australia news - dfat news... · 2011. 6. 29. · australia supports the listing of chrysotile...

NDP meets

Ottawa’s

diplomats

3

Minister’s

statement on

trade

4

Canada hosts

agriculture

ministers

6

Education

linkages 9

ANZAC Day in

Canada 13

Immigration

news 14

Out and about

with the High

Commissioner

16

Australian High Commission Ottawa

Australia News J U N E 2 0 1 1 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 2

P A G E 1 A U S T R A L I A N E W S J U N E 2 0 1 1

Australia supports the listing of chrysotile asbestos in Rotterdam Convention

Australia took a prominent role at the re-

cent fifth meeting of the Rotterdam Con-

vention (on Prior Informed Consent Proce-

dure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and

Pesticides in International Trade) in argu-

ing for the listing of chrysotile asbestos on

Annex III of the Convention.

Such a listing does not ban or restrict inter-

national trade in the product but requires a

prior informed consent procedure that re-

quires the exporting country to give notifi-

cation and relevant information on the risks

associated with the product so that the im-

porter can make an informed judgement

about whether to accept it and if so under

what conditions.

The Convention operates on consensus

and, as in the past, Canada - accompanied

by a handful of developing countries -

opposed the listing. Australia prepared a

closing declaration on chrysotile asbestos,

recommitting to its listing, which was

signed by more than sixty member coun-

tries. The US, which has not ratified the

Convention, made a strong statement sup-

porting listing.

The issue will be revisited at the next

Rotterdam Convention in 2013.

High Commissioner presents Governor General’s Award On 28 May the High Commissioner

participated in the presentation of the

Governor General's Award in Canadian

Studies to Dr Gerry Turcotte (pictured).

Dr Turcotte recently left the position of

Executive Dean of the University of

Notre Dame in Australia to become

President of St Mary's University

College in Calgary.


-COMMONWEALTH NEWS-

Prime Minister Gillard will chair the Common-

wealth Heads of Government Meeting

(CHOGM) that will take place in Perth, West-

ern Australia on 28-30 October 2011. Com-

monwealth leaders from around the world, in-

cluding Prime Minister Harper will discuss

global issues and future directions for the

Commonwealth.

Historically, CHOGM has given significant

impetus to initiatives of global significance,

developing collective responses to such issues

as human rights abuses and climate change. A

major focus of CHOGM 2011 will be on the

report of the Eminent Persons Group into ways

to strengthen the Commonwealth.

chogm2011.org

Perth prepares for CHOGM

The Commonwealth Busi-

ness Forum (CBF) will be

held in Perth on 25-27 Octo-

ber, just prior to the Com-

monwealth Heads of Govern-

ment Meeting (CHOGM).

On 16 June the High Com-

missioner and Consul-

General in Toronto launched

the CBF at a special event

attended by a number of rep-

resentatives from the Cana-

dian business community.

The launch was addressed by

a senior member of the Com-

monwealth Business Council.

The theme of the CBF will be

‗Participating for Global

Growth: The Common-

wealth, Indian Ocean and the

Pacific Rim‗. It will highlight

global economic partnerships

for trade and investment, pro-

viding an opportunity to at-

tract a senior business audi-

ence to Australia from a

range of key Commonwealth

countries. It is anticipated

that attendance will include

1000 delegates from 51 coun-

tries, 10 Heads of Govern-

ment and 40 Ministers.

Interested Canadian business

representatives are invited to

participate in the Forum.

cbf2011.com

Commonwealth Business Forum

(L-R) The High Commissioner,

Gregor Mackinnon

(Commonwealth Business

Council), Stefan Trofimovs

(Consul General) and Feroz

Ashraf (SNC Lavalin).


-NEWS-

Official opposition meets diplomatic corps Several members of the offi-

cial opposition, New Democ-

ratic Party, were able to meet

members of the Ottawa diplo-

matic corps at an event held at

the High Commissioner‘s resi-

dence on 14 June.

