Chapter 12: Agency achievements and the way forward

Abbreviations

A list of the abbreviations used in this report is available in the Glossary

International cooperation

Both within the Asia-Pacific region and on the broader international front, agencies have engaged with other nations to achieve increased cooperation, understanding and regional development.

Under a range of bilateral agreements, Treasury has provided the Governments of PNG, the Solomon Islands and Nauru with advice on economic and fiscal matters. It also hosted the OECD Global Forum on Harmful Taxation, and the G20 Policy Workshop on Demographic Change. DIMA is working to increase immigration cooperation between Australia and Thailand and assisting with support for the new Immigration Training College in Bangkok. The Commission contributed to strengthening public administration in the Asia-Pacific region by assisting counterpart agencies in Indonesia, implementing an AusAID-funded programme to Pacific Island public service commissions, and continuing to contribute to Australia’s Enhanced Cooperation Programme in PNG.

DFAT supported a programme of high-level visits with China and India, the two key emerging regional economic powers. The March 2006 visit to India by the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP, resulted in the signing of six bilateral agreements or MOUs, including a Trade and Economic Framework. The visit to Australia of the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, gave new impetus to Australia’s Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

DFAT also strengthened the regional capacity for responding to, and preparing for, avian influenza.

DAFF has achieved access to key international markets including new and improved access to markets for specific products in China, Europe, the USA, Taiwan and South Korea. It has also improved protocols for governing the export of wheat to India that will facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars of trade.

Management Advisory Committee agencies’ key achievements, 2005–06

International cooperation: read more about key achievements during 2005-06

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