SENATE CHAMBER 24th June 2002 Senator CHAPMAN (South Australia) (3.38 p.m.)- by leave-I present the report of the parliamentary delegation to the 107th Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Marrakech, Morocco from 17 to 23 March 2002 and a bilateral visit to Kuwait from 25 to 28 March 2002. I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the report. Leave granted. Senator CHAPMAN -I move: That the Senate take note of the report. The report I have just tabled sets out in detail the work of the Australian delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference held in Marrakech, Morocco and a bilateral visit to Kuwait. I had the honour of leading this delegation and I commend my colleagues-Senator Ferris, Senator Gibbs, Senator McKiernan and Mr Con Sciacca, the member for Bowman-for the contribution they made to this very successful delegation. As leader of the delegation I addressed the plenary session of the IPU during its debate on the political, social and economic situation in the world and took the opportunity to put on the record Australia's response to the events of 11 September- particular its response to, and active participation in, the war against terrorism. I informed what is often called the world parliament of parliaments that Australia has made a substantive military commitment to the war against terrorism, including the deployment of a special forces detachment on the ground in Afghanistan. However, I reminded the IPU that not only will the war against terrorism be fought through military action but also governments must continue to work nationally, regionally and globally. My speech concluded on an optimistic note by stating: It seems to me that the terrorism crisis the world faces today has given many countries a willingness to do things differently-to cooperate with previously unlikely partners, to be open to new strategies, and to be resolute in action. I therefore see cause for some optimism about the prospects for states dealing with this, and the other security challenges that confront them. In doing so, they can then contribute not only to the security of their own region, but also, as recent tragic events have highlighted, to the security and prosperity of an ever more connected globe. Senator McKiernan - who I see in the chamber-was included in the delegation specifically to relay the views and concerns of the executive and the Australian IPU group as a whole about the reform of the IPU, particularly in relation to its financial and budget situation. I notice Senator McGauran's support for my comments there. I know that, in past Inter-Parliamentary Union delegations, Senator McGauran has been active on this issue. I know Senator McKiernan will be participating in this debate in a few moments and I will leave him to address this issue in detail. Suffice to say that for a body with a budget approaching some SwF10 million-of which the bureaucracy in Geneva gobbles up more than SwF7 million and the cost of two conferences each year in host countries is over SwF2 million-to propose that financial reform could be achieved by substituting a shorter meeting in Geneva each year for one of those conferences without proposing any reduction in the bureaucracy beggars belief. Senator McKiernan, over the last three years, has made a significant contribution to the work of the IPU and the Australian delegation was particularly proud at the inaugural ceremony of the conference, in the presence of the King of Morocco, when the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Ruud Lubbers, paid tribute to his contribution to the development of the publication Refugee protection: a guide to international refugee law. It should also be recognised that Mr Sciacca participated in the committee debate on the agenda item on `Terrorism-a threat to democracy, human rights and civil society: the contribution of parliaments to combating international terrorism and addressing its causes in order to maintain international peace and security'; Senator Ferris contributed to the debate on the agenda item on `Ten years after Rio: Global degradation of the environment and parliamentary support for the Kyoto Protocol'; and Senator Gibbs contributed to the debate on the agenda item on `The role of parliaments in developing public policy in an era of globalisation, multilateral institutions and international trade agreements'. Delegates also networked with colleagues from other parliaments and attended geopolitical meetings of the 12-plus and Asia-Pacific groups. Senators Ferris and Gibbs attended meetings and participated in discussion groups of women parliamentarians. The bilateral visit to Kuwait was a short one-only four days-but I believe it was very successful. The delegation met with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait, several ministers, members of the Australia-Kuwait Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kuwait Petroleum Co. as well as visiting local industries-in particular a dairy industry that has relevance to Australia-and research institutes. The delegation also had the moving experience of meeting with members of the National Committee on Prisoners of War and Detainees, who told us that over 600 persons were taken by withdrawing Iraqi forces following the Gulf War in 1991 and that, to this day, their fate is unknown. Dr Sultan Al-Khalaf, the chair of the national committee, expressed his optimism that one day the detainees will be released. He also emphasised the importance of raising in all possible forums the need for Iraq to address this issue. The delegation also appreciated Dr Al-Khalaf's comment during this meeting that `It is well known to everyone in Kuwait that Australia did everything to help in the liberation of Kuwait'. The delegation was left in no doubt that relations between Kuwait and Australia are very strong and should be developed further. In almost every meeting the issue of Australia's lack of residential diplomatic representation in Kuwait was raised with the delegation. Indeed, when I was interviewed by Ms Nadine Sidani on the Good Morning Kuwait television program, which is telecast throughout the Gulf region, this issue was one of the first raised with me. This is not surprising when it is recognised that over 30,000 Kuwaitis visit Australia each year as it is seen as a safe and family oriented tourist destination. In order to obtain a visa to visit Australia, Kuwaitis must apply to local Kuwaiti travel agents contracted by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The travel agent then sends the applications to the Australian Embassy in Beirut where the visa applications are eventually processed. This process is subject to delays. Australia has significant and increasing trading interests with Kuwait, amounting to some $A485 million in exports. Kuwait is now ranked 31st on Australia's list of top export destinations. Australia has significant strategic and military relations with Kuwait, responding decisively to Kuwait's plight in 1990 by condemning Iraq's invasion, committing military forces to the Gulf War and continuing support for the UN-mandated multinational interception force enforcing the UN Security Council sanctions upon Iraq. Australia has residential diplomatic representation in several countries whose trading, tourist and strategic relations seem not as strong, either in real or potential terms, as those with Kuwait. Furthermore, the Canberra based Kuwait Liaison Office was upgraded to an embassy in January 2002. The delegation therefore recommends that the Minister for Foreign Affairs consider establishing residential diplomatic representation in Kuwait, based on the important and increasing trade, tourism and strategic relations. On behalf of the Australian delegation, I record our thanks to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait for an excellent program, a very warm welcome and generous hospitality. |
