2006 Media Releases

December

• Execution of Saddam Hussein, 30 December
• Australia Signs Protocol V to the Certain Conventional Weapons Convention, 29 December
• Ambassador for People Smuggling, 29 December
• Australia to Implement UN Security Council Resolution on Iran, 24 December
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Sweden, 21 December
• Fiji Coup - Australia's Aid Program, 20 December(AusAID)
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the European Communities and Belgium, 18 December
• Christmas Message, 15 December
• Six-party Talks Date for Resumption, 11 December
• Visit to the Philippines, the United States, Trinidad And Tobago and the United Kingdom, 8 December
• International MANPADS Initiative, 6 December
• Fiji Coup, 6 December
• US Announcement of Tax Credits for Clean Coal Power Plants, 5 December
• Australia Provides $1 Million in Humanitarian Relief to Philippines, 2 December (AusAID)
• Australia Continues Strong Leadership in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS in Asia-Pacific Region, 1 December (AusAID)

November

• Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Nigeria, 30 November
• Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the  Elimination of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, 24 November
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China, 23 November
• Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Papua New Guinea, 23 November
• Assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, 22 November
• Australia Provides Emergency Food Aid to Zimbabwe, 22 November (AusAID)
• Death of Syahromi, 19 November
• Clemency for Huu Trinh, 17 November
• Australian APEC Initiative on Counter-Terrorism Financing, 17 November
• Australia Works with Vietnam to Provide Clean Water to Rural Communities, 16 November (AusAID)
• Australia Supports Vietnam's Defence Against Pandemic Influenza, 16 November (AusAID)
• Australian Leadership Awards Recipients Announced, 15 November (AusAID)
• Australia implements United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, 14 November
• Signature of the Australia-Indonesia Agreement on the Framework for Security Cooperation, 13 November
• Australia Supports Greater Transparency in Resource-Rich Developing Countries, 11 November (AusAID)
• Australia and Chile: Developing the Bilateral Relationship, 10 November
• Australia to Provide Scholarships for Botswana to Help Fight HIV/AIDS, 10 November (AusAID)
• Australia Welcomes Report into the Effectiveness of the United Nations, 10 November (AusAID)
• Visit to Indonesia and Vietnam, 10 November
• Australia Welcomes News of Peace Agreement in Nepal, 10 November
• DPRK: Return to the Six-Party Talks, 1 November

October

• Australia Plays Leading Role in International Resolutions on Peace and Security, 30 October
• Diplomatic Appointment: Consul-General in Guangzhou, 25 October
• Australia Helps Fund Lebanon's Recovery, 24 October
• Expulsion of UN Special Representative of the Scretary General from Sudan, 23 October
• Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Samoa, 23 October
• Special Coordinator to Solomon Islands, 19 October
• Death of Burmese Political Prisoner Thet Win Aung, 18 October
• Australia Condemns Suicide Attack in Sri Lanka, 17 October
• Port Ban on North Korean Ships, 16 October
• Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Tonga, 13 October
• Australia and East Timor Sign Security Arrangement on Joint Petroleum Area, 12 October
• DPRK: Announcement of Nuclear Test, 10 October
• North Korean Nuclear Test Threat, 4 October
• First Anniversary of the Bali Bombings - 1 October 2005, 1 October

September

• Visit to Europe, 24 September
• Tenth Anniversary of Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, 24 September
• Brutal Abuse of Human Rights in Zimabawe Condemned, 22 September
• Australia Getting Tough on Protecting High Seas Biodiversity, 22 September
• Thai Coup, 20 September
• Countering North Korean Proliferation Finance Activities, 19 September
• Visit to Canada and the United States of America, 17 September
• Mark Wainwright Appointed as Chair of Australia-China Council, 15 September
• Australia Increases Commitment to Combating People Trafficking in Asia (AusAid), 15 September
• Hunt for Fugitives in East Timor, 12 September
• Afghanistan: Death of Afghan-Australian Governor, 11 September
• Death of HRH King Taufa’Ahau Tupou IV of Tonga, 11 September
• Australia Provides Humanitarian Relief for Congo and Somalia (AusAid), 9 September
• Meeting of the National Consultative Committee for International Security Issues, 6 September
• Steve Irwin, a Great Promoter of Australia, 4 September
• Australia-Indonesia-East Timor Trilateral Ministerial Meeting, 4 September
• Visit to East Timor, 1 September
• Australia Establishes Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of Montenegro, 1 September
• Australia Provides $5.5 Million to Situation in Sudan (Ausaid), 1 September

