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Official News - January 2008
► Parliament of the World’s Religions- Melbourne 2009
The Australian Government is committed to promoting inter-faith dialogue and co-operation both domestically and internationally.
The city of Melbourne has won its bid to host the 2009 gathering of the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne from 3-9 December. An estimated 8,000-12,000 people, including religious leaders from around the world, are expected to attend activities such as daily morning observances of many traditions, inter-faith programs, symposia, performances, open space dialogue and exhibits.
As a multi-faith, multi-lingual and multicultural city, Melbourne is an ideal place to hold the world’s largest inter-faith gathering. The gathering of the Parliament will also showcase Melbourne’s success in integrating immigrants and refugees, providing a useful model for other nations.
The Australian Government is committed to encouraging mutual respect, understanding and cooperation among different religions and cultures in Australia and across our region. For example, Australia has fostered regional inter-faith cooperation through our involvement in the Regional Interfaith Dialogue—a process which we co-sponsor with Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Australia is a member of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, which aims to combat extremism and promote inter-cultural and inter-religious understanding. We participated in the Madrid Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in January 2008.
Australia supports and respects cultural and religious diversity. All Australians have the right to express their culture and beliefs and to participate equally and freely in Australia’s national life.
The Parliament of the World’s Religions will provide Australia with the opportunity to share its experiences through dialogue with Indigenous people from other countries, presenting a new way to engage with domestic issues such as aboriginal reconciliation.
► Japanese whaling – 2007/08 season
The Australian Government is actively pursuing measures focussed on bringing an end to Japan’s ‘scientific’ whaling program in the Southern Ocean.
On 19 December 2007, the Government announced a series of measures to end Japanese whaling, including:
- monitoring the Japanese whaling fleet with the Australian Customs vessel, the Oceanic Viking, and the Australian Antarctic Division’s A319 aircraft;
- investigating options for possible international legal action against Japan;
- developing proposals for improving and modernising the International Whaling Commission; and
- increasing diplomatic efforts at all levels.
The first action under these new measures was a demarche on 21 December led by Australia against Japanese ‘scientific’ whaling with 30 co-sponsors, the largest number ever to join such a demarche.
Following a stand-off between the Japanese and protest vessels, the Australian Government assisted on 17-18 January with the safe return of two crew members of the Sea Shepherd’s protest vessel from a Japanese whaling vessel via the Oceanic Viking.
The Government also notes the 15 January decision of the Federal Court in the case of the Humane Society International (HSI) and the Japanese whaling company, Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha. The Court held that the actions of the Japanese whaling company were contrary to Australian law. But HSI has acknowledged that there is no practical mechanism by which the Court’s injunction can be enforced.
Australia maintains its strong commitment to the Antarctic Treaty. The established practice among Antarctic Treaty Parties is that they exercise jurisdiction only over their own nationals. Australia adheres to this practice.
Australia will pursue its opposition to whaling in the context of a strong and mature bilateral relationship with Japan.
► Australia’s relationship with India is strengthening rapidly
The Australian Government is committed to taking the bilateral relationship with India to a higher level.
The Australian Trade Minister’s 15-19 January visit to India highlighted the increasing importance of Australia’s bilateral relationship with India.
India is both Australia’s fastest growing major merchandise and major services export market.
It is also Australia’s largest market for gold, second largest for coal and copper ores and third largest for wool, as well as a key destination for diamonds.
There is substantial potential for an even stronger economic partnership. Australia and India share complementarities in services, particularly in financial services, engineering, health, environmental services and education and training.
The Government is committed to taking the bilateral relationship with India to the next level. Australia and India are natural partners in areas such as energy, education and resources. Australia and India are also increasingly cooperating in climate change and science and technology.
Underpinning the future of the relationship are rapidly growing people-to-people linkages. India is Australia’s second largest source of overseas students, skilled migrants and long-stay business visas.
India is a key player in the WTO. Mr Crean stressed to his Indian counterpart that an ambitious outcome in the WTO Doha Round – that delivers worthwhile outcomes in agriculture, non-agricultural market access and services – is Australia’s key trade policy priority.
► Indigenous policies of the Australian Government
The Australian Government, under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, is keen to address the very serious levels of disadvantage existing in the Indigenous population and to make a national apology.
The Australian Government is aiming to close the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians. A large factor in bridging this divide will be boosting health and education initiatives, as well as building economic independence for Indigenous people.
The Australian Government also believes it is very important to make a national apology to Indigenous Australians, notably to those affected by past policies to remove children from their families (the ‘stolen generation’). It is a significant recognition of past wrongs and is a way for the nation to move forward. The Government is consulting widely about the nature and timing of the apology. The Government considers that rather than having a national compensation fund, it is more productive to put additional money into addressing the needs of Indigenous people generally.Legal action for compensation through the courts may occur and that is a matter for individuals to make their own decisions about.
The Australian Government will provide ongoing support for the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER). The intervention was sparked by the horrific level of child abuse brought to the public’s attention by the Little Children are Sacred report. It will be subject to an evaluation of its effectiveness after 12 months to identify what is working and what needs to be changed.
The new Australian Government does differ from the previous government on its approach to NTER:
- it will consult extensively with Indigenous leaders in the Northern Territory about its implementation;
- the permit system, which enables access to Indigenous communities to be restricted, will be revised but retained;
- a moratorium has been placed on dismantling the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program in the Northern Territory; and
- the Government has committed to enhancing policing, and also to rolling-out an additional 200 teachers in the Northern Territory to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous children.
As part of the Government's commitment to an Indigenous Economic Development Strategy, a reformed CDEP will be made available in remote areas to promote jobs, economic development and training opportunities.The Government will consult widely on its proposed reforms with Indigenous communities, CDEP providers and other parties about reforms to CDEP.