CHOGM 2001: Operational Notes and Media Arrangements
23 May 2001
MEDIA ADVISORY NOTE(NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST)
COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, 6-9 OCTOBER 2001
The Australian Government is hosting the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Brisbane, Queensland, from 6-9 October 2001. This will easily be the largest gathering of world leaders so far this Century.
The meeting venue will be the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC). The CHOGM Media Centre, with facilities for print, photographic and broadcast media, will be located in the BCEC, in Exhibition Hall 2.
The Heads of Government will attend an official Retreat at the Hyatt Regency Coolum, located on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, on 7 and 8 October 2001. A Media Pool will be assigned to cover the Coolum Retreat on a limited basis. A separate Pool Schedule will be issued nearer the time.
As is customary, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, will hold a pre-CHOGM media briefing on Friday 5 October in the Media Centre's Main Conference Room (time to be advised).
ACCREDITATION
Access to media facilities will be available only to accredited media representatives. Accreditation is open to journalists, broadcasters, photographers, film and television camera crews and technicians. Applications for accreditation should be made on the attached form or on photocopies made from it.
The Media Accreditation Application Form is on the CHOGM 2001 Website (www.chogm2001.net) and can be printed directly from your Web browser or downloaded as a Microsoft Word document. An original can also be posted to you by e-mailing chogm@commonwealth.int or fax +44 (0) 20 7839 9081 or e-mail michelle.bartlett@pmc.gov.au or telephone + 61 (0)7 3233 6915.
Your applications must be accompanied by a letter on original company letterhead indicating your role, signed by a Political Editor, Foreign or News Editor, Chief of Staff, or equivalent senior editor, confirming the applicant has been assigned to cover CHOGM 2001. This must be accompanied by a copy of a National Press Card or equivalent identification. You must also include 2 x passport sized photographs (with your name on the reverse). If preferred, digital images (include name in digital image file name) can be sent by e-mail to chogm@commonwealth.int. Media based in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific should send digital images to michelle.bartlett@pmc.gov.au
A Media Accreditation Help Desk will be situated at the Brisbane International and Domestic Airport terminals and at a further location to be confirmed. Australian local media will be able to collect their accreditation from the CHOGM Task Force Brisbane office.
The application form, letter on original company letterhead and 2 x passport sized photographs should be sent to the following no later than 5pm Wednesday 15 August 2001 to:
CHOGM Accreditation
Information and Public Affairs Division
Commonwealth Secretariat
Marlborough House
Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5HX
United Kingdom
Telephone enquiries +44 (0)20 7747 6385
Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
E-mail: chogm@commonwealth.int
Media based in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific should send their forms through:
Michelle Bartlett
Media Operations Manager
CHOGM 2001 Taskforce
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 3750
South Brisbane Business Centre QLD 4101
Telephone enquiries: +61 (0)7 3233 6915
Fax: +61 (0)7 3233 6911
E-mail: michelle.bartlett@pmc.gov.au
Applications for accreditation will only be accepted on receipt of the original signed application form, the official authorisation letter on original company letterhead and the photographs (which can also be sent digitally). Applications by fax will not be accepted as an official application for accreditation, but can be held until the receipt of the original documents.
MEDIA CENTRE
A general work area will be provided in the Media Centre for journalists and photographers. The work area will be equipped with up to 200 work desks, which will each have standard Australian power points, where laptops and printers can be plugged in. Desktop PCs with Microsoft Office/Windows packages plus printers will also be available. The PCs will provide free Internet access and will share printers.
Telecommunications facilities (telephone, fax) will be provided. Telephones provided in the general work area will have Australian standard modem points.
A limited number of power adaptors will be available at retail cost. You are, however, strongly urged to bring your own. Electrical sockets in Australia consist of three sockets for offset blades. The power supply is 240vAC, 50Hz.
A charge card/PIN system for the payment of all telephone, modem and fax calls will be installed and there will be a limited number of payphones.
Television monitors will be placed throughout the Media Centre to relay messages, general information and transmit the Host Broadcaster Pool Channel.
The official CHOGM website can be found at www.chogm2001.net
MEDIA CENTRE OPENING TIMES
8.00am - 8.00pm 2 - 4 October, 2001
Open on a 24 hour basis from:
06.00am on 5 October 2001 until
23.00pm on 9 October 2001
MEDIA CONFERENCES
Scheduled daily briefings by the Conference Spokesperson and media conferences will take place in the Media Centre.
