Decisions under Australia’s Foreign Arrangements Scheme

Australia’s Foreign Arrangements Scheme has been in operation since 10 December 2020. The Scheme requires states and territories, local governments and Australian public universities to notify the Minister for Foreign Affairs of existing and proposed foreign arrangements. I have so far been notified of over 1,000 arrangements.
States and territories have now completed their initial audit of existing arrangements with foreign national governments.
The more than 1,000 notified so far reflect the richness and breadth of Australia’s international interests and demonstrate the important role played by Australia’s states, territories, universities and local governments in advancing Australia’s interests abroad.
I thank the states and territories for their cooperation and for what is developing as a cooperative approach under the Scheme.
Following review and consideration of arrangements, I can advise that the following four will be cancelled:

  • Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Education and Training (Victoria) and the Technical and Vocational Training Organisation, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Islamic Republic of Iran, signed 25 November 2004.
  • Protocol of Scientific Cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education in the Syrian Arab Republic and the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Training of Victoria, signed 31 March 1999.
  • Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Victoria and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, signed 8 October 2018.
  • Framework Agreement between the Government of Victoria and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China on Jointly Promoting the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, signed on 23 October 2019.

I consider these four arrangements to be inconsistent with Australia’s foreign policy or adverse to our foreign relations in line with the relevant test in Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020.
I have also decided to approve a proposed Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Human Resources Development in Energy and Mineral Resources Sector between the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation of the Government of Western Australia and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia.
I will continue to consider foreign arrangements notified under the Scheme. I expect the overwhelming majority of them to remain unaffected. I look forward to ongoing collaboration with states, territories, universities and local governments in implementing the Foreign Arrangements Scheme.

City welcomes 150 new citizens with return to face-to-face ceremonies

City of Newcastle embraced the return to face-to-face Australian Citizenship Ceremonies on Wednesday, welcoming 150 new citizens from 39 countries in a COVIDsafe ceremony at the Civic Theatre.
Originating from all corners of the globe, from the United Kingdom and the USA to India and Afghanistan, the City’s newest citizens were the first to make the pledge to Australia in person in Newcastle since the Department of Home Affairs moved to online ceremonies in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lord-Mayor-Nuatali-Nelmes-and-Sahlee-Cook.JPGAmong them was Sahlee Cook, who swapped life in the Philippines for Newcastle’s laidback lifestyle.
After meeting in the Philippines, Sahlee Cook married her now husband Adam, with the couple choosing to settle in his hometown of Newcastle to create a permanent home together.
“Aside from the beautiful beaches, lots of cafes to choose from and different variety of restaurants, what I like most is the people. The people here in Newcastle are nice, helpful, and pretty laid back,” Mrs Cook said.
“I am grateful and beyond happy to finally be an Australian citizen. Australia is such a beautiful and amazing country, so I am honoured to be part of this great nation and to live in Newcastle.”
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, who presided over the citizenship ceremony alongside Master of Ceremonies, Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen, said she had been looking forward to warmly welcoming Australia’s newest citizens in-person once again.
“City of Newcastle has worked closely with the Department of Home Affairs to safely resume face-to-face ceremonies to allow conferees to come together and celebrate one of the most special days in their lives,” Cr Nelmes said.
“As Novocastrians, we are proud to be part of such a culturally diverse, inclusive community and we welcome people of all backgrounds.”
City of Newcastle’s next citizenship ceremony is planned for Wednesday 1 September 2021.

Livestream brings world’s finest authors to Newcastle’s Digital Library

Newcastle book lovers are being given access to one of Australia’s largest literary events thanks to a collaboration between City of Newcastle and the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
The Live and Local program will see a range of festival events livestreamed from Carriageworks in Sydney direct to City of Newcastle’s Digital Library on Friday 30 April and Saturday 1 May 2021.
The 8m-wide Storywall in City of Newcastle's Digital Library.
The free community event provides access to a diverse range of authors not usually available to regional audiences and is being delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s commitment to promoting lifelong learning opportunities and creating social and community connections.
Newcastle residents will be able to join in the real time conversations, debates and discussions with some of the world’s finest authors during the livestream, with the high profile line-up including Richard Flanagan, Kerry O’Brien, Michael Robotham, David Marr, Laura Tingle and Judy Blume.
And while the Newcastle audience will be physically separated from the events by more than 170km, the City’s Digital Library will put them right in the thick of the action thanks to the state-of-the-art technology of the 8m-wide Storywall, which will make audiences feel as though they are in the room with the writers.
Newcastle participants will also have a chance to send questions via SMS direct to the Carriageworks stage during the interactive Q&A sessions.
The Sydney Writers Festival Live and Local project aims to promote interest in books and reading nationally, creating opportunities for audiences to participate in Festival events through digital livestream technology.
The livestream event is also a great chance to explore Newcastle’s newest library and experience the range of technology and library services on offer, including the Grab-and-Go collection featuring more than 30 of the latest book titles released.
The livestream will be on at the Digital Library, located at 12 Stewart Avenue Newcastle West, from 10am to 5pm on Friday 30 April and 1pm to 5pm on Saturday 1 May, with no bookings required.
Log on to https://whatson.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/ to check out the full list of the Sydney Writers Festival livestream events on offer.

