Address by The Hon Tim Fischer MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of the National Party, Minister for Trade, at the Launch of Asialine, Canberra, 1 May 1997

Mr Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Flood, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ambassadors and High Commissioners of our key Asian diplomatic missions, Dr Morgan, Group Executive, Westpac, Mr Hawes, Group Executive, Qantas, distinguished guests.

I am delighted to welcome you today to the official launch of the new and even better Asialine.

The Importance of Trade with Asia

An ever increasing part of Australia's income is gained through trade with Asia. That is why - over the last fourteen months - this Government has sought to improve the well-being and prosperity of all Australians by raising Australia's per capita income through increased trade.

Of course, Asia is a region not only of immense opportunity, but of ferocious competition. This means that Australia must continue to respond to the changing market structure in the region - that is the best way to make our market share even greater.

Australians have many resources, both natural and human, to capitalise on. In addition, our proximity to Asia gives us a comparative advantage over more distant trading nations.

But that is not enough. We have to become better than our competitors at developing and producing what Asia requires.

I am also convinced that government and business can work together to improve Australia's share of the Asian market.

The new Asialine will play an important and constructive role in the government-business partnership - it will act as a conduit for information on market access issues and for a range of market intelligence.

Achieving Greater Market Access

Since coming into office, this Government has pursued greater market access for Australian business, both in our bilateral relationships and through our very active role in APEC and the World Trade Organisation.

We have an integrated trade policy which sees bilateral, regional and multilateral approaches as complementary. Our policy is flexible enough to make the most of opportunities as they arise.

When the Government 'goes in to bat' for Australian business, it can only be effective if it understands the problems facing Australian businesses.

Asialine is one important way in which we build a dialogue between business and Government. We encourage business people to feed their insights and concerns directly to officers of my department who can then inform me.

Asialine also keeps business up-to-date on our market access successes across the region.

Better Market Intelligence

Yet, even when there are no formal barriers to market access, the simple fact of having to do business in a foreign country can be a daunting obstacle, particularly for smaller businesses with limited resources. Asialine can help by providing Australian business with better market intelligence.

Among many other useful features, you'll find that Asialine has assessments of Asian countries' economic prospects and specific sectoral issues by Australia's top representatives in Asia, the Heads of Mission gathered here before you, and by their colleagues in Asia, as well as officers based in Canberra.

A New Asialine

It is particularly pleasing that it should be through partnership with Australian business that a new Asialine is being launched today.

Thanks to Westpac and Qantas, Asialine has a new look and greatly increased circulation.

Sponsorship funding has meant we can continue to provide Asialine to all Australian missions in Asia, to DFAT's State offices and to a steadily increasing number of Australian business people.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Asialine partnership is an excellent example of mutually beneficial cooperation between Government and business.

I commend the new Asialine to you.

And now, as they say, a word from our sponsors - I am pleased to hand over to Westpac's Mr Morgan and Qantas's Mr Hawes.