Paul Dewar MP, Foreign Af-

fairs Critic since 2007, spoke

about the NDP‘s broad ap-

proach to foreign policy, while

other leading NDP critics in-

troduced themselves and ex-

plained their visions and pri-

orities as newly appointed

MPs.

Deputy High Commissioner

Bruce Soar said of the event,

―It was a great opportunity for

the members of the diplomatic

corps to get to know some key

members of the new official

opposition. They were clearly

very keen to start building

relationships with partners

from around the world.‖

Walt Secord, a Mohawk-Ojibway native, has

been elected to the state parliament of New

South Wales in the electorate of Tamworth.

Born in Canada, Mr Secord graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from York Univer-

sity in Toronto before migrating to Australia in

1988. He became an Australian citizen in 1992.

Mr Secord spent time as a journalist and an elec-

tion campaign strategist for the Australian Labor

Party before becoming Chief of Staff to former

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally. He is now a

part of the official NSW state opposition.

Canadian lands prime post in state parliament of NSW

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development‘s (OECD) 2011 Better Life In-

dex has ranked Australia and Canada as the top two countries for overall quality of life.

The Better Life Index examines areas including education, health, literacy, sense of community,

employment, time devoted to leisure and personal care. Both Australia and Canada scored well

in almost all categories, with Australia narrowly coming out on top.

oecd.org

OECD puts Australia at number one in Better Life Index

A U S T R A L I A N E W S J U N E 2 0 1 1 P A G E 4

-TRADE UPDATES-

Australia‘s Minister for Trade, Dr Craig Emer-

son, has released the Australian Government's

trade policy statement: Trading our way to

more jobs and prosperity.

The statement reinforces the Government's

commitment to multilateral trade liberalisation.

It also emphasises that Australia continues to

press ahead with negotiating high-quality bilat-

eral and regional free trade agreements.

The statement sets out five principles that will

guide Australian trade policy:

1) unilateralism - the pursuit of ongoing, trade-

related economic reform without waiting for

other countries to reform their trade policies;

2) non-discrimination - not seeking exclusive

or entrenched preferential access to other coun-

tries‘ markets;

3) separation – not letting foreign policy con-

siderations override trade policy;

4) transparency – keeping the public informed

of the nature and progress of negotiations, and

subjecting final trade deals to parliamentary

scrutiny; and

5) the indivisibility of trade policy and wider

economic reform.

Government’s Trade Policy Statement

Trade Minister launches report on financial services in China

Dr Emerson has launched the Australian

Chamber of Commerce's (AustCham's) first

Issues Paper on the Australian financial sector

in China. In launching the paper, he noted that

the focus of future bilateral trade between the

two countries would increasingly be on ser-

vices.

The paper, produced by AustCham's Beijing

and Shanghai members, highlights the strength

of Australia's financial services providers, and

their contribution to the development of the

Chinese financial services sector.

The paper provides recommendations to en-

hance the ability of Australian financial institu-

tions to be more competitive in the Chinese

market.

trademinister.gov.au

(L-R) The High Commissioner,

Pat Farmer, Canadian Minister of

State (Sport) Bal Gosal, National

Director of Red Cross Canada

Pam Aung Thin on Parliament

Hill. (See story next page.)

Running for a good cause

trademinister.gov.au


-NEWS-

Australian Think Tank Corner The Lowy Institute

The Lowy Institute's most re-

cent brief considers the rise of

China, the risk of conflict in

the western Pacific, and impli-

cations for Australia. In a

separate China-related publi-

cation, Lowy interviews Chi-

nese investors about attitudes

toward investing in Australia.

