Transcript Country Team Report - University of California, Davis

WARNING
Make Sure You
Have A Parking
Permit. Our
Staff Will Tow
Any Vehicle
Without
Question. Thank
You.
UNITED STATES EMBASSY
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
Deputy Chief of Mission
Robert Baron
EMBASSY OBJECTIVES
• Maintain Relations With the Australian
Government.
• Promote Trade and Economic Prosperity.
• Coordinate the United State’s Many
Interests in Australia and the Region.
GEOGRAPHICAL DATA
• Australia is as Big as the Contigous
United States.
• Most of the Population is
Concentrated Along the East or
South Eastern Coastal Regions.
• Natural Resources of Coal, Iron
Ore, Copper, Tin, Gold, Silver,
Uranium, Nickel, Tungsten, Mineral
Sands, Lead, Zinc, Diamonds,
Natural Gas, Petroleum and
Especially Bauxite.
• Only 7% of the Land is Arable.
AUSTRALIA’S CLIMATE
Geographial Data
Tropical
Semi-Arid
to Arid
Temperate
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• 40,000 Years Ago, the Aborigines Move from
South East Asia to the Australian Continent
• 1770 Captain James Cook Claims Australia
for the British Crown.
• On January 26th, 1788 the British Set Up a
Penal Colony at Port Jackson in What is Now
the Metropolitan City of Sydney.
• Over 160,000 English Convicts Lived There
Until 1839 When the System of Incarceration
on the Continent Was Suspended
AUSTRALIA IS BORN
•British and Irish Settlers then
Established Six Colonies, New
South Wales, Tasmania, Western
Australia, South Australia,
Victoria and Queensland.
•On January 1st, 1901 the
Australian Colonies Merged
Together with the Signing of the
Commonwealth Constitution.
AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND INVOLVEMENT IN WARS
• Australia Sent Troops to Fight With American Forces in Both
World Wars.
• One of the Founding Members of the United Nations.
• Active Participant in ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
• Currently, Australia Provides Over $1 Billion Dollars in
Foreign Aid.
DEFENSE
• On September 1st, 1951 Australia Signs the ANZUS
Treaty With the United States and New Zealand.
• In 2000, the Australian Government Agreed to
Increase Defense Spending by 3% Each Year for 10
Years.
ECONOMICS AND TRADE
• Most of the Labor Force is Employed in the Service
Sector.
• Most Goods Produced are Primary Goods. Only 1/4 of
all Goods Produced are Secondary Manufactured Goods
and Products.
• Ranked by the OECD as having the Fastest Growing
Economy.
•Australia Exports $66.3
Billion and Imports $68
Billion in Goods and
Products.
• Estimated Trade Between
the United States and
Australia is $23 Billion.
•Population ≈ 19.5 Million people
• Population Growth Rate ≈ 0.96% per year
• Per Capita Income ≈ $27,000 US Dollars
• Age Distribution
• ≈ 67% @ 15-64 years
• ≈ 20% @ 0-14 years
• ≈ 13% @ Over 65 years
•Labor Force ≈ 9.2 Million People
• Unemployment Rate ≈ 6.3%
• Life Expectancy: Men ≈ 77.15 years, Women ≈ 83 years
• Literacy Rate ≈ 100%
• Race: Caucasian ≈ 91%, Asian/Pacific Islander ≈ 7%, Aborigine ≈ 2%
• Religion: 1/4 Anglican, 1/4 Roman Catholic, 1/4 “Other Christian”,
1/10 Non-Christian, 1/8 Classified as Other.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
Andra Yeghoian
Mission statement:
The main functions are to strengthen and
promote understanding between the U.S.
and Australia. We do this with the help of
these
agencies and institutions:
• Press and Media Relations
• Education and Exchange Programs
• Resource Centers and Reference Services
• Cultural Offices
Education and Exchange
programs
• The Australian-American Fulbright
Commission
• U.S. Educational Advising Center
Press and media relations
• Sydney
• Electronic Links
• Ship Visits
Resource Centers and Reference
Services
• Research Centers
• Forums
Cultural Opportunities
 National Archives
Offices
• Holidays
New Year's Day January 1
Australia Day January 26
Good Friday March 29
Easter Monday April 1
Anzac Day April 25
Christmas Day December 25
National Archives Offices
Boxing Day December 26
Political Officer
Lauren Hood
Australian Government
Democratic, federal system under
the rule of the British monarchy
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Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II
Governor General: Sir Guy Green (acting)
Prime Minister: John Howard of the Liberal Party
Legislative branch: Bicameral federal parliament with a house
and senate representing the six states and two territories
Photos
Her Royal Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II
and Australian Prime
Minister John Howard
The Federal
Parliament
Building
A Republic?
In November 1999, Australians held a
referendum to determine whether they
would continue to be under the
jurisdiction of the British Crown or
whether they would become a
republic.
•Proposed by former PM Paul Keating
•Not supported by Current PM Howard, a
monarchist
•Failed 45 – 55% because of the
proposed method for electing the new
presidents
Published in the Canberra Times on February 22, 1998
•New president would have been chosen
by the parliament from a list submitted by
multipartisan coalition, instead of direct
election by the people
ANZUS Treaty
•
Signed on September 1, 1951 by Australia, New Zealand and the
United States
•
New Zealand pulled out in 1985 following disagreements with the
United States over nuclear weapons
•
Article IV: “Each party recognizes that an armed attack in the
pacific area on any of the parties would be dangerous to its own
peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the
common danger in accordance with it constitutional processes”
Immigration
• The Immigration Restriction Act
– This Act was aimed at excluding all non
European immigrants through a language test.
The subject was forced to perform a dictation in a
European language specified by the Immigration
officer
• This was the main policy until WWII
• Immigration from non- European sources expanded
somewhat after WWII, but Asian immigration was
still restricted
• Even today, the country still places restrictions on
immigration from Asian nations
– Ex. The refugee boat from Indonesia in August
2001
ECONMICS OFFICER
Jennifer Lan
Australian Economy
• Growth
• Financial Stability
• Reforms of the
economy
U.S. and Australian Trade Ties
• The U.S. is Australia’s most important
economic partner.
– The U.S. Australia’s principal source of
imports and the second largest destination for
its exports.
– Two way trade between the U.S. and Australia
totaled more than $23 billion in 2001.
Reasons to do business in
Australia
• Well developed
infrastructure
• Familiarity
• Low import duties
Regional Areas of Growth
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Melbourne is the key manufacturing base
Brisbane is the fastest growing city.
Adelaide is known for automotive manufacturing
Barrosa Valley for its wines
Perth has the country’s highest state economic
growth
– Recent discoveries of oil and natural gas
– With Singapore only a 4 hour flight away, its closer to
Southeast Asia than Sydney.
Bilateral Friction
• Australia has protested market access
issues and U.S. Subsidies for farm
products.
• The U.S. is concerned about Australian
quarantine barriers to certain imports and
changes in Australian law governing
intellectual property protection and
Australian Government procurement
procedures.
Free Trade Agreement
• The first round of negotiations commenced
in March.
• Both countries would profit from reaching
a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
– With the removal of trade barriers, welfare
would rise.
– Steadily rising GDP
Investment
• The U.S. was the largest recipient
($177.4) of Australian investment in 2001.
• The U.S. led investment in Australia
($234.9 billion) in 2001.
• The Australia-U.S. Double Taxation
Agreement.
• Raised visibility due to the 2000 Olympics
Australia and the Pacific Nations
• Relations with the
Association of South
East Asian Nations
• Asian Pacific
Economic Community
(APEC)
• The Cairns Group
DEFENSE ATTACHE
IVAN E. CLEVELAND
Stage One : The Past
Part One: Foreign Relations
• Australia entrenched in
international affairs/ the
importance/ so what?
• World War II
• ANZAC
• UN / South Pacific
Commission
• GATT / ASEAN / WEOG
Stage One: The Past
Part: U.S./ Australian Relations
ANZUS in detail /
Importance / Future
Problems / Solutions
Why should we care ?
Stage Two: The Present
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You scratch my back / I’ll
scratch yours
(cooperation is key)
East Timor / Significance
UNAMET / INTERFET
NGO’S
Asia-Pacific Region
Military Cooperation
(Tandem Thrust)
Intelligence
Stage Three: The Future
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The Big Problem /
Possible Solutions
Territory is Key
(U.S. Link to Asia)
International Trade
Arms Control
Environmental Officer
Sarah Johnson
“The greatest use of life is to spend it
for something that will outlast it.”
- William James
CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES
 Climate Change
 Sustainable Development
 Ecotourism
CLIMATE CHANGE
Australia’s role in Climate Change
-
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program
(ARM) of 1989
- Darwin Facility, August 2002
Future Collaborations in Climate Change
-
U.S.-Australia Climate Change Action Partnership
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