MEDIA CENTRE FACILITIES
An Information Desk, main and supplementary briefing rooms, a business centre and cafeteria will operate throughout the meeting period.
PRESS COVERAGE & PHOTO POOLS
Executive sessions at CHOGM are closed to the Media. There are some opportunities for still photographers and TV cameras (with no sound) to photograph inside the Conference room before the start of each session. This will be on a limited pool basis. Photo pools will also be established for some other events, including the Retreat.
The host broadcaster and official photographer will be in every pool. Their vision, sound and photographs will be made available to all accredited media.
TELEVISION & RADIO
The host broadcaster will provide television coverage of photo opportunities during CHOGM. Pictures will be fed on the Pool Channel and will be available for recording and editing by broadcasters at the Media Centre. Radio facilities will also be established and radio suites will be available. Facilities will be available on a booking basis.
A standard range of library file and pool material will be available on a complimentary basis.
Additional services to be provided at commercial rates include:
· Tape dubbing
· Hire of ENG crews
· Satellite link ups and transmission
Rate Card service costs will be provided to media via notification of accreditation.
For further details on broadcasting, equipment rental and booking of sound and editing suites please contact:
Michelle Bartlett
Media Operations Manager
CHOGM 2001 Task Force
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 3750
South Brisbane Business Centre QLD 4101
Telephone enquiries: 61 (0)7 3233 6915
Fax: 61 (0)7 3233 6911
E-mail: michelle.bartlett@pmc.gov.au
NEWS AGENCIES
A limited number of offices for news agencies or other news organisations are available. These will be supplied with basic furniture, including up to four chairs and two desks, lockable door, general lighting and ventilation, power, carpet and an office nameplate. Telephone lines can be requested and other equipment can be provided, but will require payment by the user.
News Agencies wanting to book private office space or requiring additional information on agency facilities should contact:
Michelle Bartlett
Media Operations Manager
CHOGM 2001 Task Force
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 3750
South Brisbane Business Centre QLD 4101
Telephone enquiries: 61 (0)7 3233 6915
Fax: 61 (0)7 3233 6911
E-mail: michelle.bartlett@pmc.gov.au
ACCOMMODATION & TRANSPORT
A range of hotel rooms in Brisbane have been booked for accredited media. A transport shuttle service will operate between the official media hotels and the Media Centre.
All accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the individual and/or the accredited media organisation. The CHOGM 2001 Task Force bears no accountability for any expenses incurred.
Please complete the Media Accommodation Form to book hotel rooms. Every effort will be made to meet individual accommodation requests.
Accommodation forms must be sent no later than Friday 13 July 2001.
ARRIVAL
International flights to Australia can arrive at Brisbane International Airport. Regular domestic flights operate to Brisbane's domestic airport from all Australian cities.
Brisbane Airport is located 20-30 minutes from the centre of Brisbane. Transport from the airport is available in the form of hire car, taxis, shuttle buses and a train link. (An average taxi fare to the centre of Brisbane ranges from AUD$20 to AUD$25.)
Help desks will be open at Brisbane International and Domestic Airports to assist media with transport, directions to media hotels and the Media Centre.
PASSPORTS & VISAS
Citizens of the following country require no Visa:
New Zealand
Media representatives attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting must hold a valid visa to enter Australia.
There is a range of short-stay business visas suitable for media representatives. Some are free, and are issued electronically through some travel agents and airlines. Other visas are available through Australian diplomatic missions.
Media representatives attempting to enter Australia on tourist visas with the intention of working during CHOGM risk being refused entry into Australia.
For more information on the appropriate visa for your trip, contact the nearest Australian consulate or your travel agent, or see the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs website, www.immi.gov.au A full list of visa offices and their contact details is available on this site.
For a list of Australian Embassies and Consulates, see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website, www.dfat.gov.au
Applications should be made at least one month before you plan to travel.
Members of the media from New Zealand are exempted from visa requirements and need not apply for visas.
Australia is represented in the following Commonwealth Countries;
Bangladesh Brunei Darussalam* Canada*
Cyprus Fiji Islands India
Kenya Kiribati Malaysia*
Malta* Mauritius New Zealand
Nigeria Pakistan Papua New Guinea
Samoa Singapore* Solomon Islands
South Africa Sri Lanka Tonga
United Kingdom* Vanuatu Zimbabwe
*Denotes countries that use ETA - Electronic Travel Authority, where visas can be obtained directly through the travel agent or airline when booking your travel.