Dr Michael Wesley, Executive

Director of the Institute, has

released a book, There Goes

the Neighbourhood, examining

the international challenges of

critical importance to Australia

in the decades ahead.

lowyinstitute.org

Australian Strategic Policy

Institute

In its most recent policy analy-

sis, the ASPI outlines a series

of recommendations on how

Australia can be better pre-

pared for and recover from

future natural disasters. In an-

other publication released to

mark Cyber Security Week,

ASPI examines public policy

issues raised by the increased

dependence on computer net-

works and the growing hostile

activity targeted at those net-

works.

aspi.org.au

The Centre for Independent

Studies

Following the imposition of

new electoral financing and

expenditure restrictions in two

Australian states, the CIS criti-

cally reviews these attempts at

'limiting undue influence'. It

argues that campaign finance

reforms make political activity

so complex and bureaucratic

that they may pose risks for

ordinary citizens.

cis.org.au

Pat Farmer, a former Austra-

lian MP, world record ultra

marathon runner and philan-

thropist is running from the

North to the South Pole to

raise money for The Red

Cross‘ clean water program.

On 3 June, Pat ran through Ot-

tawa and found time to stop at

Parliament Hill to raise aware-

ness for his campaign. There

he met Canadian Minister of

State (Sport) Bal Gosal, Na-

tional Director of Red Cross

Canada Pam Aung Thin and

the High Commissioner.

Pat‘s run will continue through

the Americas for much of the

year before he finishes his

journey in Antarctica.

Donations to the Red Cross

through Pat‘s website are tax

deductible in Canada, USA

and Australia.

poletopolerun.com

Australian Pat Farmer runs through Canada


-TRADE NEWS-

Canada will host the annual

Cairns Group ministerial meet-

ing in Saskatoon this Septem-

ber.

The Cairns Group is a unique

coalition of 19 agricultural ex-

porting countries with a com-

mitment to agricultural trade

liberalisation and reform. A

diverse coalition bringing to-

gether developed and develop-

ing countries from Latin

America, Africa and the Asia-

Pacific region, the Group has

been an influential voice in the

agricultural reform debate and

has continued to play a key

role in pressing the WTO

membership to meet in full the

far-reaching mandate of the

current Doha negotiations.

Australia is the permanent

chair of the Cairns Group.

Australian Trade Minister Dr

Emerson and Canadian Minis-

ter of Agriculture and Agri-

Food Gerry Ritz will co-host

the meeting in Saskatoon.

In advance of this year‘s

event, the High Commissioner

co-hosted a reception with

Minister Ritz in Ottawa on 7

June. At the reception, Mr

Brown presented Mr Ritz

(pictured above) with a photo

from the initial gathering at the

formation of the Cairns Group

(in Cairns, in northern Queen-

sland) in 1986.

cairnsgroup.org

Canada to host Cairns Group

The Ottawa Swans, Ottawa‘s Australian Rules

football team, made Canadian sporting history

recently when their Ontario Australian Foot-

ball League match versus the Toronto Rebels

was broadcast on Rogers television.

The match was covered by five cameras and

called by former Team Canada representative

James Maitland. The match went down to the

wire, with the Rebels defeating the Swans in a

thrilling finale.

The Swans are mid-way through the regular

season. They play most Saturday afternoons at

the Rideau Carleton Raceway.

ottawaswans.com

Australian Rules Football featured on Canadian television


-TERRITORY IN PROFILE-

Area: 2,358 km2 Population: 359,700 Capital: Canberra

Emblems: Gang-gang Cockatoo; Royal Bluebell.

Chief Minister (Premier): Katy Gallagher

Political system: Unicameral Legislature

Federal Representation: 2 House seats (of 150), 2 Senate

seats (of 76)

Famous Canberrans: Gough Whitlam (former Prime Minis-

ter), Michael Gwyl Bevan (cricketer), Patrick Mills

(basketballer), Jeff Williams (baseball player), Miles Franklin

(author), Manning Clark (historian), Gordon Briscoe (activist

and academic)

Exports: $1.1 billion – The ACT is principally a services exporter. Less than .5 per cent of ex-

ports originate from goods trades. Government services (39.4 per cent) are the leading export

category, followed by education-related travel (29.3 per cent).

Trade with Canada: Merchandise trade with Canada is valued at approximately $15,000 per

year, making Canada the ACT‘s sixteenth largest trading partner.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Map courtesy of

virtualoceania.net

The Australian Capital Territory is the seat of

the federal government in Australia. The terri-

tory is dominated by the capital city of Can-

berra, which accounts for roughly 95 per cent

of its population (347,000 people).

