News Stories - 28 June 2007
Australia issues revised ‘smart sanctions’ list against Zimbabwe regime
Australian ‘smart sanctions’ are targeted against those who are directly responsible for the Mugabe regime’s human rights abuses and for its gross economic mismanagement.
Australia has issued a revised list of Zimbabwe regime officials and supporters to be targeted by its ‘smart sanctions’. At the Australian Government’s direction, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has published a revised list of key officials and supporters of the Government of Zimbabwe subject to Australian financial sanctions.
The list now includes the names of 183 members of the Mugabe regime.
Australian ‘smart sanctions’ are targeted against those who are directly responsible for the Mugabe regime’s human rights abuses and for its gross economic mismanagement.
The revised list includes 27 additions, 3 deletions and 64 amendments to existing entries, and reflects changes in the Zimbabwean Government, and additional information on some already sanctioned individuals. The list is regularly updated.
Australia’s financial sanctions prohibit transactions involving the transfer of funds or payments to, by the order of, or on behalf of listed persons.
In addition to financial sanctions, Australia also imposes travel bans on leading members of the Mugabe regime and, since 2002
- has suspended non-humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe;
- prohibited defence sales and suspended all defence links;
- down-graded cultural links; and
- suspended bilateral ministerial contact.
Australian sanctions against the Mugabe regime reflect the Government’s deep concern about the plight of the people of Zimbabwe, who are denied human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Targeted sanctions are designed not to harm the Zimbabwean people, and are balanced by the provision of humanitarian aid.
Australia remains committed to the Doha negotiations
Australia remains committed to achieving a successful conclusion to the Doha negotiations despite the collapse of the G4 talks in Potsdam on 21 June.
The Doha negotiations still offer the best way to address distortions in global trade. Australia remains strongly committed to finding a way forward as soon as possible. The negotiations can only be successfully concluded with an ambitious result on agriculture, industrials and services.
This will include all World Trade Organization members, including the G4 (US, EU, Brazil and India) showing greater flexibility and a willingness to compromise. An outcome which does not create new commercial opportunities is in nobody’s interests and does not allow us to fulfil the development objectives that underpin the round.
Australia expects the focus now will be on the multilateral process in Geneva and the release of draft texts by the Chairs of the Agriculture and Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) negotiating groups.
Australia urges the Chairs to incorporate a high level of ambition in these texts and advocate that all Members also push for an outcome that can create new and meaningful commercial outcomes.
The meeting of APEC Trade Ministers from 5-6 July, in Cairns Australia, provides an opportunity to send a strong message of support for intensifying our efforts to bring the Round to a successful conclusion.
Australia tightens import restrictions on kava
Australia has tightened import restrictions on kava to combat significant health problems associated with kava abuse in some Australian Indigenous communities. Commercial importation will no longer be allowed except for medical or scientific purposes. Up to 2kg of kava can be brought in to Australia by individual travellers, recognising the cultural significance of kava to certain Pacific cultures, and that traditional and moderate use of kava has not been shown to cause serious health effects in users.
The Australian Government has taken a decision to tighten import restrictions on kava to Australia in order to combat kava abuse and significant associated health problems in some Australian Indigenous communities.
This decision implements agreement made by the Australian Prime Minister with his State and Territory counterparts at the Council of Australian Governments. Under the tightened restrictions, commercial importation will no longer be allowed except for medical or scientific purposes, effective from 25 June.
Authorisations to import kava in accordance with the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations will only be granted where material is an approved medicinal product or will be used in the manufacture of an approved medicinal product.
The existing “personal use” practice that allows the import of up to 2kg of kava in the accompanied baggage of an incoming passenger to Australia will continue, in recognition that kava has traditional ceremonial and cultural uses for Pacific islanders.
Further information can be obtained on the website of the Therapeutic Goods Administration at http://www.tga.gov.au/impexp/index.htm
Kava abuse has become an increasingly serious problem in some Indigenous communities over recent years. Traditional use of kava, as seen in certain Pacific island cultures, has not been shown to cause serious health effects in users.
