Results for Australia

(CPU Online/Pacific Media Watch): Representatives from across the Commonwealth this week revealed press freedom was under threat from political and economic interference as well as self-censorship in areas spanning the Pacific, Africa and Asia.

Free trading between the USA and Australia will come into force on 1 January 2005.

The Ministerial meeting recognised that a strong nuclear safeguards and security framework was essential to realising the benefits of peaceful use of nuclear energy. It noted that effective nuclear safeguards and security measures were vital not only for countries with nuclear power programs or research reactors, but also for those where radioactive materials are used for medical, industrial and scientific purposes.

The following is a fact sheet from the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Non-proliferation on the Australia Group, which was created in 1984 to combat the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.

The Tongan Defence Service is to help Australia provide housing facilities to Australian Aborigines.

The United States and Australia signed a framework memorandum of understanding July 7 outlining future Australian participation on cooperative missile defence activities.

An Australian Warship, HMAS Parramatta, will visit the Kingdom of Tonga from 14 to17 June 2004 as part of the ongoing Defence Relationship with Tonga.

Asked about the Australian government's reaction to Tonga's controversial new media laws, the Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told a Press Conference in Nuku'alofa on December 17 that "We are not the regional policeman . . . the moral judge and jury for the region, it is not our job."

Fiji Foreign Affairs Minister Kaliopate Tavola said he was very pleased with his meeting with his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer, the Fiji Daily Post reported on August 26. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.