After Federation in 1901, a site for the national

capital was sought and the region that is now

the ACT was selected in 1911. Some were less

than impressed with the choice, describing the

decision to build the capital as ―good sheep

farming country ruined‖ and an international

competition was held to design the new capital

city. In 1912, the government selected the de-

sign of American Walter Burley Griffin (from

130 international submissions), who had previ-

ously worked under Frank Lloyd Wright.

The city was officially named Canberra in

1913, a name that is believed to have derived

from a local Aboriginal word for ‗meeting

place‘. The Federal Parliament held its first

session in the city in 1927. The ACT was

originally managed by the Federal Minister

responsible for Territories, but the Federal Par-

liament passed four Bills setting up self-

government for the ACT in 1988. Due to its

small size, the government is responsible for

the delivery of both territorial and municipal

services.

Today Canberra has become a major tourist

destination for Australians and international

visitors. In addition to its draw as the seat of

federal government, Canberra also boasts

many major Australian cultural organisations

and important landmarks like the Australian

Institute of Sport, the Australian War Memo-

rial, the National Gallery of Australia, and the

National Library of Australia.

act.gov.au

visitcanberra.com.au


-INTERNATIONAL AID

Annual WaterCan

Embassy Dinner On Friday, 6 May the High Commission par-

ticipated in the 17th Annual WaterCan Em-

bassy Dinner. The event raises money for an

important cause - clean water programs - with

Ottawa's diplomatic missions providing food

and wine for the assembled crowd. The High

Commission table, which served a range of

Australian wines as well as lamingtons (an

Australian sponge cake), proved popular

throughout the night.

High Commission staff, Second Secretary Mi-

chael Googan and Carrie McKay (pictured

right) attended the event.

As part of the 2011-2012 budget Australia will

invest $96.4 million over four years to elimi-

nate violence against women and to support

women affected by violence in developing

countries.

This will allow AusAID to further expand its

international network to end violence against

women and continue to deliver on the Austra-

lian Government‘s election commitment to be

a ―good international citizen‖.

ausaid.gov.au

Eliminating violence

against women

On 10 May June Foreign Minister Kevin

Rudd officially launched Australian Volun-

teers for International Development (AVID),

a body that will bring together under a single

program, the four separate overseas volunteer

programs of the Australian Government.

―Australian volunteers bring unique expertise

and perspectives to their host countries - from

setting up clinics for women to give birth

safely or building stronger homes to with-

stand cyclones, Australian volunteers contrib-

ute to improving people's lives in developing

countries,‖ Mr Rudd said at the launch.

foreignminister.gov.au

Australian Volunteers for

International Development


-EDUCATION-

Indigenous education policy exchange

Pictured above: Canadian Delegation with

Australian hosts at the Canadian High Commission

reception:

[L to R] Mark DeWeerd, DEEWR Education; Gab-

rielle Christopherson, Manager Education Alberta;

Kathy Okpik, Deputy Minister Education,

Nunavut; Claudette Russell, Senior Director,

INAC; Leo La France, ADM, Education, Quebec;

Kyle Lambier, Senior Policy Analyst, INAC; Pam-

ela Hine, DM Education, Yukon; Tom MacDonald,

Consul General, Canada; Darryl Gervais, Director

Instruction, Manitoba; Cristina Brancella, Assistant

Director, Australian Education International (AEI) Kyle Lambier (INAC) in Alice Springs

Australian Education International hosted a

group of Canadian indigenous education policy

representatives in May. The program, held

across three Australian states and territories,

was a policy exchange focused on sharing best

practices.

Canadian participants represented four prov-

inces and territories in the weeklong program.

Deputy Minister of the Department of Educa-

tion in Nunavut, Ms Kathy Okpik, was one of

the participants. She explained that indigenous

communities in Canada and Australia face

many similar challenges, such as higher rates

of suicide and low attendance at school.

