Time In Australia
Department of State Washington File: Text: Lawmakers Introduce Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus
Currently, the United States and Australia are close economic partners. In 2001, Australian companies' direct investment in the US totaled $23 billion and Australian assets employed more than 83,000 American workers. The US and Australia are in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement. Last year, every state in the nation exported goods to Australia. In 2002, Washington State led in exports to Australia, with a total of $2.6 billion. With almost one in three jobs related to trade in our state, the Australian market offers the potential for job creation and economic growth in Washington. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Transcript: Armitage Notes Critical, Global Role Played by Australia
And, again, as we saw so horribly in downtown Jakarta last week, far too many Indonesians have lost their lives at the hands of extremists. But Indonesians have much more to lose in this battle, including their sense of security, their sense of confidence in the future. This is a time when the world community needs to help restore Indonesia's faith in itself. Certainly by cooperating in counterterrorism and law enforcement efforts, but also by engaging across the board, in particular by helping this country along the road to economic and to political reform, and in so doing, to deny the terrorists the safe haven they often seek in misfortune and in turmoil. Without a doubt, it will be Australian leadership which will be essential in this regard. ... [Read More]
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Background Notes Archive - East Asia and the Pacific
U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: Australia, May 1996Bureau of East Asian and Pacific AffairsPrepared and released by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Office of Australia and New Zealand AffairsMay 1996Official Name: Commonwealth of AustraliaPROFILEGeographyArea: 7.7 million sq. km. (3 million sq. mi.); about the size of the 48 continental United States.Cities: Capital--Canberra (pop. 310,100). Other cities--Sydney (3.7 million), Melbourne (3.1 million), Brisbane (1.3 million), Perth (1.2 million).Terrain: Varied, but generally low-lying.Climate: Relatively dry, ranging from temperate in the south to tropical in the north.PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Australian(s).Population (1995): 18.2 million.Annual growth rate: 1.1%.Ethnic groups: European 94%, Asian 5%, Aboriginal 1%.Religions: Anglican 24%, Roman Catholic 26%.Languages: English.Education: Years compulsory--to age 15 in all states except Tasmania, where it is 16. Literacy ... [Read More]
Australia
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Department of State Washington File: Text: United States Resolves WTO Dispute with Australia
In response, the original WTO panel was reconvened at the request of the United States. The panel concluded that Australia had failed to comply with the WTO ruling because the repayment was insufficient and that the new loan subsidy had nullified even that insufficient repayment. Following this decision, the United States and Australia began exploring a mutually satisfactory resolution of this matter. ... The agreement is the result of a WTO case brought by the United States in 1998, when Australia -- after consultations with the United States -- excluded its automotive leather industry from two export subsidy programs, but then compensated its automotive leather exporter by means of a $30 million grant. The United States alleged, and the dispute settlement panel agreed, that this grant was a "de facto" export subsidy, and had to be withdrawn. Australia announced in September 1999 that it had complied with the WTO ruling by having the recipient repay less than 27 percent of the grant, which it called the prospective portion. At the same time, Australia announced a new loan subsidy to the exporter's parent. ... [Read More]
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Consulate General of the U.S. Sydney
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Australia (12/04)
Australia has been active participant in international affairs since World War I and has fought beside the United States and other Allies in every significant conflict to the present day. In 1944, it concluded an agreement with New Zealand dealing with the security, welfare, and advancement of the people of the independent territories of the Pacific (the ANZAC pact). After the war, Australia played a role in the Far Eastern Commission in Japan and supported Indonesian independence during that country's revolt against the Dutch (1945-49). Australia was one of the founders of both the United Nations and the South Pacific Commission (1947), and in 1950, it proposed the Colombo Plan to assist developing countries in Asia. In addition to contributing to UN forces in Korea--it was the first country to announce it would do so after the United States--Australia sent troops to assist in putting down the communist revolt in Malaya in 1948-60 and later to combat the Indonesian-supported invasion ... [Read More]
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