogues’ positive impact on the implementation of interfaith actions at the grassroots level.
On 3 April the Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, attended the opening ceremony of “The Phnom Penh Dialogue 2008 on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace and Harmony”.
At Australia’s suggestion and with Australia’s support, Cambodia hosted the fourth Regional Interfaith Dialogue from 3-6 April 2008 in Phnom Penh.
It was the first time the Dialogue had been hosted by a predominantly Buddhist country.
The Regional Interfaith Dialogue provides a platform for faith leaders to promote peaceful co-existence and tolerance.
In his opening address, Mr McMullan called on faith leaders to advocate, within their own communities, acceptance of those from other faiths
The overall emphasis of the Dialogue was on identifying practical action to promote stability and cohesion at community level
Delegates noted the many practical initiatives at all levels of society that had already been implemented and the positive effect these were having in reducing disharmony.
The Dialogue resulted in a Declaration and an Action Plan, and specific recommendations for further action at local, national and regional levels in areas including education, conflict resolution and peace building, grassroots initiatives and media
For example, delegates recommended calling on religious leaders of standing to assist in resolving inter-communal conflicts and tensions within the region.
They also advocated strengthening multi-religious youth networks across the region, including through exchange programs, camps and training programs.
Australia sponsored the participation of media representatives from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The publication of articles in regional languages facilitates the dissemination of the Dialogue’s key messages to communities throughout the region.
Australia co-founded the Regional Interfaith Dialogue in 2004 and co-sponsored subsequent dialogues with Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
The Dialogue’s participants were drawn from major faiths and concerned civil society groups in the four co-sponsoring countries, the remaining eight ASEAN countries, East Timor, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Australia reviews temporary skilled migration
The Australian Government is reviewing the temporary skilled migration program which grants subclass 457 visas to overseas workers to spend up to four years in Australia.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, says the six-month review will examine:
• strengthening the integrity of temporary skilled migration
• salaries and conditions for temporary skilled migrant workers
• the adequacy of measures to prevent exploitation of 457 visa holders
• health, safety and training requirements for temporary skilled workers
• English-language requirements for the grant of 457 visas
• opportunities for labor agreements to contribute to the integrity of temporary skilled migration.
Industrial relations commissioner Barbara Deegan will take leave from her position to lead the review.
Ms Deegan was principal registrar of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and Australia’s representative at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva before her appointment as an Australian Industrial Relations commissioner in 1996.
She will consult union and industry representatives, federal, state and territory agencies and overseas workers as part of the review. She will be informed by a working party of industry and trade union leaders.
The review will report periodically to Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Senator Evans. Its final report is to be presented by October 1.
The 457 review follows pressure from unions, employers and media for changes in the operation of Australia’s temporary skilled employment system.
Employers want streamlined access to overseas workers to meet Australia’s skills shortages. Unions have asked the government to address concerns that visiting workers may be exploited. Media has highlighted case studies including the deaths of overseas workers.
Senator Evans says the review complements an external reference group (ERG) examining ways to streamline visa processing times and improve the flexibility of the temporary skilled migration program for employers. The final reports from Ms Deegan and the ERG are part of a strategy to improve the transparency, accountability and integrity of temporary skilled migration.
Background – 457 visas
Australia introduced its Temporary Business (long stay) subclass 457 visa in August 1996 to allow employers to sponsor skilled workers to come to Australia for three months to four years.
The visa reflected global migration trends including increasing numbers of people wanting to visit other countries for skilled work, and competition among countries to attract skilled workers.
The 457 visa system was designed to allow employers to quickly recruit overseas skilled workers with recognised qualifications and skills for vacancies that could not be filled locally.
The workers may bring any eligible secondary applicants (family members) with them who may work or study in Australia.
Holders of 457 visas may apply for permanent settlement in Australia.
The total number of 457 visas grants to skilled workers and their families increased from 48 590 in 2004-05 to 71 150 in 2005-06 and 87 310 in 2006-07.
There was a total of 49 700 grants in the second six months of 2007.
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