News Stories - 1 December 2006
Release of Cole Inquiry Report into Australian companies’ activities under the Oil-For-Food program
The Cole Inquiry has stated the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) deliberately and intentionally deceived Government Ministers and DFAT about AWB’s payments to the former Iraqi regime under the Oil-for-Food program.
The Government has released the report of the Cole Inquiry following its 12 month investigation into Australian companies identified in the final report of the United Nations Independent Inquiry Committee into the Oil-for-Food program.
The Australian inquiry is the most open and far-reaching inquiry in response to the findings of the UN Committee report.
The Australian Inquiry, headed by a former judge, Honourable Terence Cole AO RFD QC, has found AWB intentionally and dishonestly concealed the nature of its dealings with Iraq from the Australian Government and the United Nations.
The Cole report found no material “in any way suggestive of illegal activity by the Commonwealth or any of its officers” and that claims the Australian Government turned a blind eye to allegations of corruption were wrong.
Like Commissioner Cole, the Government is disappointed that a major Australian company could be involved in such inappropriate conduct. Australia does not tolerate corruption here or by Australian companies in other parts of the world.
Commissioner Cole set out a range of findings in relation to possible breaches of Australian law by AWB and certain individuals. The Government will establish a task force to consider possible prosecutions.
Australia rates high in democracy index
A survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit into democracy in 167 countries has rated Australia in the top ten of the world’s most democratic countries.
The survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked countries according to five categories:
- electoral process and pluralism (Out of score of ten Australia scored 10).
- functioning of Government (Score of 8.93 out of ten);
- political participation (Score of 7.78 out of ten);
- political culture (Score of 8.75 out of ten); and
- civil liberties (Score of ten out of ten).
Australia is the first non-European country in the top ten coming in at number eight after Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Luxembourg.
Australia’s high ranking demonstrates our commitment to the values of political and economic freedom which underpins our stability and prosperity.
Australia promotes the principles of democracy internationally with a strong emphasis on good governance and the economic benefits of a free society.
Overview of Australia’s 2005-06 trade
The total value of Australia’s exports and imports increased 14 per cent in 2005-06 reflecting improved global economic conditions.
In 2005-06 Australia’s exports rose 17 per cent to $196.3 billion, due to a two per cent rise in the volume of exports and a 15 per cent increase in the prices received for exports.
- Australia’s largest individual merchandise export items were:
- coal ($24.3 billion);
- iron ore ($12.8 billion)
- gold ($7.3 billion); and
- crude petroleum ($6 billion).
- The largest individual merchandise export markets for Australia were:
- Japan ($31.1 billion);
- China ($18.1 billion); and
- the Republic of Korea ($11.7 billion).
Australia’s imports increased 11 per cent to $210.9 billion. The largest import items were:
- crude petroleum ($12.5 billion);
- passenger motor vehicles ($12 billion); and
- refined petroleum ($8.3 billion).
Australia’s trade deficit decreased by $8.1 billion to $14.5 billion in 2005-06.
Since 2000-01, the value of Australia’s exports has increased an average of four per cent per annum, while import values rose by an average rate of six per cent per annum.
Australian aid helping to end violence against women
On United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Australia reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating violence against women, especially in developing countries.
In a speech marking United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ms Teresa Gambaro, said the Australian Government was committed to helping protect and empower women in developing countries against violence.
Australia’s international aid agency, AusAID, supports initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region aimed at protecting and empowering women.
In Fiji AusAID funds the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, which opened new offices last week and provides improved facilities for counselling and support to bring perpetrators of violence and abuse to justice. In Vanuatu AusAID funds the Vanuatu Women’s Centre which advocates improvements in the law protecting families, women and children.
Ms Gambaro said Australian aid was helping women to live in peace, without violence or the threat of violence.
News Stories - 24 November 2006
Australia pleased with outcomes of APEC meeting in Hanoi
Australia is pleased with the outcomes of the APEC meetings, in Hanoi, which have helped establish a strong mandate for the policy issues Australia would like to pursue as host of APEC in 2007, including on clean energy and climate change, structural reform and APEC reform.
The Prime Minister, Mr Downer and Mr Truss attended the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and APEC joint Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam from 15-19 November.
The Leaders’ statement of commitment to the resumption of the WTO negotiations and their willingness to go beyond current positions was a further affirmation of APEC’s important role in support of the Doha Round.
The agreement to undertake a study of ways to promote regional economic integration, including the possibility of a free trade agreement in the Asia Pacific (FTAAP), is an important step in looking at how to further strengthen growing integration in the region.
While recognising that any move to a FTAAP would be a long term goal, the strong statement by Leaders calling for concrete and effective progress in the Six Party Talks on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, citing their shared goal of achieving a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula, further underlined the important role APEC plays in the region.
Climate Change: Useful discussions at UN Climate Change Conference in Nairobi
Although overall progress was only incremental, Australia saw the recent climate change negotiations in Nairobi as useful.
At the 12th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 2nd Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP12/MOP2) held in Nairobi from 6 to 17 November, Australia promoted its long-held position that an effective international response to climate change must include all major emitters, impose no competitive disadvantage and support technology.
Increased attention was focused on the challenge of including major industrialising countries in emission reduction efforts.
Australia welcomed practical outcomes on technology transfer and adaptation, and continued efforts in the Future Action Dialogue to promote more inclusive and effective action on climate change.
We announced our intention to host a workshop on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries.
Australia remains committed to meeting the 108 per cent target we agreed to in Kyoto and to driving practical climate technology development and deployment.
In particular through some A$2 billion of Government support for climate change programs and through the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.
Archived News Stories 2006
10 & 17 November
27 October & 3 November
13 & 20 October
29 September & 6 October
22 September
15 September
1 & 8 September
18 & 25 August
4 & 11 August
21 & 28 July
7 & 14 July
30 June
16 & 23 June
2 & 9 June