However the health effects become more severe in communities where kava use is not traditional, and where excessive consumption occurs. A number of domestic measures have been attempted to combat the kava abuse problem, including measures aimed at restricting the sale and distribution of kava, and limiting its use to certain purposes, but these have been unsuccessful. Australia has advised the Governments of kava-exporting countries of Australia’s decision and the reasons for it.
The Australian Government is considering the situation of existing permit holders that may have already entered into a contract of sale before 26 June 2007 for shipment of kava imported for purposes other than medical or scientific uses.
Australia and the EU to reshape the bilateral relationship
Australia and the European Union issue a Joint Statement on the future direction of their bilateral relationship.
The European Commissioner for External Relations, Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer, met for Ministerial Consultations on June 25 and agreed to a Joint Statement that launches the future direction of bilateral cooperation between Australia and the European Union.
The Joint Statement came on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the original Joint Declaration on relations between the European Union (EU) and Australia. A document that formalised our commitment to enhanced cooperation across a wide-ranging agenda.
Over the coming months, Australia and the EU will develop a new partnership framework to shape our future direction that expands both our strong commercial links and our already wide-ranging political dialogue, including on issues of common concern such as Afghanistan, Iran, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
In 2007, the EU remains our largest trading partner (with two way trade worth AUD75 billion in 2006) and our largest source of foreign direct investment (worth almost AUD100 billion at the end of 2005).
The new framework is expected to be concluded by mid 2008 to coincide with the planned visit to Australia of European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso. It will strengthen our commitment through collaborative, practical and action-oriented activities which support our mutual interests.
During the meeting, Dr Ferrero-Waldner expressed appreciation for Australia’s contribution to regional and international security, as did Mr Downer in relation to EU assistance programs in the Pacific and South East Asia.
In addition, during Mr Downer and Dr Ferrero-Waldner agreed to support three initiatives that demonstrate the diverse nature of our relationship:
- Australia and the EU plan to co-host a Youth Interfaith Forum in Australia in the second half of 2007, comprising young leaders of the diverse religious communities in South East Asia, Australia and Europe, with a follow-up forum in Europe; and
- we will establish a regular forum at officials level on energy security and climate, including forests.
Mr Downer and the Commissioner will co-author an op-ed for the European media to highlight positive developments in Indonesia and our shared commitment to freedom and democratic values.
News Stories - 26 June 2007
Government Response to protect Indigenous Children in the Northern Territory
The Australian Government has announced an emergency response strategy to protect children living in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The response will implement measures to stabilise and protect Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.
On the 22 June the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, and the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mr Mal Brough, announced an emergency response to deal with the abuse of children in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The action is a result of the evidence presented in the report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the protection of Aboriginal children from sexual abuse, called the Little Children are Sacred report.
The Prime Minister called the situation facing children in Indigenous communities a national emergency.
The actions of the Government are an appropriate response to this crisis and will provide broad ranging measures to stabilise and protect Indigenous communities. The key features of the response are:
- the establishment of a Taskforce to oversee the response;
- additional police to restore law and order in the communities;
- the introduction of widespread alcohol restrictions on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory; and
- A series of welfare reforms designed to stem the flow of cash going towards alcohol abuse and to ensure funds meant to be used for children’s welfare are actually used for that purpose.
The Australian Government has requested the Governments of the six Australian states to take similar steps to address the problems of abuse within their jurisdictions.
On the 25 June Mr Brough announced the members of the Taskforce which will advise him on issues surrounding the emergency response. Dr Sue Gordon, Western Australian Magistrate in the Perth Children’s Court and Chair of the National Indigenous council will chair the taskforce.
The Northern Territory Government report of the Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Assaul: Little Children are Sacred can be accessed at the following website: http://www.nt.gov.au/dcm/inquirysaac/