FIRE AND RESCUE NSW WELCOMES 208 NEW RECRUITS

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has welcomed 208 new firefighters to its ranks at a graduation ceremony this morning at the FRNSW Emergency Services Academy in Orchard Hills.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott congratulated the new permanent and on-call firefighters and wished them well as they commence their service to the community.
“Becoming a firefighter is no easy feat. FRNSW attracts up to 8000 applications each year, yet of these thousands, only a small number are chosen,” Mr Elliott said.
“These recruits will not only face fires. They are trained to respond to various incidents including medical emergencies, natural disasters, flood rescues and car accidents, environmental and hazardous material emergencies and counter terrorism.
“The recruits will be joining an elite organisation that prides itself on continued training and learning and I am sure that many in the community will feel much safer with these highly-trained recruits now on duty across NSW.”
Fire and Rescue NSW received a record investment of $900 million this financial year to support frontline firefighters in protecting lives, property and to continue being prepared for anything.
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter congratulated the new recruits at today’s ceremony.
“There were 208 dedicated new firefighters standing before us today, each of them from diverse backgrounds but sharing one common goal – to protect the irreplaceable,” he said.
“These recruits have the diverse skills, capabilities and talents required to undertake the varied work that our firefighters do – from educating the community about fire safety and providing emergency medical care to responding to fires, natural disasters and hazmat incidents.
“They’ve been trained to be prepared for anything and I know they will uphold the high standards of integrity, courage and professionalism expected of a FRNSW firefighter.”
The new recruits come from all over NSW and a range of backgrounds, including a former Nepalese firefighter, a former school teacher and an accomplished television production editor.

SHOOSH FOR KIDS THIS WINTER

Poor spectator behaviour at junior sport is set to be addressed, with the Shoosh for Kids Winter Awareness Month kicking off this weekend.
Following a hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-19, the campaign is making a strong comeback, with a record 21 sector partners and more than 600 sporting clubs and associations already signed up to take part in the initiaitive.
Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said with larger groups back at community sport it’s essential to keep sideline comments and behaviour positive.
“With a full season to look forward to this winter, the Shoosh for Kids message is more important than ever,” Mr Lee said.
“It’s great to see larger crowds and families back at community sport, and we all have a responsibility to ensure it is a fun, safe environment for children. One of the best ways we can do this is to keep comments positive so that kids want to keep playing and enjoying the benefits that sport offers.”
Founding partner of Shoosh for Kids and NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) CEO David Trodden said the campaign is vital in ensuring kids keep returning to junior sport.
“The NSWRL is proud to have helped launch this campaign six years ago and we’re thrilled the campaign has now broadened across the sport sector,” Mr Trodden said.
“We are very passionate about creating an enjoyable and positive environment to ensure kids want to come back each week, and most of all, have fun playing!”
In addition to new state sporting organisation partners, the network of 65 PCYC clubs across NSW have joined Shoosh for Kids for the first time, expanding the reach of the campaign to more than 70,000 youth that attend clubs and programs.
PCYC NSW CEO Dominic Teakle said the organisation was proud to join forces with the Office of Sport to help address negative spectator behaviour.
“The campaign aligns with one of our fundamental values – Respect – so we’re excited to be on board with this fantastic initiative led by the NSW Government,” Mr Teakle said.
“We know that young people thrive with positive adult role models and the Shoosh for Kids initiative reinforces positive, supportive behaviours in sport”.
Shoosh for Kids Winter Awareness Month will run from 1 to 31 May 2021, with free resources available to clubs and associations that sign up throughout the campaign.
For more information or to sign up, visit: sport.nsw.gov.au/shooshforkids