Ms Okpik cited the highlights of the trip as vis-

its to Alice Springs and Gunbalanya. She had a

particular interest in the ―wraparound‖ educa-

tional policy being used in some Indigenous

schools in the Northern Territory such as those

in Gunbalanya on account of their effective-

ness in engaging young Indigenous people in

their education. The policy involves schools

delivering a range of services such as health

care as a part of the school experience.

Ms Okpik was also impressed by the holistic

approach to education pioneered in Alice

Springs, where parental support and the col-

laborative nature of tribal council are important

considerations in the educative process. Draw-

ing on her own experiences in the Inuit com-

munities of Canada's North, she encouraged

those she met to conduct more teaching in

Aboriginal languages in schools as a way of

encouraging attendance and participation.

The program proved to demonstrate the bene-

fits of Canadians and Australians using their

combined expertise and common experiences.

aei.gov.au

P A G E 1 0 A U S T R A L I A N E W S J U N E 2 0 1 1

Canadian-Australian education links

-EDUCATION-

The High Commission wants to hear from

Canadian graduates of Australian universities.

We are compiling a register of Australian

alumni who would be interested in hearing

regular news of Australia and in being invited

to special events arranged by the High

Commission in Canada.

If you would like to register, please visit the

High Commission website.

Please feel free to circulate this invitation to

fellow Canadian alumni of Australian univer-

sities.

canada.embassy.gov.au

Calling on Canadian alumni of Australian universities

Canadian software promotes literacy in Australian indigenous communities

A collaboration between researchers from

Concordia University in Montreal and Charles

Darwin University (CDU) in Darwin, Northern

Territory, is helping teachers of early child-

hood students reinforce essential literacy skills.

Using the multimedia software program AB-

RACADABRA!, developed at Concordia, re-

searchers Janet Helmer and Helen Harper of

the CDU‘s School for Social and Policy Re-

search have conducted a quasi-experimental

study in indigenous classrooms in the Northern

Territory. ABRACADABRA! is based on the

best knowledge available on the science of

learning acquisition, brain development and

foundations of literacy in early childhood.

The education outcomes have so far been very

encouraging and Charles Darwin university is

looking to continue the project.

cdu.edu.au/sspr/abracadabra.html

On 1 April, the Centre for International Policy

Studies at the University of Ottawa hosted a

seminar conducted by Professor Andrew

O'Neil, of Australia's Griffith University, and

Dr James Manicom, of the Balsillie School of

International Affairs (pictured left). They

spoke on Middle Powers and the rise of China:

Canada and Australia compared.

The seminar, facilitated by the Australian High

Commission, was well attended by government

and academia.

CIPS seminar on growth of China

On 8 June the High Commissioner hosted a

dinner at his residence for Canadians in Ottawa

who undertook some of their tertiary education

in Australia.

The event attracted people in a range of fields

who spoke enthusiastically of their time spent

in Australia.

Tiffany MacLellan, an alumnus of the Univer-

sity of New South Wales, said, ―Any graduate

student with ambitions to seat themselves pro-

fessionally in academia deeply appreciates the

Universities which prepared them for the reali-

zation of this goal. UNSW specifically, and

Australia generally, impacted my research in-

terests such that I am now pursuing a PhD in a

field introduced to me by the University, on a

subject of particular interest to Australia. I was

deeply excited to learn that the High Commis-

sion was establishing an alumni network, and

enthusiastically joined.

―The dinner was delightful and certainly

brought me back to the Australian lifestyle I

once enjoyed too much!‖

The High Commission is hoping to host simi-

lar events in a number of cities across Canada.

canada.embassy.gov.au


-EDUCATION-

Ottawa gathering of Canadian alumni

Above: the High Commissioner wel-

comes attendees of the inaugural gath-

ering of Canadian alumni to his resi-

dence in Ottawa.

Left: Canadian alumni at the dinner.


-DEFENCE-

Defence Adviser, Lieutenant-

Colonel Jamie Patten-Richens

participated in the Canadian

Forces winter warfare training

Exercise Wolfpack Endeavour.

Coordinated by Canadian

Forces 33 Brigade the exercise

took place near the Northern

Ontario town of Gogama from

8-16 March.

