Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade invites members of the public to make submissions to Australia's second foreign and trade policy White Paper, titled Advancing the National Interest.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, and the Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile, have commissioned the Department to prepare the new White Paper.
The government produced Australia's first foreign and trade policy White Paper, In the National Interest, in August 1997. Since then, Australia's international security and economic environment has undergone some significant changes. The terrible events of September 11, and political and economic developments in our region have had a pronounced effect on
global and regional affairs.
Advancing the National Interest will examine how Australia can best use its considerable credentials and attributes to enhance its national interests in an increasingly globalised and fluid international environment.
A high-level Task Force has been established within the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade to work on the White Paper.
Public submissions to the Task Force should be typed and be up to five pages in length. Submissions can be lodged electronically at whitepaper@dfat.gov.au or by post to:
The White Paper Task Force
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
BARTON ACT 0221
AUSTRALIA
Further information about Advancing the National Interest and the
text of the 1997 White Paper, In the National Interest, can be found
at the Department's webpage, www.dfat.gov.au/ani/index.html.