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This statement was sent by Ian Anderson the the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd on 6 April 2008
Mr Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister of Australia
Parliament House
Canberra 2600
Dear Mr Rudd,
Support for UNESCO, a UN Specialised Agency
Congratulations on your recent announcement of stronger Australian support in future for multilateral international agencies such as the United Nations. You said that Australia would be a candidate for a seat on the United Nations Security Council in about five years.
In order for Australia to have as strong a chance as possible of being elected to the Security Council, it seems crucial to give as much support as realistically possible to the United Nations, including its specialized agencies. With one specialized agency, UNESCO, I believe more could be done than at present.
Since 1983 I have been closely involved in one way or another with UNESCO and can therefore bring a longer term perspective to its programs than most. For about 16 years I worked in the Secretariat of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO, the last few as Secretary-General of the National Commission. On retirement from the Commonwealth Public Service about 8 years ago, I joined the Centre for UNESCO at the ANU as a Visiting Fellow and was for several years the Director. The Centre was closed in 2006. In the last couple of years I have been a member of the science network of the National Commission.
In 1989, the Secretariat of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO was moved from the education portfolio where it had been for more than 40 years, to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where it is at present. During the years of my association with UNESCO I have been witness to a progressive decline in Australia’s overall commitment to and influence in UNESCO. For example, when I first joined the National Commission Secretariat in 1983 there was a Secretariat of about 11 people. Funds were available to run national and international conferences and seminars in each of UNESCO’s program areas and to enable Australia to fully participate and take a leadership role in developing and implementing UNESCO’s international agenda. In the last few years, the Secretariat in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has mostly had no more than one staff member working on UNESCO activities, sometimes with other duties as well.
No corresponding decline in support has occurred in other like-minded member states such as New Zealand or Canada. As far as I am aware New Zealand has maintained a Secretariat of about five people, some of whom may be part time, while Canada has maintained a Secretariat staff of about 20 people. Most National Commissions around the world are in or most strongly linked to the education portfolio. Very few have ever been in Foreign Affairs, as is the situation in Australia at present. Education can be seen as a subject linking together all UNESCO’s other program areas - science, culture, social sciences and communications.
The reasons for Australia’s declining input into UNESCO are complex but the current Australian model in which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a coordinator and line Departments are responsible for activities involving their portfolios does not seem to work well. The line departments are generally not inclined to give much priority to UNESCO activities under this arrangement although some individuals might like to do more. Foreign Affairs and Trade, while particularly interested in activities in UNESCO such as election campaigns for political office, does not give high priority to most UNESCO program activities as it is not core business for the Department.
UNESCO, in its publication “Practical Guide for National Commissions” points out that there is no ready-made model of a National Commission. It states though that “below a certain minimum number of staff, the Commission cannot function effectively and is liable merely to mark time". This appears to be the current situation with the Australian National Commission for UNESCO. Perhaps a review of Australia’s role in UNESCO, including the administrative structures to most effectively promote that role, may be timely. It may well be that the most suitable model for the National Commission is for it to be in the education portfolio with a direct link to the Minister, but with an administrative and funding structure somewhat removed from the Department and a separate physical location, such as on the campus of the ANU.
For the last few years I have been a member of the Board of a national NGO called the Nature and Society Forum. Its Secretariat is in Canberra. One of its main current priorities is to advocate for the Australian Capital Territory, including Canberra, to be accepted by UNESCO as one of UNESCO’s global network of more than 500 biosphere reserves. Biosphere reserves have a conservation function and also seek to promote sustainable development. In line with the aims of the Kyoto Protocol, to which Australia is now a party, biosphere reserves could play an increasingly significant future role in developing a global approach to the challenges posed by climate change.
Nomination and acceptance of the ACT as a UNESCO biosphere reserve should significantly raise Australia’s profile in UNESCO and the United Nations. No other national capitals have yet been approved as biosphere reserves although several have expressed interest in nominating, so Australia has the opportunity to lead the world in this. The Standing Committee on Planning and Environment of the ACT Government presented a report “The Proposed Nomination of the ACT as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve" in October 2007 (Report 30), recommending that the nomination proceed. The ACT Government is still considering the proposal. Consideration of the nomination by UNESCO could coincide with activities to celebrate the imminent centenary of the establishment of Canberra and the ACT. It could even be realistic to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for Canberra at about the same time, given the fine buildings, cultural institutions and outstanding design of the national capital. A number of UNESCO biosphere reserves are also on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
I hope these comments are of assistance.
Yours sincerely,
Ian Anderson
See also Brendan Mackey's remarks, which complement this statement.
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Updated 12 April 2008. For more information about the biosphere reserve nomination, e-mail our office