Involving over 400 personnel,

the exercise acquainted partici-

pants with the skills required

to carry out duties in Canada‘s

austere northern environments.

Members of the 3rd Canadian

Ranger Patrol Group taught

participants how to survive

and operate in the North. In-

struction covered areas such

snaring and preparing wild

game, ice water rescue, treat-

ing cold weather injuries, im-

provised shelters and conduct-

ing outdoor tactical manoeu-

vres on foot and snowmobile.

Having served as Command-

ing Officer of the Pilbara

Regiment in Australia‘s north,

where temperatures are often

over 40 degrees, LTCOL

Patten-Richens was used to

extreme weather conditions;

however, the minus double

digit temperatures in Gogama

were a completely new experi-

ence to him.

―Regardless of conditions,‖ he

commented, ―it is the quality

of personnel that enable mis-

sion success. Having joined 2

Section of the Cameron High-

landers of Ottawa for the exer-

cise, I was particularly im-

pressed by the Canadian

Forces Junior Non-

Commissioned Officers and

the remarkable skills and ex-

periences of the Canadian

Forces Rangers in the North‖.

Canadian Winter Warfare Training

J.M. Coetzee won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003, a year

after becoming an Australian citizen. The celebrated author of

Disgrace kicks off Kingston WritersFest on 22 September, in

an evening of readings and conversation with American novel-

ist Paul Auster. Coetzee and Auster will join more than 50 au-

thors for four days of readings, discussions and master classes.

Tickets are available from August 18 at the Grand Theatre Box

Office . For author profiles, event listings, contests, and special

promotions, visit kingstonwritersfest.ca.

Kingston WritersFest 2011 Wine is Australia‘s number

one export to Canada. Austra-

lian wine, renowned for qual-

ity and consistency, is drunk

all around the world, and was

recently the focus of a special

promotion in LCBO stores in

Ontario, highlighting well-

known brands as well as a

range of new wine makers.

lcbo.com/australia

Did you know?


-ANZAC DAY-

On 25 April the High Commissioner joined

with his New Zealand colleague Andrew

Needs in hosting the annual ANZAC Day re-

membrance ceremony at the Canadian War

Museum in Ottawa. ANZAC Day honours the

members of the Australian and New Zealand

Army Corps (ANZAC) who have served in

military operations over the past century, most

famously at the calamitous Gallipoli engage-

ment (in Turkey), the first major military ac-

tion fought by Australian and New Zealand

forces in World War I.

Despite it being Easter Monday, a large crowd

of some 300 Australians, New Zealanders and

Canadians attended the event which included

the traditional ‗gunfire breakfast‘. The service

was well supported by Canadian government

officials. The Hon John Baird made remarks

on the importance of commemorating the sac-

rifices of our three countries in wartime. The

Canadian Forces was represented by CDS

Natynczyk and through the support from the

Band and Catafalque Party from the Governor

General‘s Foot Guard and Flag Orderlies and

Piper from the Cameron Highlanders of Ot-

tawa.

Considered by many to be Australia‘s most

important national occasion, ANZAC Day is

commemorated with dawn services and veter-

ans‘ marches throughout the world. This year,

Australians and New Zealanders also gathered

at ceremonies in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmon-

ton, Winnipeg, Toronto, London and Halifax.

ANZAC Day commemorated in Canada

One thing you can rely on when life goes awry

is your mates stepping up to help. And the

proof of that is the response here in Canada to

the recent disasters down under. When word

reached our ears about the floods in Queen-

sland and Victoria (December 2010 to Febru-

ary 2011) and the earthquake in Christchurch

(February 2011), Aussies and Kiwis across

Canada joined with fellow Canadians to help.

Here in Manitoba, members of the Down Un-

der Club banded together with Winnipeggers

to raise over $13,300 for quake victims — af-

ter raising over $5,500 for flood victims (and

$3,000+ for the 2009 Victoria bushfires). And

we were not the only ones. Expat groups, ven-

ues, businesses and High Commissions, to

name just a few, organised fundraisers, spread

the word, and supported each others‘ efforts.

