Australia and the Modern Commonwealth

Australia is an active member and supporter of the modern Commonwealth of Nations and values its role in advancing the interests of developing countries and small states in world affairs.

The Commonwealth has earned a unique profile as an association dedicated to the promotion of a set of fundamental political principles of importance to Australia: those of democracy, good governance and the rule of law. It has made its mark in the pursuit of democratic principles. But its networks and interests range widely and it contributes to issues as diverse as youth affairs, gender equity, human rights, health and education.

An effective forum

Its diverse membership and its capacity for informal dialogue have also made it an effective forum for the discussion of other contemporary issues of pressing concern to all its members. Australia has applauded its contribution to the development and advancement of the Heavily-Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, its ground-breaking work with the World Bank on the vulnerability of small states and its sophisticated approach to the challenges and opportunities that globalisation presents to its members. These successes all demonstrate the Commonwealth's continuing relevance and importance.

Delivering direct benefits

Many of the Commonwealth's successes have delivered direct benefits to Commonwealth countries in Australia's neighbourhood. The countries of our region have benefited from assistance in conducting elections and from the Secretary-General's "Good Offices" work in conflict prevention and resolution. The Commonwealth has also assisted in building and strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in our region. The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation responds rapidly to our neighbours' requests for a range of technical assistance and they have benefited from Commonwealth advocacy on a wide range of developmental and other issues of importance to them. The Commonwealth's Trade and Investment Access Facility has provided them with much-needed practical advice and assistance in dealing with the World Trade Organisation and the challenges of globalisation.

Providing assistance

At other times, the Commonwealth has provided a vehicle for Australia to deliver assistance to countries further afield. Australia was closely engaged in the Commonwealth's work in breaking down the system of apartheid in South Africa. We worked with the Commonwealth to assist Zimbabwe's transition to independence in 1981 and in observing its national elections in 2000. In Mozambique and Namibia we used the Commonwealth to deliver development assistance, and last year the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) delivered a package of training for trade negotiators in Commonwealth African countries in order to assist them in their negotiations in the WTO.

Promoting Commonwealth values

Through these and a wide range of other activities Australia has for many years been active and visible in Commonwealth affairs. We strongly support Commonwealth political programs, most importantly through the participation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer, in the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG).

CMAG examines reports of serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth political values. Australia provides election observers for Commonwealth Observer Groups in a range of Commonwealth countries and provide technical assistance to National Electoral Commissions to assist with the conduct of elections. In a range of areas Australia works with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other agencies such as the Commonwealth Local Government Forum to provide development assistance to Commonwealth countries.

Assisting small states

With an eye on the changing needs of the Commonwealth membership, Australia has also put forward a range of initiatives at various times aimed at furthering the interests of Commonwealth small states and developing countries. At the 1981 CHOGM in Melbourne, Australia gained agreement to the establishment of a Commonwealth Small States Office in New York. Initially set up to enable Pacific Island Countries to have their voices heard at the United Nations, the office was extended in 1988 to meet the needs of developing countries from other regions of the Commonwealth who would otherwise not have been able to be represented at the United Nations.

Addressing globalisation

At the 1997 CHOGM in Edinburgh, Prime Minister Howard also initiated the Trade and Investment Access Facility (TIAF) which has become one of the Commonwealth's main vehicles for helping developing countries to manage the impact of globalisation and to make better use of the WTO to pursue trade and investment opportunities.

One of the facility's functions is to fund an Adviser in Geneva who assists Commonwealth developing country Ambassadors to the WTO to prepare for negotiations. TIAF's emphasis this year will be on assisting developing countries with strategies to enable them to adopt a strong negotiating position during the forthcoming round of negotiations. Australia made an initial grant to TIAF of $1.5 million over three years and will continue to make annual contributions of $0.5 million during the period 2001-2003.

Supporting modernisation

Australia has been a strong supporter of on-going efforts to modernise the Commonwealth and its Secretariat and we have worked closely with the Secretariat to strengthen the Commonwealth's main development fund and to implement a range of reforms to Secretariat administration. As a member of the Commonwealth High Level Review Group, Australia has worked hard to develop a set of recommendations on the future of the Commonwealth that will ensure it remains a relevant and effective mechanism for meeting the needs of its members.
We are one of the largest financial contributors to the Commonwealth. Australia's assessed and voluntary contributions to the Commonwealth in 2000/2001 were $10.8 million.

A significant part of Australia's contribution is provided to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) through AusAID's development assistance program. At the Durban CHOGM in 1999, Australia announced that it would increase its contribution to the CFTC by 10% each year over a three year period, taking Australia's contribution from $7.2 million in 1999-2000 to $9.5 million by 2002-2003.

Australia also contributes to the Commonwealth Youth Program and the Commonwealth Science Council and provides ad hoc extra-budgetary funding to assist other Commonwealth activities.

Information courtesy Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.