NEW 24-HOUR ECONOMY LIQUOR REFORMS TAKE EFFECT

The next round of changes to NSW liquor laws comes into effect today to further support Sydney’s nightlife and encourage a vibrant and safe 24-hour economy.
Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the changes would boost jobs, provide the community with more entertainment options, and build on efforts to help revitalise the night-time economy.
“We’ve listened to industry and removed outdated and unnecessary regulations. The new rules give businesses confidence and certainty that we are serious about boosting the 24-hour economy,” Mr Dominello said.
“The economy doesn’t go to sleep at night and neither should our laws. This is about making life easier for businesses, while also prioritising community safety.
“These changes will breathe new life into one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic.”
Liquor reforms that begin today include:
Replacement of the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross licence freeze

  • The freeze on new liquor licences for hotels, registered clubs, nightclubs, and packaged liquor outlets has ended and is replaced with a new evidence-based approach to manage numbers of licensed premises in the precincts and the related risks.
  • The new approach is set out in a ‘Cumulative Impact Assessment’ which is available from the Liquor & Gaming NSW website.

Live music and entertainment changes

  • Liquor licensing decision-makers are required under NSW liquor laws to consider the need to support employment and other opportunities in the live music industry, and arts, tourism, or community and/or cultural sectors when determining licence applications.
  • NSW Councils have the option to take the lead in managing complaints about noise from inside licensed premises in their local area, including entertainment sound.
  • Councils will also have new powers to establish ‘Special Entertainment Precincts’ where they adopt their own plans to encourage and manage live, amplified music.

Changes to small bars

  • Eligible small bar applicants with the necessary planning approvals can be issued with an interim approval to start trading as soon as they lodge their liquor licence application online.

Further information about the 24-hour economy liquor reforms can be found here.

SECRET TOURS THE KEY TO UNLOCKING SYDNEY CBD

Secret tours will be held across the Sydney CBD this weekend with $10,000 worth of vouchers up for grabs for the first people to solve the riddles and unlock the clues.
The Secret City Trails Sydney website is part of the City Revitalisation Innovation Challenge, supported by Transport for NSW, to encourage people back into the CBD.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Sydney CBD was the economic engine room of the State and this exciting initiative would help people rediscover everything it has to offer and give it a much-needed jump-start.
“The pandemic has seen working patterns shift and we have to look at new and innovative ways to entice people back to into the city,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Nothing beats a day out in Sydney and this new and creative project will help more people rediscover the hidden gems of our city to support businesses and jobs in the CBD.”
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the challenge is about giving people exciting new reasons to head into the city.
“We are seeing more people returning to the CBD and we want that trend to continue. These unique experiences give people that extra reason to venture out of their suburb and into the CBD to explore all this wonderful city has to offer,” Mr Constance said.
“We are proud to provide more than $400, 000 in funding to encourage business to innovate new ways to help revitalise the city as we continue a strong economic recovery through COVID.”
The Secret City Trails Sydney will see participants discover the city through self-guided walks and by solving riddles to unlock curious stories about local landmarks. The first 2,000 people to complete a trail will receive $5 to spend at the final destination, on a coffee, ice cream or as a discount off the total bill.
The CBD will also play host to an outdoor art gallery called, ‘I Came to See’, a joint initiative with City of Sydney featuring work from Australian artists.
The Director of the Council’s city life program, Emma Rigney, said art plays an important role in Sydney’s cultural life.
“A thriving arts scene is a critical element of our vision for Sydney as a liveable, sustainable and dynamic global city, and is an aspect of our city that we are keen to promote to both Sydneysiders and visitors,” Ms Rigney said.
Explore Sydney’s Secret City Trails at: https://secretcitytrails.com/sydney.
The ‘I Came to See’ Outdoor Art Gallery will be in the Sydney CBD on:
Saturday 1 May – Friday 7 May at Martin Place
Saturday 8 May – Tuesday 18 May at Customs House Square
Wednesday 19 May – Sunday 30 May at Exchange Place, Barangaroo

TAFE NSW PARTNERS WITH AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT TO TRAIN ELITE ATHLETES

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee today announced TAFE NSW has signed a partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport to encourage more elite athletes to pursue vocational education and training pathways.
Under the memorandum of understanding, athletes will be given personalised support to balance their sporting commitments and vocational training.
The number of athletes seeking professional career advice through the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network more than doubled in 2020 with around 20 per cent of these athletes going on to enrol at TAFE or university to support their post-sport career aspirations.
Mr Lee said TAFE NSW will join the Elite Athlete Education Network, firming its reputation as a world-class vocational education and training provider.
“This partnership cements TAFE NSW as a provider of choice for elite athletes who want flexibility and personalised support to gain employment skills while they compete at the elite level,” Mr Lee said.
“We’re proud to be partnering with the Australian Institute of Sport to help deliver the skilled workforce Australia needs now and into the future.”
Elite athletes enrolled at TAFE NSW will receive a nominated point of contact to provide advice and guidance on academic planning, course management and timetabling.
Australian Institute of Sport CEO Peter Conde said the agreement will support elite athletes who may have missed the opportunity to obtain formal skills.
“This is great news for elite athletes who can take advantage of the wide range of courses and flexible study options offered by TAFE NSW,” Mr Conde said.
“Education and training enable Australian athletes to learn, thrive and contribute to the community during their time in high-performance sport and life afterwards.”

Australia must back vaccine patent waiver: Greens

The Greens have reiterated their calls for Australia to support a global vaccine patent waiver, supported by more than 100 countries, ahead of a critical World Trade Organization council meeting on Friday.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, International Aid and Development spokesperson, said:
“This is a matter of global justice and responsibility. It is morally bankrupt for Australia to give anything other than full-throated support for the patent waiver.
“Rich, western countries banding together to hoard vaccines and deny them to poorer countries where thousands are dying daily is white supremacy, plain and simple.”
“It’s well overdue for the government to come out with a clear position in support of the waiver.
“The lives and health of billions of people matter far more than the profits of big pharmaceutical companies.
“The Greens stand with the hundreds of Australian health professionals who have this week come out in support of the patent waiver.”
Senator Rachel Siewert, Health spokesperson, said:
“The Australian Government is enabling vaccine apartheid in not supporting a proposal to the World Trade Organisation to waive intellectual property rights to allow Covid-19 vaccine production to be rolled out and made accessible and affordable to everyone in the global community.
“The Australian Government has to act immediately on this issue, they have been dragging their feet far too long on it.
“The Government needs to play a role in ensuring big pharma moves to temporarily waive intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines to facilitate universal access.
“Covid-19 vaccines should be seen as a public good, not a commodity.
“Australia has a global responsibility to ensure lower GDP nations get adequate and timely access to vaccines.
“It’s very clear that none of us are safe, until we are all safe.”

Major investment in Northern Territory defence bases

The Morrison Government will invest $747 million to upgrade four key training areas and ranges in the Northern Territory to enable the Australian Defence Force to conduct simulated training exercises and remain battle ready.
Essential upgrades will be made to four key military training areas and weapon ranges in the Northern Territory, including: Robertson Barracks, Kangaroo Flats, Mount Bundey and Bradshaw.
These Defence training areas and facilities will support greater engagement with our Indo-Pacific neighbours and our allies, and to conduct small and large scale military exercises across a number of different scenarios.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the investment was part of almost $8 billion in defence capital infrastructure works over the next decade in the Northern Territory.
“This investment will deliver a jobs boom for the Northern Territory,” the Prime Minister said.
“We continue to invest more than $270 billion in defence capability across Australia over the next decade, ensuring we have a capable defence force to meet a changing global environment, while backing thousands of ADF men and women with the newest technology and training,” the Prime Minister said.
“Working with the United States and Indo-Pacific neighbours, we will continue to advance Australia’s interests by investing in the Australian Defence Force, particularly across Northern Australia.”
“Our focus is on pursuing peace, stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific, with a world order that favours freedom.
“This investment will also maximise local jobs through a targeted industry plan to contract local businesses throughout the entire supply chain. My commitment is keeping Australians safe and keeping Australians in jobs.”
Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said this significant investment would ensure the Australian Defence Force continues to deliver world class training and our engagement with allies and other nations through the conduct of joint training exercises, including with the US Marine Rotational Force – Darwin.
“This investment is critical to ensuring that our ADF land combat capability is equipped with the cutting edge technology it will require to maintain our competitive advantage,” Minister Dutton said.
“These works will provide a strong economic benefit to the region, with significant opportunities for the local construction industry and local tradies over a five-year delivery phase program.
“Significant opportunities will exist for local Australian industry to bid for almost all of the construction works, planned to be delivered through numerous local sub-contractor packages by Defence’s local Darwin-based Managing Contractor, Sitzler.”
Subject to Parliamentary approvals, construction is expected to commence in the second half of 2021, with completion expected by mid-2026.