Australia's Policy Paper

Australia is participating in APEC to negotiate various topics with other participating
countries, on trade, environment, and economic issues. Our objectives are as
follows: To promote the transparency of regulatory regimes and eliminate
trade and investment distortion arising from domestic regulations. These
regulations not only impede free and open trade and investment in the
Asia-Pacific region, but also are more trade and/or investment restrictive
than necessary to fulfill a legitimate objective. Also not to restrict
competition unless the benefits of the restriction to the community as a
whole outweigh the costs and the objectives of the legislation and this can
only be achieved by restricting competition. To develop a range of shared
energy goals, building on and expanding the fourteen non-binding policy
principals for rational energy consumption, to enhance business mobility by
exchanging information on regulatory regimes, and finally to facilitate
business travel.

We would also like to discuss the cooperation energy standards thereby
reducing the impacts of energy production and energy use in a manner, which
fully integrates economic and environmental concerns. Also facilitating
investment in power infrastructure projects. APEC members have previously
agreed in principal to adopt improved servile standards for processing
applications for 2nd extensions of temporary residence permits for
executives, managers, and specialists transferred within their companies to
other APEC economies. To also issue multiple entry visas and temporary
business residency permits will be accessible on the Internet. We, along
with several other APEC economies are implementing a trial of APEC Business
Travel Card Scheme which offers accredited business travelers visa-free
travel and expedited airport processing when visiting participating
economies. Australia's Federal State and Territory governments have
developed a timetable for reviewing restricted competition and also a reform
of all existing legislation that restricts competition. Once legislation has
been reviewed, each government is committed to systematically reviewing the
legislation once every ten years, This review exercise requires governments
to identify and justify restrictions on competition. Thus greatly improving
the transparency of our regulatory regime. Reform to occupational regulation
is also an issue proceeding in Australia's economy the extension of the
competitive conduct rules in the Trade Practice Act in July 1996 means that
they now apply to occupational or professional associations.

In addition to the economy wide policies put in place to identify and
reform regulations which unnecessarily constrict competition policy.
Australia has developed a number of micro economic reform programs that
reduce the cost of regulation in particular industries or sectors of the
economy. As for implementation of previous commitments Australia has already
made significant progress towards reviewing legislation that restricts
competition by commencing several reviews. In April 1998 the Australian
Parliament enacted amendments to the Federal Trade Practices Act, Which
protect small businesses against unconscionable conduct and allow the
prescription of industry codes of practice including a Franchising code of
conduct.

For further commitments, Australia will do the following: continue to
review domestic regulation with the objective of minimizing restrictions on
competition, participate in policy dialogue between APEC economies about
experiences in deregulation, including the use of individual case studies.
Also participate in regular dialogue with business community including a
possible APEC symposium. Finally use the policy dialogue between economies
to develop APEC principals and identify "Best practice" for domestic
deregulation.



Review your position with regard to previous meetings of IPEG

Australia's economy is growing and growing every day, and probably as we
speak. But it is a different kind of growing. It is with the use of other
people's products; counterfeiting. Counterfeiting is a major problem in
Australia's economy right now. Some major rip-off right now are computer
gams, Sony Playstation, and with the Olympics coming up, Olympic
merchandise.

Considered Issues About the Enforcement of Copyrights

1. stricter laws

2. owners can protect their product against infringements

3. better border seizure plans



Issues about the ideas

1. Though copyright problem are bad in Australia, they makers of the
counterfeiters don't make a big gain because the do not commercially
sell their items

2. What is the cost of the enforcement of copyright's

3. Border control, how far should they go



Technology makes it happen. The bad thing about Australia's good source of
technology is that it makes it easier for counterfeiters to do what they do.
The technology let's the counterfeiters make a good quality product, and
many of them at one time. Yet, technology has also helped the problem. The
Australian Customs Service and the Sydney Organizing Committee for the
Olympic Games (SOCOG) have helped put a stop to the problem. With their
help and new ideas, holograms, bar codes, and new DNA technology, have held
counterfeiters to only a 30-40% success rate. The problem is still big, but
the answers are just starting to come.



