Interim Report
29 May 2009
Senator the Hon John Hogg
President of the Senate
Inquiry into the major economic and security
challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the
southwest Pacific—interim report
Pursuant to Senate
Standing Order 38(7), I present to you an interim report of the Senate
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on the economic
and security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of
the southwest Pacific.
On 24 June 2008, the
Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Standing Committee on
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade for inquiry and report by 30 May
2009:
- The following matter be referred to
the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade for
inquiry and report to the Senate by 30 May 2009.
The major economic and security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the
island states of the southwest Pacific;
- the
implications for Australia;
- how the
Australian Government can, in practical and concrete ways, assist these
countries to meet the challenges.
- The inquiry to include an examination
of the following:
- employment
opportunities, labour mobility, education and skilling;
- barriers to
trade, foreign investment, economic infrastructure, land ownership and
private sector development; and
- current
regional organisations such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the
Secretariat of Pacific Community.
Recently, the
Australian Government has released a number of policy documents or
announced initiatives that have significance for the committee's
inquiry. These include the Defence White Paper, Defending Australia
in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030; the proposed civilian
deployable force; and the 2009 Budget Statement by the Honourable
Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Honourable Bob
McMullan MP, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development
Assistance. The global economic downturn also continues to affect the
economies of the Pacific Island countries.
In light of these
developments, the committee has agreed to present to the Senate this
interim report and after further inquiry intends to table its final
report on 21 August 2009.
Senator Russell
Trood
Chair
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia