Executive Summary
The committee's report has highlighted the diversity of the
countries of the Indian Ocean rim and the multiple ways it which these states
can be categorised. This diversity and the lack of a single agreed definition
of the 'Indian Ocean rim' has created a significant challenge for the
development of policy, both from an Australian and a regional perspective.
Australia's approach to trade in the Indian Ocean rim is largely bilateral;
defence and strategic relations are based on single issue groupings; and aid to
the region is predominately provided under the auspices of the United Nations.
Evidence gathered in relation to the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation
(IOR-ARC) demonstrates clearly that diversity in the region—both economic and
political—has created inertia in the region's main organisation.
The Australian Government departments and agencies that
provided evidence to the inquiry, on the whole, approach the Indian Ocean rim
countries separately or through single issue sub-regional groups. In its
submission, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated that the
diversity of the countries included in the Indian Ocean rim poses challenges—notable
in the discussion of multilateral trade cooperation in the region. It noted:
The nations of the Indian Ocean Rim, home to 2.3 billion
people, are a...vast array of cultural, political, religious and economic
diversity...Some nations are modern, developed states while many are still in
the process of development.
Despite the challenges posed by the diversity of the Indian
Ocean rim countries, the committee sees significant benefit in Australia
working at a strategic policy level to promote the concept of an Indian Ocean
rim region. The committee feels that promoting the conceptualisation of the
Indian Ocean as a distinct region will assist with the development of
Australian policy and allow Australia to better coordinate efforts and
connections already being made with sub-regional and issue specific groups.
Much of the interaction between Australia and other
countries in the Indian Ocean rim occurs through specific activities—research,
development assistance, trade, mining, fisheries or military. However, at a
higher level, there is no clear strategic policy providing a clear direction
for Australian engagement with the region. The committee suspects that, as Drs
Bateman, Bergin and Trood argued, this lack of broader policy is due to the
fact that Australia as a nation only recognises the significance of the Indian
Ocean rim intermittently.
The committee heard from people in the North West region,
particularly during its visit to the Pilbara, about concerns that Defence, and
more broadly the Australian Government, was not paying sufficient attention to
the security issues surrounding the resource sector and its critical
infrastructure. Representatives from the Department of State Development,
Western Australian Government, expressed some frustration with regard to
inquiries and reports conducted into infrastructure security in the North West
of the state. They noted that while the Western Australian Government had
provided much input about security and infrastructure issues, it had received
no response to its concerns. [1]
In the committee's view, the rise of Asia over the coming
decades and the growth and development of the nations of the Indian Ocean rim
will profoundly influence Australia's future. Australia needs to do more to
engage with the Indian Ocean rim and in this context promote the nation's
interests—security, economic and research.
Australia's upcoming role as chair of IOR-ARC will provide a
valuable opportunity to focus domestic and international attention on the
Indian Ocean rim. The Australian Government should maximise the potential
benefits of this occasion to:
-
invest in developing Australian understanding and awareness of
the Indian Ocean rim;
- strengthen our security, trade, research and cultural links with
our Indian Ocean rim neighbours; and
- establish and support institutional structures and mechanisms to
support the common interests of Australian and Indian Ocean rim countries.
With the aim of encouraging public and government dialogue
concerning the Indian Ocean rim, and placing Australia in a position to
capitalise on the opportunities in the region, the committee has made the
following recommendations.
Recommendations
Raising the profile of Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional
Co-operation (IOR-ARC) within Australia—making connections in the Indian Ocean
rim
Recommendation 1 Chapter
5
The committee recommends that:
- the Australia Government lead by example and ensure that its
representation at IOR-ARC Council of Ministers' Meetings is always at
ministerial level;
- the Australian Government commit additional resources to the
IOR-ARC Secretariat and encourage other member states to be more generous in
the resources they make available;
- the Australian Government promote the profile of IOR-ARC by
making reference to the activities of the organisation whenever appropriate;
- the Prime Minister of Australia open the 2013 IOR-ARC Council of
Ministers' Meeting in Perth;
- the Australian Government advocate that the heads of government
of the Indian Ocean rim countries hold periodic meetings to discuss matters
affecting IOR-ARC; and
- the Australian Government should encourage countries with
observer status at IOR-ARC to send high-ranking representatives to the meeting.
Recommendation 5 Chapter
9
The committee recommends that the Australian Government
consider establishing an Institute for Indian Ocean Research in a Western
Australian University.
Recommendation 6 Chapter
9
The committee recommends that the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade work with other agencies to make an audit of research
projects which already have country to country links. Further, the committee
recommends that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade engage with
Australian universities and the research community to find ways in which to
link Australian institutions to Indian Ocean rim institutions.
Recommendation 11 Chapter 11
The committee recommends that the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade work with other departments, including the Department of
Resources, Energy and Tourism and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry, to prioritise progress on effective and consistent port state control
measures in the Indian Ocean rim as part of Australia's plan for its upcoming
chair of IOR-ARC.
