Australia is to reduce the number of troops in East Timor to 650 by early 2009. The announcement was made today by the Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon.
Posts tagged as “East Timor”
More Australian peacekeeping personnel will be sent to East Timor, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced today.
The decision follows the assassination attempt on the East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta.
Speaking at a press conference in Canberra, Rudd emphasised the significance of an attack on the democratic process in one of Australia’s near neighbours.
- Listen to Kevin Rudd’s press conference (21m)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, has delivered a speech on Australian foreign policy and politics at the University of New England in Armidale.
Downer gave the Earle Page College’s Annual Politics Dinner speech.
Paul Foley, a career diplomat with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has been appointed Australia’s first Ambassador to East Timor.
The appointment was announced today by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer.
Text of media release by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer.
I have today announced the appointment of Paul Foley as Australian Ambassador to East Timor.
East Timor’s independence ceremonies on 20 May 2002 were a moving celebration of East Timor’s entry into the community of nations. I was delighted to be present with the Prime Minister and a broad delegation of Australians to witness the birth of a nation.
The Howard government is to introduce a temporary tax levy to pay for Australia’s military commitment to East Timor.
In a statement to the House of Representatives today, Howard said the levy will only apply for 2000-01. It will be applied as an addition to the Medicare levy for taxpayers earning above $50,000 per annum.
The levy will be 0.5% for taxpayers earning between $50,000 and $100,000. It will be 1% for taxpayers earning above $100,000.