August

• Australia Boosts Humanitarian Assistance to Middle East (Ausaid), 31 August
• Australia Continues its Strong Commitment to Helping the Environment in Developing Countries (Ausaid), 30 August
• Joint media release: New Treaty to Strengthen the Fight Against Illegal Fishing, 29 August
• East Timor:  Establishment of New UN Mission, 26 August
• Diplomatic Appointment: Consul-General in Los Angeles, 24 August
• Australia Helps Found New Fund to Fight Diseases in Burma (Ausaid), 18 August
• Pru Goward Appointed as Chair of Council for Australian-Arab Relations, 17 August
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Iraq, 15 August
• Australia Ranked Highly on its Commitment to Helping Developing Countries (Ausaid), 14 August
• Lebanon Situation, 12 August
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Afghanistan, 9 August
• Additional Australian Humanitarian Assistance - Middle East (Ausaid), 9 August
• Diplomatic Appointment - Ambassador to Israel, 8 August
• Australian Aid - Helping Health Systems Deliver (Ausaid), 8 August
• Australia Provides $1 Million Humanitarian Relief to Sri Lanka, 7 August
• Australia Welcomes UN Security Council Resolution on Iran, 1 August

July

• Visit to Japan, Hong Kong and Macau, 29 July
• Diplomatic Appointment - Ambassador to Croatia, 28 July
• Australia Responds to UN Flash Appeal for Lebanon (Ausaid), 28 July
• Joint media release: Signing of the Treaty between Australia and Thailand on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, 27 July
• Visit to Malaysia, 25 July
• Tenth Australia-China Human Rights Dialogue, 25 July
• Evacuation Arrangements from Lebanon, 24 July
• Evacuations from Lebanon, 22 July
• Australia and New Zealand Foreign Ministers to Discuss Regional and Global Developments, 21 July
• Australia Provides $2.5 million to Assist Victims of the Middle East Conflict (Ausaid), 21 July
• Australian Support For Poor And Disabled Children In India (Ausaid), 21 July
• Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism, 20 July
• Australia Joins Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, 15 July
• Australia Condemns Mumbai Bombings, 12 July
• Australia's Television Service to the Asia-Pacific Region, 10 July
• Senior Officials Depart for Urgent Discussions on North Korea, 7 July
• Joint media release: Australia welcomes Nauru's accession to the Geneva Conventions, 7 July
• ASEAN: Building an Economic Community - New Report, 6 July
• DPRK Long Range Missile Test, 5 July
• Australia Continues to Support the Global Fund (Ausaid), 5 July
• Diplomatic Appointment - Ambassador to Denmark, 3 July
• Australia Doubles Humanitarian Assistance to East Timor (Ausaid), 2 July

June

• Australia Commits More Aid for Victims of Recent Natural Disasters in Indonesia (Ausaid), 29 June
• Joint Statement for the 8^th Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum, 29 June
• Kidnapping and Murder of Eliyahu Asheri, 29 June
• 8^th Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum, 27 June
• Australia Recognises the Republic of Montenegro, 27 June
• Joint media release: Fourth Australia-Japan Conference Opens in Tokyo, 23 June
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Spain, 22 June
• North Korea Playing a Dangerous Game, 19 June
• Australia Condemns Attack on Public Bus in Sri Lanka, 16 June
• Visit to France, Germany and the United Kingdom, 16 June
• Joint media release: APEC Pandemic Response Passes the Test, 9 June
• Further Australian Support for Food Supplies in East Timor (Ausaid), 7 June
• Situation in Burma, 5 June
• Visit to East Timor, 3 June
• Joint media release: Australia to Lead APEC Pandemic Response Exercise 2006, 2 June
• Australia Welcomes US Initiative on Iran, 1 June

May

• Australia Mobilises Personnel for Indonesia Earthquake Aid Effort (Ausaid), 30 May
• Australia Sends Urgent Supplies to East Timor (Ausaid), 29 May
• Additional Australian Humanitarian Assistance - Indonesian Earthquake (Ausaid), 28 May
• Australia Acts Swiftly to Assist Victims of Indonesian Earthquake (Ausaid), 27 May
• Australia offers Initial Humanitarian Assistance to Strife-Torn East Timor (Ausaid), 26 May
• New Chair For Major Centre For Regional Democracy (Ausaid), 26 May
• Fiji Election Result, 25 May
• Australia Funds International Internet Aid Portal (Ausaid), 22 May
• Australia welcomes New Iraqi Government, 21 May
• Australia Provides More for African Food Emergency (Ausaid), 21 May
• Australia's Ambassador For HIV/AIDS (Ausaid), 20 May
• Australia Launches New Five Year Plan to Tackle Landmines (Ausaid), 20 May
• Allegations of Replacement for Commander for the Fiji Military Forces, 19 May
• Visit to Solomon Islands, 19 May
• New Chair and Deputy Chair of Australian National Commission for UNESCO, 17 May
• Visit to Singapore, 11 May
• Diplomatic Appointment - Ambassador to Portugal, 11 May
• Pacific 2020: Promoting a Regional Vision for Growth (Ausaid), 10 May
• Australia Helps Private Sector Growth in the Pacific (Ausaid), 10 May
• Government Finalises Transfer of Prisoner Arrangement with United States, 10 May
• Budget 2006-07
  • Joint media release: Budget 2006-07, 9 May
  • Joint media release: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Budget Sustainability, 9 May
  • Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development - Supplementary Administration Costs, 9 May
  • Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative - Contribution, 9 May
  • Australian Scholarships - Establishment, 9 May
  • Official Development Assistance - Preparations for Implementation of Aid White Paper, 9 May
  • Avian Influenza - Maintaining the Delivery of Australian Government Services Overseas, 9 May
  • Iraq - Construction of Staff Residential Apartments in Baghdad, 9 May
  • China - Construction of New Annex to Chancery in Beijing, 9 May
  • Regional Counter-Terrorism Package, 9 May
  • Australian Passports - Enhancing Security and Integrity, 9 May
  • Smartraveller - Continued Funding, 9 May
  • Overseas Consular and Crisis Response - Strengthening Assistance to Australians, 9 May
  • A More Effective Aid Programme, 9 May
• Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum 2006, 3 May
• Australia Continues to Support Justice in Sierra Leone (Ausaid) 2 May
• Downer Hosts International Delegation to Showcase Mornington Peninsula, 1 May

