Aussie PM Discusses Aid and Trade with NGO Media

Media Release 4 September, 2007

Australian PM invited to discuss climate change, aid and trade at NGO Media Centre

The APEC International NGO Media Centre has invited Australian Prime Minister John Howard to visit and discuss climate change, aid and trade issues as an extension of his visit today to the official media centre at Darling Harbour.

The Prime Minister today took time out of his busy APEC schedule today to stroll through the international media centre at Sydney's convention centre.

A coalition of international environment, faith and community organisations at the NGO Media Centre has extended the invitation to the Prime Minister as an opportunity to discuss Australia's important global responsibilities, particularly on climate change.

"The NGO Media Centre represents more than 20 million people across APEC's 21 member countries and there are many concerns that Australia is not playing ball with the rest of the world on climate change and joining the Kyoto Protocol," said Greenpeace energy campaigner Catherine Fitzpatrick.

"A number of APEC member countries, such as Thailand and Indonesia, are concerned that Australia is undermining progress toward the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol.

"It would be an important opportunity for the Prime Minister to meet with us at the NGO Media Centre to discuss these concerns. To solve many of these important issues it will take the involvement of not only Government and industry but also civil society."

The coalition of non-government organisations at the International NGO Media Centre are: Greenpeace, Caritas (Catholic agency for overseas aid and development), GetUp, Christian World Service, TEAR, Climate Action Network and Union Aid Abroad.

ENDS

© Scoop Media