Foreign Minister announces 60 AusAID scholarships

May 17, 2006

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer has announced 60 AusAID scholarships worth $3 million over the next three years for overseas students to study at the University of Wollongong's Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention (CTCP).

Mr Downer said the students from countries in the Asia-Pacific region would learn important skills to help their countries fight international organised crime and terrorism.

Mr Downer, in Wollongong on 16 May to present the inaugural Lecture on National and International Security, said the University was destined to become one of Asia-Pacific's most important resources in the fight against international crime.

The lecture celebrated the Federal Government's announcement earlier this month of $12 million in funding to build the new Global Centre of Excellence in Transnational Crime Prevention, which will be one of the first buildings at the University's Innovation Campus.

The Minister used his visit to announce the Government through its aid agency AusAID was currently funding 19 students from Indonesia, the Philippines, China and Pakistan at the Centre. They were studying courses such as Masters degrees in Transnational Crime and Forensic Accounting, and Mr Downer said the Government would extend the program over the next two years.

"I'm pleased to announce the Government will fund a further 41 places over the next two years to take the total to 60 places...directed to priority countries and agencies in the Asia-Pacific Region," Mr Downer said.

"The additional scholarships highlight the Government's commitment to building capacity in Australia and internationally in these areas which are critical to international and national security."

Mr Downer said UOW's transnational crime-fighting centre was enormously important for Australia and the Asia-Pacific, because it provided the opportunity for law enforcement agents from across the region to learn new skills to combat international crime ranging from people-smuggling to terrorism.

"The Centre will be an important national and international resource, contributing to the global debate on best practice approaches to dealing with trans-boundary threats."

The Minister paid tribute to UOW as a "creative, dynamic and outward-looking University that is really making its mark in the Asia-Pacific Region and the world."

UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, thanked Mr Downer for his visionary support for the CTCP, and said it was fitting that Mr Downer should deliver the inaugural address to celebrate funding for the new Centre.

Professor Sutton said when he had first taken his idea for the Centre to the Foreign Minister, Mr Downer had urged him to expand the concept and come back with a bigger vision. "We did that, and the Minister supported us," said Professor Sutton. "Now he has backed up the Government's $12 million in funding to build the new Centre with $1 million a year in scholarships.

"We also received tremendous support from the Education Minister Julie Bishop and Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells."

In a wide-ranging address, Mr Downer spoke about the importance of capacity building for countries facing transnational threats, and said the Centre would play an important role in helping to achieve that.

"In most developing countries we see government institutions struggle to deliver services under severe financial constraints and with staff lacking training and experience. For the international community as a whole, and for Australia in particular, it is therefore a matter of both national and international security that countries work together to strengthen law enforcement and counter-terrorism capabilities in all countries."

The Minister also spoke about the importance of maximizing cooperation with emerging global powers China and India, reiterated Australia's on-going commitment to its roles in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor and Solomon Islands and said Australia's relations with Indonesia were being repaired after recent disagreement over Australia's acceptance of asylum-seekers from Irian Jaya.

"Australia and Indonesia have a strong vested interest in constructive relations, and we don't want throw away all the good things we have built up over the years," Mr Downer said. "For all the excellent cooperation we are two very different countries with destinies locked together for all times...so we have to understand and manage our differences.

"I am heartened and optimistic that we will work our way through our differences."

Mr Downer, who had met his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda in Singapore the night before his UOW lecture, said Prime Minister John Howard would meet with Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in June - the first time the two leaders have met since Australia's decision to grant temporary protection visas to 42 asylum seekers.