April

• Diplomatic appointment - Ambassador to Austria, 27 April
• Diplomatic appointment - High Commissioner to Malta, 27 April
• Australia Condemns Suicide Bombing in Sri Lanka, 26 April
• Australia welcomes reinstatement of Nepalese Parliament, 26 April
• Australia Doubles Number of Scholarships to the Asia-Pacific Region, 26 April
• Australia to reach out to the Region in the Ongoing Fight against Poverty, 26 April
• Visit to Solomon Islands, 21 April
• Australia to Build New Police Headquarters in Samoa (Ausaid) 20 April
• Australia Condemns Recent Violence in Sri Lanka, 18 April
• Visit to the Pacific, 18 April
• Australia Signs a Nuclear Transfer Agreement and Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with China 3 April
• Cartoon in the Weekend Australian Newspaper Today 1 April

March

• Australia Welcomes UN Security Council Action on Iran 30 March
• Australian Monitors to Observe Free and Fair Solomon Islands Election 30 March
• Launch of Australia-Malaysia Institute, 28 March
• Volcker Inquiry, 23 March
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the United Nations Geneva, 21 March
• Government Thanks Outgoing Chair of National Commission for UNESCO, 21 March
• Joint Ministerial Statement, Australia-Japan: Building a Comprehensive Strategic Relationship, 18 March
• Joint Statement Australia-Japan-United States,Trilateral Strategic Dialogue, 18 March
• Australia Welcomes Ratification of CTBT by Vietnam, 17 March
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York, 17 March
• Joint media release: New Initiative to Increase Investment in the Pacific Islands 15 March
• Australia Gives $10 Million For UN Emergency Response 10 March (AusAID)
• New Leadership At Helm Of Key Regional Democracy Centre 9 March (AusAID)
• Progress Made to Reform UN Treaty Bodies 9 March
• Bomb Blasts in India 8 March
• Cooperation with France in the Pacific 2 March
• Australia Welcomes Fiji Elections Announcement 2 March (AusAID)

February

• Visit to Indonesia 24 February
• Australia and Clinton Foundation Join in Asia Pacific Fight against HIV/AIDS 22 February (AusAID)
• Australia-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting 22 February
• Australian Aid to Strengthen Law and Order in Vanuatu 21 February (AusAID)
• Australia Sends Expert Mission to Help with Philippines Landslide 20 February (AusAID)
• Australia Provides Swift Response to Philippines Landslide, 18 February (AusAID)
• Trilateral Dialogue between Australia, Germany and New Zealand, 16 February
• More Australian Aid to Tackle Starvation in Africa 12 February (AusAID)
• Cyprus Statement 10 February
• 400th Anniversary of Australian-Dutch Contact 10 February
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador To Germany, 9 February
• Dutch Parliament Endorses Military Deployment to Afghanistan, 3 February

January

• Australia Boosts Aid for Peace and Democracy in Afghanistan, 31 January
• Visit to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, 27 January
• Australia Welcomes International Day for Holocaust Commemoration, 27 January
• 2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange, 26 January
• Diplomatic Appointment - High Commissioner to New Zealand, 20 January
• Australia welcomes the results of the Chilean Presidential Election, 16 January
• Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Kiribati, 16 January
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Ireland, 16 January
• Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, 13 January
• Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Lebanon, 13 January
• Australia and East Timor Sign Treaty on Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea, 12 January
• Australia Condemns Iran's Latest Nuclear Steps, 11 January
• Australia condemns further Sri Lankan Ceasefire Agreement violations, 10 January
• Ariel Sharon, 6 January
• Joint Statement Brazil-Australia, 4 January
• Visit to Brazil and Mexico, 3 January