Australia's relationship with Papua New Guinea and other Pacific island countries

Australia's relationship with Papua New Guinea and other Pacific island countries

Terms of reference
On 13 March 2002, the Senate has referred the following matters to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 2 December 2002. On 25 June 2003, the Committee sought and the Senate subsequently agreed to an extension of time to report to 12 August 2003.

Australia's relationship with Papua New Guinea and the island states of the south-west Pacific (known as Oceania or the South Pacific), with particular reference to:

(a) the current state of political relations between regional states and Australia and New Zealand;
(b) economic relations, including trade, tourism and investment;
(c) development cooperation relationships with the various states of the region, including the future direction of the overall development cooperation program; and
(d) the implications for Australia of political, economic and security developments in the region.

Submissions
The inquiry has sparked strong interest, and to ensure that everyone has an opportunity for their views to be heard the deadline for submissions has been extended.

Advertisement calling for submissions (PDF 75KB)

Notes to assist with the preparation of submissions (PDF 15KB)

Submissions received

Public Hearings
To date, public hearings have been held in the following locations:

Transcripts from these hearings are available at www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/s-fadt.htm.

Media releases
27 March 2002 (PDF 51KB)
22 May 2003 (Word 24KB)

Report - Tabled 12 August 2003

Government response to report - received 24 June 2005 (PDF 1240KB)

For further information