Mr Fischer paid tribute to the services sector, which creates more than 8 out of every 10 jobs in Australia - 81.3 per cent of total employment.
Services form a key component of the Australian economy.
The burgeoning Australian services industry, covering areas such as banking, telecommunications, electronic commerce and legal services, needs strong international trade rules to help in breaking down unfair overseas trade barriers for Australian service providers to prosper in overseas markets. Mr Fischer announced that the next step in the public consultations process with the services sector will be a seminar being organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Melbourne in April. This is part of the Government's strategy to work closely with Australian business in our negotiating efforts in the WTO 2000 services negotiations. Mr Fischer urged Australian business to respond to his request for public comment on the agenda for the new Round. Submissions can be forwarded to Mr Steve Moran in DFAT's Trade Negotiations Division.