The Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mark Vaile, this morning represented the people and government of Australia at the remembrance ceremony for the 11 September attacks on the World Trade Centre.

The remembrance ceremony will be duplicated at US Missions around the world at 8:46am New York time at the request of President George W Bush. The US Mission in Canberra brought that time forward to account for the time difference, which would have seen the service take place after midnight in Australia.

In responding to US Chargé d'Affaires, Michael Owens, Mr Vaile noted that the world had changed since the September 11 attacks.

"Our thoughts today are with those from around the world who lost loved ones," Mr Vaile said.

 "With nearly 4000 people from 80 different countries killed or missing, including four Australian dead and 17 still unaccounted for, the terrorists attacked us all in their attacks on the World Trade Centre. The free world cannot and will not allow those who use terror as a weapon to succeed."