What is the current status of IPR in your member's economy?

APEC recently endorsed a new program, “APEC Master of Sustainable
Development” (partly funded by the Australian government) to be in charge of
sustainable development in the member economy, Australia. This program is
designed to enhance the professional capacities, technical skills, and
knowledge base of middle to senior level managers responsible for
environmental management and policy development. The course is designed with
14 weeks of coursework on sustainable development including, but not limited
to: law, economics and trade, policy, decision-making, ecological
principles, resource use, systems management, environmental auditing
conservation, and global and regional issues. A thesis project is then
undertaken in the participant's home organization.

This program aims to address the capacity building needs in establishing
environmentally sound economic development in the Asia-Pacific region. With
an emphasis on developing those human resource competencies that help
generate greater cooperative processes and regional linkages, the program
adopts an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the practicalities of
sustainable development.



What does your economy's leaders envision for the future, both in your
member economy and throughout the Asia-Pacific region?

Real GDP Growth

The Real GRP keeps increasing every year, and it should continue to grow
throughout the millennium. Around a 4.5% and a 6.5% increase each year.
This started around 1993.



Inflation

There has been an exceptionally good inflation performance since 1998.
Thought the Australian dollar value has slipped a little, the Australian
economy is still on the rise.



Unemployment

This is a problem. The unemployment rate has grown, meaning more people are
at home, instead of out making a living.



What do you want APEC to do to achieve this vision?

We would like APEC to continue its extrordinary work enhancing the IPEG
organization for the member economy, Australia. We are incredibly pleased
at the outcome of the proposals by member economies such as the Republic of
Korea and Mexico. Since the introduction of these ideas, Australia’s
economy has sufficiently improved.


Sustainable development efforts throughout APEC member economies help many
nations, including ours. Sustainable development affects our country as it
is helpful to have a development effort that can remain steady and have a
foundation to rely on. Australia briefed member economies on its issues
paper on biotechnology and stressed the importance of discussion on the
matter. The Republic of Korea briefed member economies on its initial
proposal for technical cooperation facilitation which was agreed with an
amendment. Australia emphasized that it would be happy to consider training
proposals outside those indicated in Korea’s final proposal. In addition,
we proposed to enhance CAPs with a view to advancing the outcomes of the
IPEG for the next three years. Australia also raised the three issues:
enforcement of copyrights, public education, and a mechanism to share
information on their revision of members’ laws and regulations. We also
suggested that the IPEG should enhance association with WIPO and specify the
type of interface that will be established.

Australian trade with other APEC communities account for about 70%
merchandise exports and 66% service exports. So therefore we can conclude
that APEC has a vast influence on and assists trade within the members of
the organization.

In March 1994, Ministers of the Environment met in Canada and adopted an
Environmental Vision Statement and a Framework of Principles for integrating
economic and environmental issues. The APEC Economic Leaders Declaration
for Action reaffirmed the integration of environment and sustainable
development into APEC activities. The objectives of the Action Plan of
1997-1999 are the following: continue to provide conceptual and technical
input into the development or strengthening or international environmental
legal instruments. Also to continue to provide legal technical assistance
to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, pursue
initiatives to establish regional programs for training in environmental
law, maintain the IUCN Environmental Law Information System as a unique
resource and make it more widely accessible. Finally to develop, maintain,
and expand networks to provide substantial input into Environmental Law
Program and IUCN program priorities. The basic principles guiding the
Environmental Law Service are:

1. To address needs which countries have identified themselves

2. To make laws which are realistic reflections of the needs and capacity
of the country in which they are inacted.

3. To involve in-country experts whenever possible, and provide the
information and the advice they require.

4. To make the process of drafting environmental laws open to all
concerned.