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Official News - April 2007
► 31st Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting
Cairns Group calls for an intensification of work at all levels to secure a breakthrough in the WTO Doha Round.
Australian Minister for Trade, Mr Warren Truss, chaired the 31st Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting in Lahore, Pakistan, from 16-18 April 2007. This followed a G6 Ministerial meeting in New Delhi (Australia, Brazil, the EU, India, Japan and the United States). The meeting showed that:
• Cairns Group members are more united and determined than ever to push for agricultural reform;
• the Group has been strengthened by new members Pakistan and Peru;
• Cairns Group Ministers reaffirmed their ambition to achieve a far-reaching outcome in the Doha Round, expressed a strong sense of urgency to finalise the negotiations this year, and agreed to an intensive work program - the Lahore Agenda - in all three pillars of the agriculture negotiations to maximise the prospects for convergence in coming months.
The Cairns Group is committed to working collectively, constructively and intensively with all WTO Members, the WTO Director-General and Chair of the agriculture negotiations to support the multilateral process in Geneva.
► Prime Minister Howard opens Australia's New Nuclear Reactor
Australia demonstrates support for safe nuclear science.
The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, recently opened Australia's new $400 million nuclear research reactor, Open Pool Australian Light-water (OPAL), at Lucas Heights near Sydney.
The ceremony was also attended by Professor Werner Burkart, the IAEA's Deputy Director General, and Head of its Department of Nuclear Sciences and Application, and Dr Julio De Vido, the lead Minister from Argentina.
The Prime Minister said the occasion was "a wonderful day for Australian science. It is a triumph of the belief, by not only scientists, but also those who believe in the central role of science in the Australian community".
The OPAL reactor replaces the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation's (ANSTO) previous reactor, the HIFAR High Flux Australian Reactor, which was shut down at the end of January.
OPAL's use of low enriched fuel and light-water cooling presents a low proliferation risk compared to the high-enriched fuelled HIFAR reactor.
OPAL will allow ANSTO to continue supplying nuclear medicines to about half a million Australians each year.
ANSTO's silicon irradiation production business will grow, providing material for the semiconductor industry.
ANSTO's Bragg Institute - which manages and operates ANSTO's seven new neutron beam instruments - has already attracted major interest from local and international scientific researchers.
► Australia-Vietnam human rights dialogue
Australia-Vietnam human rights discussions were constructive and robust, and will continue.
The fifth round of the Australia-Vietnam human rights dialogue, held in Hanoi on 16 April, was conducted in a cooperative and constructive atmosphere.
Discussions were productive and robust. Key issues such as religion, ethnic minorities and freedom of expression and association were discussed in detail.
The first year of implementation of the bilateral technical cooperation program was discussed in positive terms, leading to in-principle agreement to continue the program for a further cycle.
Under the program to date, the Australian Government has provided assistance to the People’s Supreme Court in Vietnam to improve access to justice and the Vietnam Women’s Union to develop information on women’s legal rights.
Site visits on 17 and 18 April provided the opportunity to further strengthen links between Australian institutions with human rights responsibilities and their Vietnamese counterparts, such as the Ho Chi Minh Political Academy’s Human Rights Institute.
Australia’s invitation to Vietnam to attend the next dialogue in Canberra was warmly received.
► Australia launches new travel advisory service
Australia launches a new campaign to better protect Australians travelling abroad.
On 22 April Foreign Minister Alexander Downer launched Smartraveller II, a public information campaign to promote the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s travel advisory service.
Each month around half a million Australians travel overseas. The Smartraveller campaign provides information to make sure their travel remains safe and is a positive experience.
Government funding for the campaign is $13 million over four years and is in addition to the $80 million committed last year to enhance Australia’s consular services. This underlines the Government’s commitment to provide Australians with access to consular services abroad.
The key campaign messages to Australian travellers are to:
• consult the Smartraveller website before travelling to obtain information about the countries to be visited and to sign-up for free updates of the travel advice;
• register travel on the Smartraveller website either on-line or at an Australian embassy or high commission so that consular officials will be able to contact travellers in an emergency; and
• take out travel insurance.
The campaign will see the Smartraveller website updated to make information easier to access and provide more information to people from non-English Speaking Backgrounds (NESB), assisting the Department in reaching NESB communities.
The website address is www.smartraveller.gov.au
► Australia – South Korea Free Trade Agreement study commences
The Minister for Trade, Mr Warren Truss, has announced the commencement of the joint non-government Australia-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) study, following the selection of ITS Global as the Australian participant. ITS Global has commenced work with its Korean counterpart, the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy.
