IN FOCUS
Photo © Australian Embassy, Jakarta
Foreign Minister's visit to Indonesia
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith, visited Indonesia 11-13 August 2008 where he announced additional development assistance funding and visited an Australian-funded school building project in South Sulawesi.
Mr Smith said Australia will provide up to $ 2.5 billion (21.25 trillion rupiah) to Indonesia over five years to tackle poverty and assist it to achieve its social and economic development priorities.
At Gowa, in South Sulawesi, Mr Smith and Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr Hassan Wirajuda opened Pallanga junior secondary school marking the 1,000th school in an Australia-Indonesia Partnership project in which Australia is assisting with the building or expansion of 2,000 junior secondary schools.
He also announced that Australia will provide $6.5 million (55.25 billion rupiah) over two years to the World Food Programme to address malnutrition caused by chronic food shortages in Nusa Tenggara Timur and Nusa Tenggara Barat in Indonesia.
Mr Smith also said tenders would be called in August for the first of 25 road projects as part of a $328 million (2.79 trillion rupiah) initiative to improve hundreds of kilometres of national roads and bridges in 10 provinces across eastern Indonesia.
Death of Zambian President Mwanawasa
The Australian Government is saddened by news of the death overnight of Zambian President Patrick Levy Mwanawasa, and conveys its deepest sympathy and condolences to the Government and people of Zambia and to the late President’s family.
Statement from Mr Smith on the resignation of Musharraf
Musharraf has announced he will resign "in the interests of the nation".
Celebrating the Australia-United States Relationship
I am pleased on the Centenary of the first visit to Australia of the United States' Navy's Great White Fleet, to launch a new book by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme
The Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme will see up to 2,500 workers from Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu participate in a three year pilot and work for up to seven months a year in the horticulture industry in regional Australia.
Australian and New Zealand Minister Commit to Closer Economic Integration and Cooperation
Ministers from Australia and New Zealand met in Melbourne today for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Ministerial Meeting and affirmed their commitment to closer economic integration and cooperation.
Australian Humanitarian Assistance Following Conflict in Georgia
Australia will provide $1 million to deliver emergency humanitarian assistance to people adversely affected following the conflict in Georgia.
Financial Services Benefit from Olympic Connection in China
Austrade's Business Club Australia (BCA) staged a financial services event in Beijing, designed to connect Australian capability with the burgeoning financial services sector in China.
Australian Sports and Events Capability Showcased in Beijing
Austrade's Business Club Australia and the Australian International Sporting Events Secretariat (AISES) have staged a Sports and Industry event in Beijing, designed to connect Australian capability to major sports business customers from China and around the world.