Mission Enhances U.S.–Australia Bilateral Web Resource

Canberra — 30 August 2007

The U.S. Mission to Australia is proud to announce the release of a newly-updated compendium of documents relating to the bilateral relationship between the United States and Australia. This archive features articles from both sides of the Pacific from 2001, including AUSMIN communiqués dating back to 1998, and aims to highlight the special relationship shared between our two countries. The resource has been completely reorganized and will continue to be updated by the Mission’s Information Resource Center as more documents become available.

Consular Web Chat

3:00pm to 4:00pm — 17 April 2007

Thank you to everyone who participated in the web chat! You can read a transcript of the chat if you missed it.

If had a question that was not answered in the chat, please send Non-Immigrant Visa questions to AmVisa@state.gov and your Immigrant Visa questions to SydneyIV@state.gov.

U.S. Welcomes Australian Forest and Climate Initiative

Washington, D.C. — 29 March 2007

The United States welcomes the announcement today by the Government of Australia regarding the establishment of a new Global Initiative on Forests and Climate. This ambitious initiative presents an important opportunity to help save the world's forests and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Australia will engage key countries and international organizations in the initiative to support new forest planting, limit destruction of the world's remaining forests, and promote sustainable forest management.

Read the entire statement…

Dream Masons Premiere Webcast and Podcast

Hobart — 23 March 2007

Dream Masons devised and directed by Chicago based Jim Lasko of Red Moon Theatre and presented by the Salamanca Arts Centre is one of the opening performances of Tasmania’s Ten Days on the Island Festival. Drawing on water mythology unique to Tasmania, Dream Masons transforms the historic façade of the Salamanca Arts Centre into a spectacular backdrop to this bold and unique theatrical event.

The premiere can be watched live via webcast from 9:30pm local time tonight and will also be available as a download.

Dream Masons is proudly supported by U.S. Embassy and Melbourne Consulate General.

• See the webcast or download the podcast

The United States and Australia Secure Tsunami Partnership

Melbourne — 23 February 2007

On Friday February 23, in Melbourne, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially signed an agreement to promote cooperative technical partnerships in Tsunami Early Warning Systems. As part of this effort, NOAA and the Bureau expect to launch a new Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART™) buoy station in April to further strengthen the Indian Ocean region’s capacity for tsunami warning.

“NOAA is pleased to have the Bureau as a partner in the Indian and South West Pacific basins to assist in providing part of a global tsunami warning capability,” said USAF retired Brigadier General John “Jack” Kelly, NOAA deputy undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere. “We expect that Australia and the United States will continue to work together to maintain a robust operational tsunami warning system throughout this region.”

Ambassador McCallum Welcomes U.S. Firefighters in Melbourne

Melbourne — 23 January 2007

U.S. Ambassador Robert D. McCallum, Jr. and U.S. Consul General Earl M. Irving welcomed the newly arrived U.S. firefighters to Melbourne at a dinner hosted by the Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment on January 23.

Ambassador McCallum said, “We are very proud that American firefighters will be supporting their Australian colleagues in the fight to contain record bush fires in Victoria. Their arrival to support Australian firefighting efforts reflects a common thread that runs through virtually every aspect of the relationship between Australia and the United States — and that is Australians and Americans stand together.”

108 U.S. fire personnel, ranging from high level incident management teams to ground crews, are in Australia to assist Victorian authorities suppress bushfires that have been burning since the beginning of December. New Zealand and Canadian crews have also lent assistance.

This is the second time under the Wildfire Arrangement that the State of Victoria has requested assistance from U.S. firefighters.

Thirty-six U.S. firefighters assisted Victoria in 2003. In 2006, 120 Australian and New Zealand fire fighters assisted U.S. efforts to suppress fires throughout the United States. The U.S.. firefighters will be in Victoria for approximately 30 days working under the direction of Victoria’s emergency services authorities.