Mr ROSS CAMERON —My question is addressed to the illustrious Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister update the House on the progress of the implementation of the Youth Ambassadors for Development Program? How should young Australians in my electorate of Parramatta or in the 148 seats represented here express interest in participating in the Youth Ambassadors for Development Program?

Mr DOWNER (Foreign Affairs) —I thank the honourable member for his question. It is worth remind ing the House on this matter of the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program that the member for Parramatta has been promoting a scheme of this kind and has been one of the key influences leading to the establishment of the scheme. That is, policy development on this side and ruckus on that side. That is about it.

The program was launched on 27 August. It is a program to send 500 young Australians to the countries of the Asia-Pacific, linking communities in Australia with communities in our region. The program is developing extremely well. We have had 680 young Australians apply for the first intake, and I am advised that those 680 applicants are of the very highest standard. Eighty young Australians have been selected for assignments overseas in February 1999, and they will be notified very shortly of their successful applications.

The Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program is a very important component of building our engagement with the Asia-Pacific region. It is a way in which we will get young Australians to understand the region, to develop contacts in the region and to project the fine qualities of young Australians to the region and help the region understand our country. We have large numbers of young Australians showing interest in the program. Over the next two years something like 500 young Australians will participate in it. Frankly, I hope not only that the program will extend beyond the next two years—I am sure it will—but also that we will be able to build that program up beyond the current scale we have in mind.

In answer to the last part of the honourable member's question about what young Australians should do to express an interest in participating in the program, they can get in touch with AusAID. It is through AusAID that applications can be made. I am happy to pass on later to the honourable member the appropriate telephone number and details and the web site. Of course, on this side of the House we are interested in the web site. On your side I should think only the member up the back would know about that.