MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
Australia's joint counter-terrorism efforts with the Philippines will
receive a boost from two Australian funded laboratories to detect fraudulent
travel documents, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Chris
Gallus, announced today in Manila.
'Fighting terrorism is a high priority for both governments and this
initiative is part of a $5 million counter-terrorism assistance package
provided by Australia,' Mrs Gallus said.
'The laboratories will help the Philippines Bureau of Immigration combat
illegal migration.
'The laboratories, based in Manila and at Ninoy Aquino International
Airport, will provide staff training in fraud detection and an international
database system used to track suspicious persons.
'The half-million dollar initiative is a joint project between AusAID
and the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous
Affairs,' Mrs Gallus said.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs is in Manila to represent
Australia at the Second Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Forum for East
Asia-Latin America Cooperation.
Media contacts:
Shane Fairlie (Office of Mrs Gallus) 02 6277 4840 or 0408 680 442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489
DIMIA 02 6264 2244