29 January 2009, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Presentation to the Executive Council of the African Union
Thank you for the privilege of addressing this meeting.
It is a great honour for me to be the first Australian Foreign Minister to attend a meeting of the African Union since its establishment in 2002.
I have come to Addis Ababa at this time, to the seat of the African Union, to convey to you personally the Australian Government’s deep commitment and strong resolve to enhance Australia’s relationships with the nation states and the continent of Africa.
The Australian Government acknowledges that the African Union, the principal body for African integration and cooperation, is playing an internationally recognised role in advancing Africa’s economic prosperity and peace and security objectives.
In the past, Australia has not given Africa the priority it requires and deserves. Over the past months, we have been talking with you, with African countries, starting the process of meeting that priority with you.
Australia wants to be part of Africa’s future in ways where our expertise and experience can make a unique and positive contribution.
We want our contributions to be designed to support Africa’s efforts to promote economic growth and prosperity through investment and trade, to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, and to address peace and security challenges.
Fortunately, Australian industry is already very active. More than 300 Australian mining, oil and gas companies are active throughout Africa. Current and prospective investment in the sector has been estimated at USD 20 billion.
Trade between Africa and Australia is growing steadily. As is the case across the globe, long-term prosperity for the nations of Africa will depend on opening markets around the world.
We have common interests as agricultural producing countries in bringing down protection levels. We need to work together to pursue these interests in the Doha round of the World Trade Organization negotiations.
Australia will implement a new development assistance strategy, to give effect to our renewed commitment to Africa.
This new strategy will mark a substantial increase in our development assistance to the continent. We have already increased funding for Africa by 23 per cent since our election in November 2007. Africa will continue to benefit from our commitment to scale up Australia’s aid program to 0.5 percent of GNI by 2015-16.
Human resource development is a key to Africa’s future. Within four years, Australia will increase by up to ten-fold our scholarships and fellowships to students from across Africa – including in agriculture, mining, maternal and child healthcare, and water and sanitation.
This will see up to 1,000 scholarships and fellowships available to young African students.
Australia will support Africa in its efforts to enhance food security, particularly through the AU and NEPAD (New Partnership for African Development) Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program.
Australian agricultural expertise in a range of climatic conditions is well-placed to help Africa face the growing food crisis by lifting agricultural productivity, raising farmers’ incomes, and improving access to global markets.
Maternal and child health will continue to be a priority for our development program, along with improved access to clean water and sanitation.
Improving global peace and security remains a challenge for us all.
Australia has long participated in peacekeeping missions in Africa. Australian personnel are currently participating in the UN Mission in Sudan and the UN-AU Mission in Darfur.
The AU is playing a vital role as it works with the United Nations to help address conflicts in Africa. In a few weeks, the Australian Minister for Defence will visit Africa to discuss African peace and security issues and future Australian defence cooperation.
Australians are deeply concerned about conflicts and their terrible human impact. We commend the AU for its central role in resolving crises in Africa. On Zimbabwe, we support your deliberations to help find a solution that reflects the will of the Zimbabwe people and gives them hope for a better future.
The Australian Government took office determined to change the way Australia engages with the international community. The Government recognises that critical problems confronting our world such as the global financial crisis, climate change, and peace and security require a regional and multilateral response.
Australia’s commitment to Africa is for the long term. The strong people-to-people links which already exist, including nearly 9000 African students already studying in Australia, will help drive our relationships forward.
Australia is determined to work with Africa as a friend and partner. I am here both to listen to your views, and to plot a path forward to deepen our engagement.
It is a great pleasure for me to renew some old acquaintances here, and to make many new ones. I look forward to meeting you all in the course of the next two days.
Thank you for the honour you have bestowed on me by allowing me to address you.