The announcement was made today in a joint statement by the three portfolio ministers - the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, the Minister for Trade, Senator Bob McMullan and the Minister for Development and Pacific Island affairs, Gordon Bilney.
Internet is made up of telephone connections between computers around the world.
Conservative estimates indicate that about 30 million computers access information provided by more than 3 million commercial, educational, institutional, personal interest and other providers. The World Wide Web is the easiest way of accessing Internet information, including multimedia material. With instant communications and the increasing ease of publishing and broadcasting, international audiences important to Australia's interests are receiving their information in a rapidly growing variety of ways. Senator Evans said two of the Department's public affairs branches initially would provide most of the information. The Parliamentary and Media Branch would make available each day the latest ministerial and departmental news releases and speeches.