Country Team Report

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WARNING
Make Sure You Have A Parking Permit. Our Staff
Will Tow Any Vehicle Without Question. Thank You.
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UNITED STATES EMBASSY CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
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Deputy Chief of Mission

• Robert Baron

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EMBASSY OBJECTIVES

• Maintain Relations With the Australian
  Government.
• Promote Trade and Economic Prosperity.
• Coordinate the United States Many Interests in
  Australia and the Region.

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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.

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Geographial Data
AUSTRALIAS CLIMATE
Tropical
Semi-Arid to Arid
Temperate
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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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• Population 19.5 Million people
• Population Growth Rate 0.96 per year
• Per Capita Income 27,000 US Dollars
• Age Distribution
• 67 _at_ 15-64 years
• 20 _at_ 0-14 years
• 13 _at_ 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.

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

• Andra Yeghoian

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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

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Education and Exchange programs

• The Australian-American Fulbright Commission
• U.S. Educational Advising Center

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Press and media relations

• Sydney
• Electronic Links
• Ship Visits

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Resource Centers and Reference Services

• Research Centers
• Forums

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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

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Political Officer

• Lauren Hood

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Australian Government

• Democratic, federal system under
• the rule of the British monarchy
• 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

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Photos
Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and
Australian Prime Minister John Howard
The Federal Parliament Building
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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
• New president would have been chosen by the
  parliament from a list submitted by multipartisan
  coalition, instead of direct election by the
  people

Published in the Canberra Times on February 22,
1998
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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

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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

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ECONMICS OFFICER

• Jennifer Lan

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Australian Economy

• Growth
• Financial Stability
• Reforms of the economy

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U.S. and Australian Trade Ties

• The U.S. is Australias most important economic
  partner.
• The U.S. Australias 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.

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Reasons to do business in Australia

• Well developed infrastructure
• Familiarity
• Low import duties

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Regional Areas of Growth

• 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 countrys 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.

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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.

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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

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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

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Australia and the Pacific Nations

• Relations with the Association of South East
  Asian Nations
• Asian Pacific Economic Community (APEC)
• The Cairns Group

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DEFENSE ATTACHE

• IVAN E. CLEVELAND

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Stage One The PastPart One Foreign Relations

• Australia entrenched in international affairs/
  the importance/ so what?
• World War II
• ANZAC
• UN / South Pacific Commission
• GATT / ASEAN / WEOG

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Stage One The PastPart U.S./ Australian
Relations

• ANZUS in detail / Importance / Future Problems /
  Solutions
• Why should we care ?

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Stage Two The Present

• You scratch my back / Ill scratch yours
  (cooperation is key)
• East Timor / Significance
• UNAMET / INTERFET
• NGOS
• Asia-Pacific Region
• Military Cooperation (Tandem Thrust)
• Intelligence

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Stage Three The Future

• The Big Problem / Possible Solutions
• Territory is Key (U.S. Link to Asia)
• International Trade
• Arms Control

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Environmental Officer

• Sarah Johnson

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• The greatest use of life is to spend it for
  something that will outlast it.
• - William James

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CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

• Climate Change
• Sustainable Development
• Ecotourism

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CLIMATE CHANGE

• Australias 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

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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.

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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

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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.

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CONSULAR OFFICER

• Andra Yeghoian

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Main Concerns and Responsibilities

• Assisting and Representing U.S. citizens in
  Australia
• Processing Immigrant visas
• Processing Non-immigrant visas

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Assisting and Representing U.S. Citizens in
Australia

• Country Description
• Entry and Exit Requirements
• Safety and Security
• Crime
• Medical Facilities and Insurance
• Legal Concerns
• Children
• What to Bring/ Customs and Regulations

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Processing Immigrant Visas

• 4 Ways to Immigrate
• Through a family relationship
• Through Employment
• Through Investment
• Immigrant Diversity Program

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Processing Non-Immigrant Visas

• Eligibility
• Visitor Visa
• B-1 for business
• B-2 for tourism
• Other Categories of Non-Immigrant visas
• 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

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Processing Non-Immigrant Visas

• 3 Ways to Apply in Australia
• Embassy or Consulate
• Through Travel Agent
• Direct By Mail
• Application Fee 100

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GDAY MATE!