Regardless of the nationality of their member-

ship, Australian and New Zealand expat

groups across the country exist to promote and

celebrate our heritage, culture and traditions;

keep members and their families informed

about news back home; ward off the homesick

blues; explore and appreciate Canada‘s society

and culture; welcome visitors from down un-

der, and have fun!

And, as recent events have proved, to band to-

gether in times of need and tragedy to help in

any way we can. Mates helping mates. And

while we are happy to do it, hopefully there are

no more disasters on the horizon.

downunderclub.mb.ca

Mates helping mates by Jenny Gates, Down Under Club of Winnipeg


New skilled migration

blog launched The Department of Immigration and Citizen-

ship (DIAC) has launched a blog to promote

Australia's skilled migration policy and con-

tribute to an informed public policy-making

environment. The blog will highlight existing

skilled migration policy, flag potential program

changes and be a vehicle for engagement with

the community to increase awareness about

skilled migration in Australia. Visitors to the

skilled migration blog will be able to explore

different aspects to skilled migration.

immi.gov.au

High demand for

trade workers A strong increase in demand for trade workers

in Australia - in industries including mining

and oil – has resulted in the Australian 457

visa program being on track to record its

strongest year since the global financial crisis.

As at April 2011, there had been 42,872 appli-

cations for 457 visas this year. The 457 visa

program is uncapped, demand-driven and

highly responsive to the economic cycle.

immi.gov.au

Opportunities Australia Expo held in Alberta

Australia‘s Honorary Consul

in Calgary, Paul Nelson, at-

tended a reception in May for

the delegates from Australia

involved in the Opportunities

Australia – Mining, Engineer-

ing and Oil & Gas Recruit-

ment Expo. Mr Nelson deliv-

ered some remarks at the

event.

Sponsored by BHP Billiton,

the event is designed to con-

nect Australian employers

with highly skilled profes-

sional from the oil and gas in-

dustries. Their ultimate aim is

to interview, hire and sponsor

those candidates in the target

market of Canadian citizens

and foreign professionals who

are currently working in the

Western provinces.

The International Garden Festival in Metis, Quebec will feature two gardens by Sydney-based

designers Vladimir Sitta of Terragram and David Vago of Habitation.

Terragram‘s garden, Noli Tangere is a suspended living mat of plants that envelops a secret gar-

den below the surface. Habitation is presenting for a second year The Grass is Greener, a giant

living wall whose central window invites visitors to imagine what is on the other side.

refordgardens.com

Coming events: International Garden Festival

-IMMIGRATION NEWS-


Budget forecasts return to surplus in 2012-13 The Australian Federal Treas-

urer, Wayne Swan, delivered

the budget for the 2011-2012

financial year on Tuesday 10

May.

He announced that the budget

is expected to return to surplus

in 2012-13, after an expected

deficit of $22.6 billion in

2011-12 (all figures AUD).

The forecast surplus in 2012-

13 is ahead of any other ad-

vanced economy.

Real GDP growth is expected

to increase 4 per cent in 2011-

12 while unemployment is ex-

pected to fall from 5 to 4.5 per

cent during the next two years.

These forecasts are based on

Australia‘s strong recent eco-

nomic performance, the con-

tinuing high demand for natu-

ral resources and moderation

of inflation to around 10 year

lows.

The budget forecasts strong

export growth of 6.5 per cent

in 2011-12 as production of

minerals and resources ex-

pands to meet global demand,

particularly in Asia. Imports

are also forecast to increase

strongly, driven by robust do-

mestic demand and the strong

Australian dollar.

Trade Minister Emerson wel-

comed the trade forecast, par-

ticularly after recent cyclone

and flooding impacted the

Australian economy by an es-

timated $9 billion.

Australia‘s foreign aid spend-

ing will increase to $4.8 bil-

lion in order to meet the accel-

erated UN Millennium Devel-

opment Goals.

