Foreign Minister Phil Goff will be hosting his Australian counterpart, Alexander Downer, in Queenstown on 15-16 December 2001 for their regular six monthly Ministerial consultations.

"The agenda for the talks is, as always, very full. A primary focus will be the aftermath of the 11 September terrorist attacks. We shall also be reviewing other issues that have arisen in the region, including Indonesia and East Timor, and in particular the heavily increased levels of irregular migration into the region via South East Asia.

“We shall also be looking at developments in the Pacific, including in the Solomon Islands, Bougainville and Fiji. Current global and bilateral issues will also be discussed,” Mr Goff said.

The talks will be the first opportunity for formal talks between the two Ministers since the re-election of the Coalition Government in Australia last month.

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