News Stories - 21 June 2007
Australia welcomes IAEA Delegation to visit North Korea
Australia welcomes the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation visit to North Korea to discuss the verification and monitoring of the shut-down of the Yongbyon nuclear facility. Australia remains willing to support real progress by North Korea in meeting its commitments under the six-party talks process.
Australia welcomes news that the IAEA is to send a delegation to North Korea next week (week of 25 June) to discuss the verification and monitoring of the shut-down of the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
This is the first step towards North Korea implementing its 13 February six-party commitments to dismantle fully its nuclear program.
North Korea should understand that its interests lie in implementation of its commitments under the six-party talks process, and not in provocative actions such as missile tests.
Particularly at this time when the world is watching North Korea’s actions to gauge its sincerity. As the 13 February statement demonstrates, North Korea has much to gain from making real progress towards denuclearisation and Australia would be willing to support such progress. However any development of our bilateral relationship or assistance to North Korea would be conditional upon North Korea meeting its undertakings, and subject to our obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1718, which remains in force.
Our multilateral humanitarian assistance, however, goes to meet the pressing needs of the North Korean people and is therefore not tied to the nuclear issue.
Australia, which has been at the forefront of the international response to North Korea's nuclear test, will continue to work closely with the United States, Japan and other members of the six-party talks on the issue.
Australia urges the military regime to return Fiji to democracy and the rule of law.
Australia urges the military regime to return Fiji to democracy and the rule of law.
The announcement on 19 June by the military regime in Fiji that it had agreed “in principle” that a parliamentary election could be held in the first quarter of 2009 was encouraging.
The announcement was in response to a report by technical experts, commissioned by the Pacific Islands Forum, released on 6 June.
This report concluded that elections could be held in Fiji in February/March 2009 - or as early as November 2008 - if the Fiji Bureau of Statistics was provided with additional resources to process census data.
Australia is willing to assist Fiji with technical and financial support for an election – provided there is a serious and demonstrated commitment by the Fiji authorities to hold elections in accordance with the timetable indicated.
Australia stands ready to provide additional assistance necessary to bring elections forward to November 2008, as identified in the experts’ report.
We urge the interim regime to carry through on its announcement by bringing back democracy and the rule of law to Fiji.
Until the regime makes a serious commitment to do that, Australia will maintain the robust measures it has put in place in response to the coup.
These measures include
- the imposition of travel sanctions against members of the military and supporters of the regime and their families
- suspension of defence contacts and
- the suspension of those parts of our aid program that have been rendered ineffective by the actions of the military.
The Australian Government was dismayed by - and deeply regretted - the regime’s arbitrary expulsion, announced on 14 June, of His Excellency Michael Green, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji. New Zealand has our full support in this matter.
News Stories - 14 June 2007
Inaugural Australia-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations
The success of the inaugural Australia-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (JAUSMIN) in Tokyo on 6 June highlights the growing cooperation between the two countries on issues of common strategic interest.
The inaugural Australia-Japan ‘2+2’ meeting of Foreign and Defence Ministers was held in Tokyo on 6 June.
Australia was represented by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and Japan by Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma.
Prime Ministers Howard and Abe agreed to establish the consultations under the Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, signed in March 2007.
The meeting was an historic event which reflects the growing strength of Australia’s relationship with Japan.
Apart from these talks, Australia only has such meetings with the United States and the United Kingdom, and Japan only with the United States.
The talks were very successful, focusing on issues of common strategic interest including cooperation on disaster relief and peace-keeping and peace building activities, such as in Iraq and East Timor.
Ministers also discussed collaboration to enhance the effectiveness of our respective approaches to the Pacific and in relation to North Korea, counter-terrorism, and counter proliferation.
Ministers welcomed progress on the development of an Action Plan on cooperation between Australia and Japan on security and strategic issues, as provided for under the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and stated they would aim to complete the Action Plan ahead of Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Australia at the time of APEC. Australia’s partnership with Japan has never been stronger.
As liberal democracies with a commitment to human rights, freedom and the rule of law and with respective alliances with the United States, we share many common values.
The development of our relationship, in particular in the last year with the signing of the Joint Declaration and the start of FTA negotiations, is unparalleled.
Australia and Japan are committed to working even more closely together in the future. Australia will host the next JAUSMIN meeting in Australia in 2008.
A copy of the Joint Statement from JAUSMIN 2007 can be found at www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2007/fa064_07.html
Australia’s film industry: New film opportunities for overseas investors
The Australian Government has introduced new film rebate incentives for both local and international film-makers.
The Australian Government’s recently announced $282.9 million film package includes greater incentives for large-budget international film and television productions to be made in Australia.
These incentives are designed to strengthen our production and acting skills base and showcase Australia to the world. Since its introduction, the Refundable Film Tax Offset Scheme (RFTOS) has provided a 12.5 per cent rebate for eligible films resulting in productions such as Superman Returns, Charlotte’s Web, Star Wars – Episode 3, Ghost Rider and Happy Feet locating to Australia.
A new Location Rebate of 15 per cent will replace the RFTOS from 1 July 2007 and will ensure Australia remains a preferred destination for international film-makers.
The Location Rebate is available to large budget productions that film in Australia and spend at least $15 million in qualifying Australian production expenditure.
As of 1 July 2007, the Location Rebate will also include a 15 per cent rebate on Post Digital and Visual (PDV) effects work undertaken in Australia for projects that spend at least $5 million in qualifying PDV production even if the film is not shot in Australia.
Production companies making eligible productions in Australia can also claim the Location Rebate when they complete production expenditure in Australia (rather than waiting until the completion of their film). This will assist in increasing Australia’s competitiveness as a production destination. A new Australian Screen Authority will operate from 1 July 2008 as a one-stop shop to support film-makers and to bring key film and television support agencies under one roof.
Bringing Communities Together – Sharing our Achievements
A successful Australian Government initiative is fostering a greater understanding of and respect for cultural diversity in Australia, particularly between Australian Muslims and the wider community.
The Australian Government has developed a strategic framework called “Bringing Communities Together” to support the Prime Minister’s policy on the social integration of Australian communities.
The framework, which is managed by the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, is part of the whole-of-government National Action Plan on social cohesion, harmony and security.
The Sharing Our Achievements symposiums with the Australian Muslim community have been one of the most successful components of the framework.
The symposiums seek to foster a greater understanding of and respect for cultural diversity by highlighting the positive contribution made by Muslims to Australian society through social and business partnerships.
The shared community theme underpinning the symposiums is facilitating social integration between Australian Muslims and the wider community.
Symposiums are being held in every Australian state and territory. Approximately 12 000 people have attended those held to date.
The symposiums are complemented by community service expos, organised by the local Muslim communities in every state and territory in Australia, to share information about services and facilities provided by all levels of government and not-for-profit organisations in the wider community. Through a number of workshops linked to the service expos, the Australian Government has been able to discuss a range of issues with local Muslim communities in order to develop relevant data based on demographics and identified priorities.
This data will enable the development of more robust strategies and policies to assist social integration of Muslims into the wider Australian community.