Recommendation 15 Chapter 13
The committee notes the role played by the foundations,
institutes and councils in promoting business-to-business and people-to-people
links with countries in the Indian Ocean rim. The committee recommends that the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade coordinate a roundtable of Indian Ocean
rim country foundations, institutes and councils. The roundtable should focus
on:
- ways to increase Australian community and business awareness of
IOR-ARC and its activities; and
- any other relevant matters.
Actions for Australia during its time as chair of IOR-ARC
Recommendation 2 Chapter
5
The committee recommends that the Australian Government as
chair of IOR-ARC:
- encourage IOR-ARC to strengthen its links with the business community
in the Indian Ocean by considering establishing an Eminent Persons Group made
up of leading business people throughout the region;
- use its influence to involve Trade Ministers as mainstream
participants in IOR-ARC meetings;
- ensure that the contribution of the smaller countries to the work
of IOR-ARC, such as Mauritius which houses the Secretariat, is given
prominence; and
- pursue the notion mentioned in previous meetings of establishing
'nodes of excellence' (later recommendations expand on this recommendation).
Recommendation 3 Chapter
5
The committee recommends that, respecting IOR-ARC's charter
and the views of other member countries, the Australia Government work with
member states to look at broadening the membership to include other key Indian
Ocean countries, such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Recommendation 4 Chapter
7
The committee recommends that the Australian Government:
- increase its support for the smaller developing countries in the
Indian Ocean rim to assist them develop the capacity to monitor, control and
regulate fishing activities in their waters;
- provide greater assistance and increase efforts to help the
smaller developing countries represent their interests in international fora
such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission; and
- through the IOR-ARC Troika—India, Australia and
Indonesia—encourage the larger and more developed countries to collaborate and
collectively spearhead active engagement in promoting the health of marine life
in the Ocean; to assist the smaller developing countries to protect their fish
stocks from over exploitation; and to grow their fishing industry in a
sustainable way.
Recommendation 12 Chapter 12
The committee recommends that ministers attending the
Council of Ministers' Meeting in Perth or their representative be invited to
visit the Pilbara as part of a delegation to see the work being done at Dampier
Port and Port Hedland to improve the ports' productivity.
Australia's North West – security presence and community engagement
Recommendation 7 Chapter 10
The committee recommends that the Australian Federal Police
consider greater community engagement in the North West region to increase the
understanding of its role and reassure the community that the security of the
region is a priority.
Recommendation 8 Chapter 10
The committee recommends that Defence make it an urgent
priority to focus on the defence of the North West. The committee encourages
Defence to increase its cooperation with industry in order to find creative
solutions to the challenges which currently prevent larger exercises and affect
reserve recruitment.
Recommendation 9 Chapter 10
The committee recommends that Defence examine the
possibility of making the 2014 planned Defence exercise in the North West a
larger, more visible exercise in the region—as a means of providing reassurance
to industry and actively engaging the community. In particular, the committee
encourages the Royal Australian Navy to examine ways in which it can increase
visibility in the area and raise community and business awareness of its
activities in the North West of Australia.
Recommendation 10 Chapter 10
The committee recommends that in its work on the government response
to the Office of Inspector of Transport Security Report, the Department of
Infrastructure and Transport consider including strategies for community
engagement. The committee strongly believes that local government and relevant
state agencies have a role to play in educating community and industry about
the role of various security agencies and can help to provide reassurance to
the community that security of the North West is a priority for government.
Encouraging links between state, territory and federal government and
business in order to make better policy approaches for the Indian Ocean rim
region
Recommendation 13 Chapter 12
The committee recommends that the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade work with other federal government departments, as well as
state and territory governments, on strengthening government consultation with
groups such as the Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group, the Australian Coal
Association, and the Australia-Africa Business Council. The committee notes
that while Africa Down Under has been successful in generating discussion, more
concrete measures are needed to ensure that the input of groups working with
industry and African countries is captured in policy making.
Recommendation 14 Chapter 13
The committee recommends that the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade establish a formal and regular consultation panel in relation
to IOR-ARC for Australian businesses and industry, with a broad representation
from all sectors. This consultation panel should focus initially on:
-
increasing Australian business and industry awareness of IOR-ARC
and its activities; and
- incorporating input from business and industry into Australia's
planning for taking on chair of IOR-ARC.
In due time, the focus of the panel can be extended to
broader discussion of issues in the Indian Ocean rim.
Recommendation 16 Chapter 13
The committee notes that currently there is no foundation,
institute or council which covers the countries of Africa. The committee
recommends that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade work with existing
business and community groups to establish an appropriate organisation to
enhance awareness and understanding between the peoples and institutions of
Australia and the African countries.
Recommendation 17 Chapter 13
The committee sees significant benefit in improved
coordination between the state and federal governments on the promotion of
Australian business and trade in the Indian Ocean rim. The committee recommends
that the Australian government create a Council of Australian Governments
Select Council to facilitate consultation and cooperation on trade and
investment initiatives for the Indian Ocean rim.
The Indian Ocean Rim Council of Australian Governments
Select Council would continue for the duration of Australia's role as chair of
IOR-ARC, with the potential to be made a Standing Council.
The committee believes that the Select Council would ensure
that coordination of efforts promoting Australia business in this growing
region is a priority for both state and federal government.
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