Minister for Trade Warren Truss announced on 17 April that ITS Global (ITS), a leading consultancy on international trade, will be the Australian participant in the joint non-government study into an Australia-South Korea FTA.
Apart from its own highly qualified staff, ITS will draw on econometric modelling by the Monash Centre for Policy Studies, and Professor O Yul Kwon, Director of the Australian Centre for Korean Studies at Griffith University, will provide expert advice on Korean trade and investment.
ITS has commenced work with its Korean counterpart, the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, and will soon hold its first progress meeting on the study.
South Korea is Australia’s third largest merchandise export market, with exports reaching A$12.3 billion in 2006, up 12 per cent over 2005. Negotiating a comprehensive FTA is a priority for the Australian Government.
The non-government study will cover all aspects of the bilateral economic and trading relationship, and will serve in the first instance as the basis for discussions between officials to make recommendations to both governments on next steps.
► Alice Springs in Central Australia receives $12.3 million to establish Solar City
Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory is to receive $12.3 million from the Australian Government to support the development of solar energy technology and become a Solar city.
The Alice Springs – Australia’s Solar Centre Consortium will receive $12.3 million from the Australian Government to:
- install solar photovoltaic panels on 230 homes and businesses;
- 1000 solar hot water systems;
- 400 smart meters; and
- solar installations to generate power for the: Alice Springs Airport; the Araluen Arts Precinct; the Town Pool; and Ilparpa Sewerage Treatment facility.
The consortium will contribute an additional $17 million to the project. The consortium consists of the: Alice Springs Town Council; Northern Territory Government; Northern Territory Power and Water Corporation; the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre; Arid Lands Environment Centre; Tangentyere Council; and the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce.
Half the households of Alice Springs already use solar hot water systems.
The extra development is expected to deliver annual savings of:
- 10,500 kilowatts in electricity demand; and
- 12,000 tonnes in greenhouse emissions.
Alice Springs will receive funding through the Australian Government’s $75 million Solar Cities initiative and the $328.5 million Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme.
Alice Springs joins Adelaide in South Australia, Townsville in Queensland and Blacktown in New South Wales as Solar cities.
For more information: www.greenhouse.gov.au/solarcities
► Australia deploys Special Forces to Afghanistan
Australia will redeploy a Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) to Afghanistan to counter the Taliban in Oruzgan province, where our Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) is based. This underlines Australia’s determination to ensure Afghanistan does not become a failed state and terrorist haven.
Prime Minister John Howard announced on 10 April that a 300-strong SOTG would deploy to Oruzgan province in southern Afghanistan for at least two years. The SOTG will help disrupt the Taliban’s command and control and supply routes. It will operate under an Australian commander working within the International Security Assistance Force framework.
In addition, a 75-strong Royal Australian Air Force air surveillance radar unit will deploy to Kandahar from mid-2007.
The deployment of a Force Protection Company Group, which provides security for the RTF in Oruzgan, will be extended until mid-2008.
These new deployments build on the 550 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel already serving in Afghanistan. By mid-2007 around 950 ADF personnel will be in Afghanistan, rising to around 1,000 in mid-2008.
Australia has a clear national interest to ensure that Afghanistan does not again become a failed state and terrorist haven. The new deployments give us greater scope to counter the growing Taliban threat in Oruzgan, helping to create a better environment for reconstruction and reinforcing the authority of the Government of Afghanistan.
► East Timor holds Presidential Elections
East Timor successfuly ran Presidential elections on Monday 9 April. Australia supports free and fair elections in East Timor and calls on all to accept the election results. Counting is underway and a final result will be announced on 20 April.
Presidential elections were held in East Timor on Monday 9 April. A second round will take place on 8 May.
These were the first national elections managed by the East Timorese.
An official Australian Parliamentary Delegation observed the elections (as part of a large international presence), and reported that polling and counting took place peacefully.
The Australian Government has provided $1.3 million to support a United Nations Development Programme project aimed at strengthening electoral institutions and processes.
The United Nations provided technical and logistical assistance and a three-person certification team (including one Australian) to verify the conduct of each phase of the electoral process.
A number of candidates have raised concerns with the electoral process. There will be an opportunity for these concerns to be considered by a Court of Appeal after the provisional result is announced.
Australia calls on all sides to accept the results of the elections.
Eight candidates contested the Presidential elections, including Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta (running independently), the President of Fretilin and President of Parliament “Lu’Olo” (Francisco Guterres) and the opposition Democratic Party’s Lasama. According to provisional results based on the district-level count, Lu’Olo came first with 28.79 per cent of the vote, followed by Ramos-Horta on 22.6 per cent and Lasama with 18.52 per cent. Confirmation of these results would see Lu’Olo and Ramos-Horta contest a run-off on 8 May.
