M88

10 August 1995

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CENTRE

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, announced today that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would establish an International Media Centre in Sydney.

Speaking at a function in Sydney hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Association (Australia & South Pacific), Senator Evans said Australia needed a "one-stop" shop for more than 130 foreign correspondents based in Australia and thousands of overseas media representatives who visit Australia each year. He said their numbers would be swelled by additional thousands of print, radio and television journalists who will visit Australia during the five-year run up to the Sydney Olympics 2000.

"It's been a long time in the planning, but the centre is coming into existence in response to the demand for the services it can provide, and that demand is being driven by the growth in interest in Australia," Senator Evans said.

The International Media Centre will be a key plank in marketing Australia overseas and will work hand in glove with Australia's Embassies and Consulates around the world, once it becomes operational. Overseas media representatives planning to visit Australia will have access to material on the centre's facilities and the assistance it offers before they leave for Australia.

Australia's overseas missions will liaise with the centre and advise it of media visitors' plans so that the centre can contact them and provide assistance and advice.

The International Media Centre will provide Australia's network of resident foreign correspondents with an operational base, allowing them to use its state-of-the-art facilities, as well as giving them access to data bases, contacts and story ideas around the country. They will also have a venue for news briefings and luncheon addresses.

"The value of the International Media Centre to Australia will depend heavily on the links it forges with public and private sector players," Senator Evans said.

"It will establish ties with Federal and States governments, business, industry, academia, cultural organisations and the Australian media, and develop partnerships through cooperative sponsorships to arrange programs around Australia enabling correspondents and overseas media visitors to report more extensively at first hand on Australia.

"Through the centre, government, business, industry and other involved parties will have access to influential overseas media visitors, and be able to convey messages internationally by establishing and developing contacts with resident foreign correspondents.

"As I see it, this will be a natural extension of the cooperative approach between government and industry which we have sought to develop. The cost to the Commonwealth - through my Department - will initially be half a million dollars a year. Over time we hope and expect that that will be reduced through sponsorship takeup," he said.

The International Media Centre will open in November. It will be located on Level 29, Westpac Plaza, 60 Margaret Street, Sydney.

SYDNEY