Applicants in countries where Australia does not have a Diplomatic or Consular mission may submit their visa applications to their nearest representative as listed below;
Country Location of Australian representation
Antigua & Barbuda Washington, USA
The Bahamas Washington, USA
Barbados Washington, USA
Belize Washington, USA
Botswana Harare, Zimbabwe
Cameroon Lagos, Nigeria
Dominica Washington, USA
The Gambia Lagos, Nigeria
Ghana Lagos, Nigeria
Grenada Washington, USA
Guyana Santiago, Chile
Jamaica Washington, USA
Lesotho Pretoria, South Africa
Malawi Pretoria, South Africa
Maldives Colombo, Sri Lanka
Mozambique Harare, Zimbabwe
Namibia Pretoria, South Africa
Nauru Suva, Fiji
St Kitts & Nevis Washington, USA
St Lucia Washington, USA
St Vincent & The Grenadines Washington, USA
Seychelles Port Louis, Mauritius
Sierra Leone Lagos, Nigeria
Swaziland Pretoria, South Africa
Tanzania Nairobi, Kenya
Trinidad & Tobago Washington, USA
Tuvalu Suva, Fiji
Uganda Nairobi, Kenya
Zambia Pretoria, South Africa
NOTE: The above information has been provided and approved by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in Canberra.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Australia has no vaccination requirements except for persons who have been in a country infected by Yellow Fever, as listed in the Weekly Epidemiological Record of the World Health Organisation, within six days of arrival in Australia. For such cases, a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever is required.
Yellow Fever certificates are required by anyone travelling from or through Yellow Fever areas designated by the World Health Organisation.
CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
Incoming Passenger Cards for Customs, Immigration and Quarantine clearance should be completed in advance for presentation with other documents to the authorities.
Final arrangements for carriage of technical equipment to Australia will be confirmed via notification of accreditation.
Important
All persons entering Australia remain subject to Australian customs regulations. Visitors to Australia may bring in goods for their personal use. The following consumable goods may be imported without payment of customs duty or Goods and Services Tax.
- AUD$400 worth of goods not including alcohol and tobacco;
- most personal items such as new clothing, footwear and articles for personal hygiene/grooming;
- 250 cigarettes, or 250grms of cigars or tobacco products;
- 1125ml alcoholic liquor (including wine, beer or spirits).
Any additional consumable goods of the same type are fully dutiable.
For further details, contact your nearest Australian Diplomatic or Consular Mission.
PROHIBITED IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
The import and export of certain goods are prohibited or restricted to protect health and Australia's unique natural environment. Prohibited items include:
unlicensed drugs, offensive weapons, firearms, animals, animal products, live birds, meat, vegetable matter, plants and plant products. This list is not comprehensive. For full details of current Australian requirements, please contact your nearest Australian diplomatic mission or visit the following web sites:
http://www.customs.gov.au
http://www.aqis.gov.au
For the location of the nearest Australian diplomatic mission consult the website;
http://www.dfat.gov.au
BANKING & CURRENCY
The Australian dollar is the unit currency of Australia, and is divided into 100 cents.
Commercial banks, hotels and international airports have facilities for exchanging most internationally recognised currencies and traveller's cheques.
In addition, banks have cash dispensing machines, which accept major international credit cards. Similarly, most hotels, restaurants and shops accept major credit cards.
TAXES, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE
The current rate of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is 10 percent. This is charged on most goods and services except items purchased duty-free at international airports.
On presentation of the goods and tax invoices, GST and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) may be reclaimed at international airports. Details on the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) and how the system operates can also be obtained at the websites;
http://www.immi.gov.au and
http://www.customs.gov.au
TIME
The time in Brisbane is GMT/UTC + 10 hours. (Daylight saving time is not observed in Queensland.)
COOLUM RETREAT
Heads of Government will spend Sunday 7 October and Monday 8 October on Retreat at the Hyatt Regency Coolum and return to Brisbane on the morning of Tuesday 9 October.
This will be a time for private, informal discussions, limited to the Heads of Delegation and their spouses. Selected media will be permitted to cover the official Retreat on a limited pool basis. A Media Sub Centre will be set up.
Transport to Coolum will be provided for media in the pool.
Because of the nature of the Retreat, the number of participants in the pool must be kept to a minimum. However, vision from the host broadcaster and images from the official photographer will be relayed to the Media Centre in Brisbane during both days.
Those outside the pooling arrangements will find access to Coolum restricted.
01/35 23 May 2001
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