13 May 2003

Budget 2003-2004 - Joint Statement - Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Alexander Downer, and Minister for Trade, The Hon Mark Vaile

Contributing to the security of Australians

In this Budget the Government has announced a number of measures to enhance the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s capacity to respond to deterioration in the international environment, including the increased threat of terrorist attacks.

Secure travel

To better protect Australians overseas, the Government has committed additional funding of $9.8 million over four years to improve awareness of security issues associated with overseas travel. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will implement a comprehensive public information campaign to ensure all Australians intending to travel are informed about travel advice and how to access it. The campaign will involve promotions through various media, in airports, post offices and passport offices.

In addition, we will make access to travel advisories easier by placing consular kiosks with touchscreen access to travel advisories in public areas such as passport issuing offices, major post offices and international airports. We will improve electronic delivery of travel advisories via a consolidated system comprising website, e-mail, fax, and sms mobile phone messaging to travellers, and webmail delivery to travel agents.

A further element of this initiative will be enhanced cooperation with the travel industry in encouraging travellers to consult travel advisories. By working with industry in support of our shared interest in promoting safe travel, we will ensure Australians are well informed about, and prepared for, travel from the time they book or purchase their ticket.

Secure passports

The Government will commit a further $3 million in 2003-04 to continue research into a biometric identifier for the Australian passport. The introduction of a biometric identifier has the potential to strengthen border protection and reduce significantly the possibility of terrorists and other undesirables using a fraudulently obtained Australian passport to enter Australia.

The research will build on that undertaken with funding provided in the 2002-03 Budget. The results of this research have been very encouraging and show that facial biometrics matching is effective in detecting people who have applied for a passport under a false identity. It will allow Australia to stay at the forefront of international developments relating to this technology.

Secure communications

The Government has committed $9.4 million in 2003-04 to enhance Australia’s secure international diplomatic communications network. The network covers Australian posts in the South Pacific, Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The network, which serves the whole of Government, ensures sensitive information can be communicated between Australia and our overseas posts securely and reliably. It provides a platform for new crisis management systems implemented in response to the Bali and September 11 terrorist attacks.

Deterioration in the international security environment, and our increased alliance responsibilities in responding to it, have made the need for a global secure communications network greater and more urgent.

Re-establishment of an Australian Diplomatic Presence in Iraq

The Government has committed $24.8 million over five years to re-establish an Australian Mission in Baghdad.

Establishment of an Australian Representative Office is indicative of Australia’s commitment to developing its bilateral relationship with Iraq, and participating in the continuing development of Iraq. Iraq will be an important power in the Middle East in years to come, a region of significant strategic importance to Australia. It will enable Australia to advance its commercial, security, immigration and humanitarian interests in post-conflict Iraq.

The mission will help advance important Australian trade interests. Australia already has strong commercial interests in Iraq, supplying 90 per cent of its wheat market, and Australian business has expressed interest in opportunities in a range of other sectors.

Continuation of Australia’s Temporary Presence in Nauru

The Government will provide $1.7 million to continue Australia’s diplomatic presence in Nauru for a further year, to support and facilitate the work of Australian Government agencies in processing asylum seekers. The Consulate-General provides a central point of contact for official dealings with Nauru and is necessary for the smooth functioning of the facilities.

Aid Highlights

In 2003-04 the Australian Government will provide $1.894 billion as Official Development Assistance (ODA), an increase of $79 million over the 2002-03 figure of $1.815 billion. The ratio of Australia’s ODA to Gross National Income (GNI) for 2003-04 is estimated at 0.25 per cent, placing Australia above the donor average which, in the latest year available (2002), is 0.23 per cent.

The Australian aid program will continue to place a high priority on promoting development in the Asia Pacific region, with a focus on good governance and enhancing partner governments’ capacity to promote peace and manage non-military threats to security.

Australia will increase total aid flows to the Pacific to $176 million, including the establishment of a Peace and Security Fund to provide flexible and targeted assistance to post-conflict societies such as the Solomon Islands. Total aid flows to Indonesia will increase by $30 million to $152 million, to support improved governance, counter-terrorism and more effective delivery of basic services. Other initiatives include a major program to improve the quality and accessibility of mainstream education services and a package of measures to improve health services as a practical memorial to the victims of the Bali bombing. Additional funding will also be provided to support regional counter-terrorism measures in East Asia.

Funding for international humanitarian, emergency and refugee programs will increase from last year’s budget to $132 million. Australia will continue to play a significant role in the reconstruction of Iraq, particularly in the area of agriculture. An estimated $94 million will be provided in 2003-04 towards programs that enhance the sustainable management of water resources and sanitation services in Australia’s region. Trade-related assistance to developing countries will increase by approximately 10 per cent, including regional initiatives for South East Asia and Africa. Beginning in 2003-04, the Australian Government will pledge $1 billion over five years towards programs and initiatives that enhance the food security of people in the developing world. Australia will make a multi-year commitment of $16.5 million to the Global Conservation Trust to provide secure funding for gene banks to conserve plant and genetic resources for food and agriculture around the world.

Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Mr. Downer's office) +61 02 6277 7500 / Matt Doman (Mr. Vaile’s office) +61 02 62777420