U.S and Australia Collaboration
- Targeted at developing nations

Goal: Energy Efficiency
- Invest in cleaner technology
- Increase access to modern technology
- Improve efficiency of existing technology

Broader Goals
- Better Schools, cleaner water, better health care, and a
higher standard of living.
ECOTOURISM
Definition: A type of ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary
focus on experiencing natural areas, which foster environmental and cultural
understanding, appreciation and conservation.
 International Year for Ecotourism (IYE) 2002
 Main Objectives and Goals.
- Promote conservation in a way that is
economically beneficial
- Preserve natural heritage
U.S., AUSTRALIA, THE
ENVIRONMENT AND THE FUTURE
FOSTERS advancement in science and
technology (e.g. Darwin Facility)
PROMOTES international sustainable
development
SUPPORTS environmental conservation and
economic growth at the same time.
CONSULAR OFFICER
Andra Yeghoian
Main Concerns and
Responsibilities
•
Assisting and Representing U.S. citizens
in Australia
•
Processing Immigrant visas
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Processing Non-immigrant visas
Assisting and Representing U.S.
Citizens in Australia
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Country Description
Entry and Exit Requirements
Safety and Security
Crime
Medical Facilities and Insurance
Legal Concerns
Children
What to Bring/ Customs and Regulations
Processing Immigrant Visas
4 Ways to Immigrate
• Through a family relationship
• Through Employment
• Through Investment
• Immigrant Diversity Program
Processing Non-Immigrant Visas
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Eligibility
–
Visitor Visa
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B-1 for business
B-2 for tourism
Other Categories of Non-Immigrant visas
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Study Visa: F, M & J visas
Exchange Visitor Visa: J visa
Treaty Trader and Investor Visa: E visa
Fiancées/Fiancé: K visa
Journalist and Media Visa: I visa
Working Visa: H, L, O, P & Q visa
Religious Worker: R visa
Processing Non-Immigrant Visas
• 3 Ways to Apply in Australia
– Embassy or Consulate
– Through Travel Agent
– Direct By Mail
• Application Fee: $100
“G’DAY MATE!”