The national provisional result is expected to be announced on 14 April. The Court of Appeal will then consider any appeals before a final result is announced on 20 April.
► Australia contributes to Solomon Islands Tsunami response
Australia has committed up to $2 million in emergency and reconstruction assistance to the Solomon Islands Government following the recent earthquakes/tsunami.
A series of earthquakes and the resultant tsunami on 2 April have caused extensive displacement of people, destruction of property and infrastructure, considerable injury and a number of deaths.
Australia is working closely with local authorities and donors to provide emergency assistance sought by the Solomon Islands Government. Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) resources have been made available to survey the extent of damage, assess immediate needs, medivac those requiring immediate attention, and transport essential items. Australian-funded emergency supplies, including lighting, shelter and water containers, have already been made available to victims through the Solomon Islands Red Cross. A Royal Australian Air Force C130 aircraft departed on 5 April carrying Australian relief supplies including tarpaulins, water containers, nylon ropes, blankets, water purifying tablets, and emergency medical field packs to equip four field hospitals. A medical assessment team, comprising Australian and Solomon Islands specialists, has also deployed to provide immediate assistance, analyse health needs and assess infrastructure damage. An Australian disaster management expert has also deployed.
Prime Minister Howard telephoned Prime Minister Sogavare on 3 April to offer his condolences and highlight Australia’s willingness to provide what support we could.
Mr Downer has also written to his counterpart, Mr Oti. The Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC, has similarly sent a letter of condolence to Solomon Islands Governor-General Waena.
Prime Minister Sogavare has publicly welcomed Australia’s assistance and support.
► Australia continues the fight against landmines
Australia continues to be a leading contributor to international mine action efforts. Mine action is an important part Australia’s international aid program. International Mine Action Day is a significant event for Australia in 2007, given our current Presidency of the Mine Ban Convention.
To mark International Mine Action Day 2007, Australia’s Special Representative on Mine Action, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Greg Hunt, announced $12 million of funding to Cambodia to support the clearance of landmines and unexploded ordnance. The funding will go to the United Nations Development Programme’s Clearing for Results program. It will be disbursed over 2007-10.
As the current President of the Mine Ban Convention Australia is writing to all 40 states not party to the Convention, calling on them to accede to the Convention as soon as possible. This forms part of a bigger universalisation and implementation action plan, which includes a universalisation workshop in the Pacific in May and promotion of the Convention in multilateral fora.
In 2005 Australia pledged $75 million over five years to support activities in mine-affected countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The $12 million announced on the 4th April forms part of this allocation.
► The Arab League Summit relaunches the Arab Peace Initiative
Australia welcomes international efforts to re-energise the Middle East peace process, including the re-launch of the Arab Peace Initiative at the Arab League Summit in Riyadh.
Australia welcomes efforts by the international community, including the Quartet (United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations), the Arab League and regional countries, to re-energise the Middle East peace process. At its Summit in Riyadh on 28-29 March the Arab League re-launched the Arab Peace Initiative. This is a positive development, was first proposed in 2002 by then Crown Prince, now King, Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Importantly the initiative includes recognition of Israel and is based on the principle of land for peace.
Australia supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Australia strongly supports Israel’s right to exist within secure and recognised boundaries. At the same time, Australia recognises the right of the Palestinian people to the creation of an independent, democratic and viable state.
► Australia launches Global Initiative on Forests and Climate
On 29 March the Australian Government launched a Global Initiative on Forests and Climate, representing a material advance in the global effort to tackle climate change and protect the world’s forests.
Australia would like to work with like-minded countries and international organisations to build support for and expand efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions and better manage the world’s forests. Deforestation and degradation of forests is a major contributor to global warming.
National efforts to improve forest management practices can result in important greenhouse benefits. Over the past decade Australia has implemented measures to reduce land clearing, helping us to significantly curb our national emissions.
The Initiative will work to support and extend the existing international cooperation on this issue. Australia will be working closely with bilateral donors, the World Bank and other relevant international organisations to advance the objectives of the Initiative. The Initiative does not seek to establish a new, stand-alone funding mechanism for international co-operation.
As part of the Initiative, Australia is committing $200 million in new funding to support practical and immediate action to reduce deforestation, support reforestation and implement sustainable forest management. This new support will be delivered primarily through official development assistance to developing countries in Australia’s region. A significant portion of the funds will be directed to Indonesia, where some existing programs piloted by other donors appear to be showing early promise. Australia will consider also the trial of financial incentive payments in pilot projects, where possible with multilateral partners such as the World Bank.