Australia will also invest

spend $1.9 billion on its en-

deavours in Afghanistan and

other operations in the Middle

East, plus peacekeeping in

Timor Leste and the Solomon

Islands.

budget.gov.au

Australia still an attractive destination for foreign direct investment

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Australia continues to grow. Data released by the Austra-

lian Bureau of Statistics shows that, year on year, FDI into Australia grew by 7.5 per cent to

A$474 billion in 2010 after an 11.1% increase in 2009.

The outlook for 2011 is positive. Moody‘s Investors Service has maintained a stable outlook for

Australia's Aaa ratings based on the agency‘s latest report, released 1 May. Specifically, the

Aaa ratings remain stable due to very high economic and government financial strength.

An overall improving trend in the budget from previous high deficit levels was noted by

Moody‘s, with impacts of natural disasters such as the Queensland floods expected to be minor.

austrade.gov.au

-ECONOMIC NEWS-


Out and about with the High Commissioner

CONTACT

Australian High Commission

710—50 O'Connor Street

Ottawa, ON, K1P 6L2

Telephone: (613) 236-0841

Fax: (613) 236-4376

SUBSCRIPTION

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change address,

email [email protected]

ONLINE

For information about the High Commission,

visit canada.embassy.gov.au

The High Commissioner re-

turned to Australia briefly in

March to attend a meeting of

Australian Heads of Mission

accredited to G20 countries.

The meeting was chaired by

the Secretary (Deputy Minis-

ter) of the Department of For-

eign Affairs and Trade. Prime

Minister Gillard delivered a

speech at the outset outlining

the Government‘s G20 priori-

ties, and the meeting was also

addressed by Foreign Minister

Rudd and Trade Minister Em-

erson. Apart from officials

from France (the current G20

host), Canada‘s G20 sherpa,

Louis Levesque, was the only

other representative of a for-

eign government at the meet-

ing.

In May the High Commis-

sioner once again welcomed a

large group of Australian

school teachers (and their

families) currently living and

working in Canada on ex-

change under the arrangements

made by the Canadian League

for Educational Exchange. As

noted in this newsletter, in

partnership with the Carleton

Initiative for Parliamentary

and Diplomatic Engagement,

he hosted a ‗Meet the Official

Opposition‘ function for mem-

bers of the diplomatic commu-

nity.

Among his other activities, the

High Commissioner presented

the Governor General‘s Inter-

national Award for Canadian

Studies to Professor Gerry

Turcotte, attended a Canadian

Club of Ottawa lunch to fare-

well the outgoing Auditor-

General Sheila Fraser, joined

other heads of missions to dis-

cuss Commonwealth issues

with the Governor General,

attended parts of the Conser-

vative Party‘s convention, and

attended a farewell for the out-

going Speaker of the House of

Commons, Peter Milliken.

Recent Australian visitors to

Canada have included the Re-

view Committee for the Aus-

tralian Intelligence Commu-

nity; Australia's National Se-

curity Chief Information Offi-

cer and Cyber Policy Coordi-

nator; Australia's Interim In-

spector General of Biosecu-

rity, and the Assistant Director

General of the Community

Partnerships and Latin Amer-

ica Branch of the Australian

Agency for International De-

velopment (AusAID). Two

prominent visitors from the

Australian defence community

were Major General Craig

Orme, Head People Capability

at the Department of Defence,

and Mark Reynolds, Head of

the Commercial Industry Pro-

grams at the Defence Material

Organisation.

Reflecting the fact that Austra-

lia is one of the few countries

with mandatory voting, the

Canadian federal election

prompted considerable interest

from media circles in Austra-

lia‘s experience, and in par-

ticular whether the Australian

model might be effective in

addressing the decline in voter

turnout in Canada. The High

Commissioner gave a series of

interviews including with The

Globe and Mail, C-PAC and

the Vancouver based radio sta-

tion CKNW.

HOLIDAY HOURS

The High Commission

will be closed on Canada

Day (1 July), Civic Holi-

day (1 August) and La-

bour Day (5 September).

australia news - dfat news... · 2011. 6. 29. · australia supports the listing of chrysotile...

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