MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that the Australian National University, in conjunction with Murdoch University has been selected, subject to contract negotiations, to host the new Centre for Democratic Institutions (CDI).
The CDI is a unique Government initiative aimed at promoting democracy, human rights and effective governance in developing countries.
The Australian Government, through AusAID will provide up to $5 million over the next five years to establish and run the CDI. The ANU/Murdoch bid for the project, which was selected by an independent tender panel, demonstrated excellent management capability. It is expected the CDI will be moving towards becoming self-sustaining by 2002.
The Government believes effective democratic institutions play a key role in achieving the objective of Australia's aid program - poverty reduction and sustainable development. The Government has identified governance as one of five priority sectors for the aid program. The CDI will make a major practical contribution to improving governance.
The CDI will provide practical training for parliamentarians, senior administrators, journalists, community leaders and others influential in a country's governance. The Centre will offer short courses and short-term placements in Australian institutions.
Together the two Universities offer a strong range of expertise and knowledge of the issues involved in advancing democratic participation within developing countries.
The CDI will be located in the Research School of Social Sciences at the ANU in Canberra. It will draw heavily on the expertise at the ANU's North Australia Research Unit in Darwin, the Department of Politics and International Studies at Murdoch University in Perth and the Asia-Pacific research schools within both Universities.
An advisory board made up of key people from government, business and community sectors involved in the promotion of human rights and democracy will guide the CDI.
The position of Director of the CDI will be advertised soon.
I would like to thank all the Universities that responded to the public tender for the project. The field was particularly strong, demonstrating the depth of expertise in Asia-Pacific affairs and governance within Australian Universities.
The establishment of the CDI fulfils a promise I made during the last election to assist developing countries to strengthen democracy and provide effective governance.
Media contacts:
Innes Willox (Minister's Office) 02 6277 7500 / 0411 414 695
Deborah Nesbitt (AusAID) 02 6206 4966