News Stories - 9 December 2009
Mine Action Strategy for the Australian aid program 2010-14 launched
Australia has pledged $100 million over the next five years towards a world free from landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith launched the new Mine Action Strategy for the Australian aid program 2010-14 to Federal Parliament on 18 November 2009.
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance Bob McMullan presented the new strategy to an international audience at the Summit on a Mine-Free World in Cartagena, Colombia on 3 December 2009.
Under the new strategy, Australia has pledged $100 million over the next five years towards a world free from landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war. Such weapons continue to affect more than 70 countries around the world and kill and injure more than 5,000 people a year.
This pledge is the biggest five-year commitment made by Australia to mine action.
Australia’s new strategy has one overriding goal – to reduce the threat and socioeconomic impact of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war.
In reaching this goal, the Australian Government will work towards four outcomes, including improved quality of life for victims – including survivors, their affected families and communities; reduced number of deaths and injuries; enhanced capacity of countries to manage their mine action programs; and effective leadership and advocacy by Australia on mine action.
Australia will continue to focus on assisting heavily affected countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with flexibility to respond to other emerging needs and priorities.
The strategy will support the Australian aid program’s overarching objectives of poverty reduction and sustainable development – thus contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It will also support Australia’s disability-inclusive development strategy for the Australian aid program, Development for All.
The strategy can be downloaded at: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pubout.cfm?ID=9122_1232_8366_4003_7783&Type=
Hard copies are available upon request. Please contact Caroline Mulas, AusAID Mine Action Coordinator ([email protected])
News Stories - 3 December 2009
CHOGM 2009
In the lead up to CHOGM 2011 in Perth, Australia will be working with members of the Commonwealth to build on the success of the Port of Spain meetings. Australia’s aim, including as a member of CMAG for the next two years, will be to ensure that the Commonwealth positions itself as an organisation true to its core values and principles, influential and stronger as it moves into its next sixty years.
CHOGM 2009 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago was a very successful meeting for Australia and for the Commonwealth. Heads of Government issued a strong statement of political support for an ambitious outcome from the Copenhagen climate change negotiations. The presence of UNSG Ban, Prime Minister Rasmussen and President Sarkozy underlined the importance of the issue and the significant role that the Commonwealth and its members can play.
It reaffirmed Commonwealth leaders’ deep concern at the further deterioration of the situation in Fiji and the position that those countries under full suspension from the Commonwealth should be ineligible to participate in Commonwealth sporting events.
In addition, it confirmed Australia’s appointment to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) for the next two years, joining Ghana (interim chair), New Zealand, Namibia and new members Bangladesh, Jamaica, Maldives, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.
Australia has previously served two consecutive terms on CMAG since its founding in 1995, one from 1999-2002 and one from 2002-2003 – the latter as vice-chair leaders also mandated a CMAG review of its operations to strengthen its ability to deal with the full range of serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth values and Australia was asked to host CHOGM in 2011. This was a consensus decision, in which leaders also agreed that Sri Lanka would host in 2013 and Mauritius in 2015.
Australia last hosted in Coolum in 2002 (and Melbourne in 1981). The 2011 CHOGM will be held in Perth, underlining our Indian Ocean interests and engagement.
Australia joined other Commonwealth countries in welcoming Rwanda as the 54th member of the organisation. Membership will further assist Rwanda move towards fully realising Commonwealth values and principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
The visit to Port of Spain also enabled the Prime Minister to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The MOU will enable closer cooperation, including on climate change, and will be supported by a $60 million development assistance program.
Parliament of the World's Religions 2009 in Melbourne
The Government recognises the importance of religion in many people’s lives. It is particularly appropriate that with Australia’s diverse religious communities, the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions is being held here in Australia. Events such as this can build bridges of understanding and respect not only within Australia but across the world.
The 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions (PWR) is an international multi-faith event which will be staged in Melbourne from 3 December until 9 December. The Australian Government has provided $2 million to sponsor the event. PWR is one of the largest interfaith forums for discussions about peace, diversity and sustainability in the context of inter-religious understanding and cooperation.
The Australian Government considers that interfaith activities contribute to social cohesion, by increasing mutual understanding between the participating individuals and organisations.
PWR is anticipated to showcase Australia's achievements as a successful, cohesive and diverse country and generate national pride in these achievements.
The event is expected to attract more than 5000 people who will attend over 650 events, including keynote addresses, seminars, conferences, debates, performances, concerts and exhibitions.
Professor David de Kretser AC, Governor of Victoria has agreed to open the PWR on 3 December 2009. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has agreed to close PWR on 9 December 2009.
Other distinguished guests include The Hon Tim Fischer AC, Australian Ambassador to the Holy See and Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney.
International Attendees include: His Royal Highness Prince Norodom Sirivudh, Supreme Privy Counsellor to His Majesty the King of Cambodia and Dr Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and current Leader of the Opposition.