Media releases
Tuesday, 29 October 2002 - MVT139/2002
Australia Pushes Export Opportunities for Tourism, Healthcare Businesses
Breaking down market access barriers and discriminatory practices
in international services trade will benefit Australia's booming services
sector, Trade Minister Mark Vaile said today.
Mr Vaile announced that Australia will lodge further requests for
market openings with key trading partners in private health and private
aged care, tourism, management consulting services, urban planning
and landscape architecture.
"Australia has now made requests to 35 WTO Members for better market
access for Australian services exporters in negotiations under the
General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)," said Mr Vaile.
Exports of services account for 20 per cent, or nearly $A31 billion,
of our total export earnings in 2002.
Mr Vaile said that the new requests were prepared in consultation
with industry associations and businesses, with input from State and
Territory government agencies and community groups.
"Australia's requests in the health sector were limited to private
hospital and private aged care services, where we have a strong record.
Australian health exports are currently valued at $A2 billion per
annum, of which services comprises $A400 million.
"There is a growing demand overseas for Australia's world class management
and technical expertise in the provision of hospital and aged care
services. A number of private firms are well established players
in this market," Mr Vaile said.
"On behalf of the private health and aged care sector, the government
has made requests for market openings in a number of overseas markets
to improve export opportunities. During the GATS negotiations, our
government will remain committed to a well managed and properly funded
public health care system in Australia.
"The Government will not compromise its right to regulate the health
care system or ability to maintain high quality health care standards
in Australia."
Australia lodged its initial requests with trading partners on 1
July 2002. (See MVT064
of 1 July 2002 for more information.)
Media Contact: Robyn Bain +61 02 6277 7420
Local Date:
Friday, 21-Nov-2008 15:48:52 EST
