News Stories - 15 September 2006
Australian High Commissioner in Honiara declared 'persona non grata'
The Solomon Islands Government’s decision to declare the Australian High Commissioner persona non grata is unfriendly and unwarranted. We continue to give consideration to our response to this unjustified action.
The Australian Government fully supports the actions of the High Commissioner.
No reasons were given in the letter announcing Prime Minister Sogavare’s decision, the justification given separately - that the High Commissioner had talked “too much” with Opposition figures and had been critical of the Commission of Inquiry into the April riots - is outrageous.
The Australian Government expects Australia’s Heads of Mission to talk to Opposition figures and has serious concerns about the Commission of Inquiry, which Mr Cole has been conveying at the Government’s request.
Australia is expending considerable resources in Solomon Islands to help the country get back on its feet and we need cooperation from the Solomon Islands Government.
We continue to give consideration to our response to this unfriendly and unjustified action.
As a first step, we have taken action to cancel existing visas for Solomon Islands’ Members of Parliament. This is to highlight the seriousness of the Solomon Islands Government’s decision to expel the High Commissioner. This action is consistent with the Australian Government’s desire not to disadvantage the ordinary people of Solomon Islands, whom we have consistently sought to help.
Australia Provides Humanitarian Relief for Congo and Somalia
The Australian Government will provide $3 million to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia to help alleviate food shortages and improve health. Australia will continue to monitor closely humanitarian conditions throughout Africa and respond to priority needs in coordination with other donors.
Australia's international aid agency, AusAID, will give $2 million to UNICEF to meet the immediate health and nutrition needs of displaced people in the DRC, where 1.6 million have fled their homes due to internal conflict. Many are exposed to regular outbreaks of deadly epidemics such as cholera.
Malnutrition also is a major problem for those now living in camps, particularly women and children, who have limited access to basic health care, safe water and sanitation.
In Somalia, AusAID will provide $1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) where a poor rainy season and continuing internal conflict have seen a sharp rise in food insecurity and malnutrition.
Civil war and a prolonged drought have forced between 500,000 and 1 million people to leave their homes in search of food.
Australia's funding will be channelled into the Drought-Driven Livelihood and Food Security Crisis Programme of the Red Cross which provides emergency food and water supplies to those most in need.
New statistics show international student numbers increase
Australia has a world-class education system that continues to attract an increasing number of international students.
Student numbers at Australian universities reached a record high in 2005, according to recently released Government statistics.
In comparison to 2004, the number of international university students in Australian institutions rose nearly five per cent to 239 495. The number of overseas postgraduate students rose almost seven per cent to 90,231.
Management and Commerce was the most popular course taken by international students.
The top five source countries of international students currently in Australia, as year-to-date July 2006, are
1. China (79 086)
2. India (32 738)
3. Republic of Korea (26 321)
4. Malaysia (18 547) and
5. Hong Kong (18 175)
There has been high growth in enrolment numbers from the following markets, with levels reaching (increase from 2005 figures provided in parentheses)
7 316 (36.6 per cent): Middle East (14 countries)
7 300 (52.3 per cent): Brazil
5 710 (24.4 per cent): Vietnam
4 545 (30.1 per cent): Sri Lanka
3 968 (12 per cent): Canada
2 804 (36 per cent: Pakistan
2 287 (20.9 per cent): France
2 198 (58.8 per cent): Colombia.
See www.dest.gov.au for further information on student numbers in 2005 or www.aei.gov.au for further information on the composition of international student enrolments in Australia.
Archived News Stories 2006
18 & 25 August
4 & 11 August
21 & 28 July
7 & 14 July
30 June
16 & 23 June
2 & 9 June