Home > MYEFO > Part 4: Fiscal Strategy and Outlook > Appendix A: Policy Decisions Taken Since the 2008‑09 Budget > Expenses Measures > Foreign Affairs and Trade

Foreign Affairs and Trade

Asia Pacific Community — regional consultations

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	0.5	-	-	-
Related capital ($m)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	..	-	-	-

The Government will provide $0.5 million in 2008‑09 for the initial regional consultations phase of the proposal to create an Asia Pacific Community. The establishment of an Asia Pacific Community would enable regional, political, economic and security dialogue, and where agreed, common action. Regional consultations, led by a high-level envoy Mr Richard Woolcott AC, are being held in 2008‑09 to obtain regional views in relation to the Asia Pacific Community.

Further information can be found in the transcript of the Prime Minister's speech of 4 June 2008.

Australian Embassy to the Holy See — appointment of a resident Ambassador

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	1.5	2.2	2.2	2.2
Related capital ($m)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	3.4	-	-	..

The Government will provide $11.5 million over four years (including $3.4 million in capital funding in 2008‑09) for the appointment of a resident Ambassador to the Holy See and the establishment of a new Chancery. The appointment will deepen Australia's relations with the Vatican and facilitate dialogue in areas including human rights, political and religious freedom, food security, arms control, refugees and anti-people trafficking.

Further information can be found in the press release of 21 July 2008 issued by the Prime Minister.

Bali Democracy Forum — Australian contribution

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	1.9	-	-	-
Related capital ($m)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	0.1	-	-	-

The Government will provide $1.9 million in 2008‑09 (including $50,000 in capital funding in 2008‑09) to contribute to the costs of organising the initial regional democracy forum in Bali in late 2008. The forum will be co-chaired by Indonesia and Australia. The forum aims to support emerging democracies in the region and strengthen existing democratic institutions. This measure is part of the Government's commitment to increase Australia's overseas development assistance. Funding will be partially assigned ($1.3 million in 2008‑09) from the unallocated provision for expanded aid funding held in the Contingency Reserve.

Further information can be found in the transcript of the Prime Minister's joint press conference with the President of the Republic of Indonesia on 13 June 2008.

Fiji — upgrade of security at Australian High Commission

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5
Related capital ($m)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	3.0	-	-	-

The Government will provide $4.9 million over four years (including $3.0 million in capital funding in 2008‑09) to improve security for the Australian High Commission and staff in Fiji.

Further information can be found in the press release of 20 May 2008 issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament — establishment

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	3.5	-	-	-
Related capital ($m)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	0.2	-	-	-

The Government will provide $3.8 million in 2008‑09 (including $0.2 million in capital funding in 2008‑09) to establish the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. The Commission, which will be co‑chaired by Australia and Japan, aims to reinvigorate the global effort against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by seeking to shape a global consensus in the lead-up to the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

Further information can be found in the press release of 9 July 2008 issued by the Prime Minister.

Pacific Engagement Strategy — implementation

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	1.3	-	-	-
Related capital ($m)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	0.3	-	-	-

The Government will provide $1.6 million in 2008‑09 (including $0.3 million in capital funding in 2008‑09) to implement its Pacific Engagement Strategy. The strategy involves negotiating Partnerships for Development with Pacific island countries and seeking to secure Pacific Island Forum countries' formal agreement to commence negotiation of a comprehensive free trade agreement between Australia and NewZealand and Forum island countries.

Special Envoy — Whale Conservation

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	0.3	-	-	-
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts	-	0.1	-	-	-
Total	-	0.3	-	-	-

The Government will provide $0.3 million in 2008‑09 to meet the costs of engaging and supporting Australia's Special Envoy for Whale Conservation, Mr Sandy Hollway AO. The engagement of a Special Envoy will intensify Australia's diplomatic efforts to bring an end to lethal scientific and commercial whaling.

Further information can be found in the press release of 20 October 2008 issued by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts.

United Nations Security Council — candidacy

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	1.9	-	-	-
Related capital ($m)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	-	0.1	-	-	-

The Government will provide $1.9 million in 2008‑09 (including $0.1 million in capital funding in 2008‑09) to support initial efforts promoting Australia's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2013‑14 term. The candidacy demonstrates the Government's commitment to the United Nations. Membership of the United Nations Security Council will give Australia a greater ability to shape international responses to security issues.

World Bank Clean Technologies Fund — Australia's contribution

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
AusAID	-	100.0	-	-	-

The Government will contribute $100.0 million to the World Bank's Clean Technology Fund. The Clean Technology Fund will help fund transformative investment by developing countries in low carbon technologies in the transportation and power sectors, and energy efficiency in buildings, industry and agriculture, by offering development finance at highly concessional rates.

This measure is part of the Government's commitment to increase Australia's overseas development assistance tackling Climate Change internationally. Funding will be assigned from the unallocated provision for expanded aid funding held in the Contingency Reserve.

World Bank Global Food Crisis Trust Fund — Australia's contribution

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
AusAID	-	50.0	-	-	-

The Government will contribute $50.0 million in 2008‑09 to the World Bank's Global Food Price Crisis Response Core Multi-Donor Trust Fund. This fund will be used to help stimulate agricultural production in developing countries adversely affected by higher global food prices. Activities of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund will include improving access for small farmers to seeds and fertilisers for the upcoming planting season.

This measure is part of the Government's commitment to increase Australia's overseas development assistance. Funding will be assigned from the unallocated provision for expanded aid funding held in the Contingency Reserve.

Further information can be found in the press release of 13 July 2008 issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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