Sun, 26 May 2013 12:48:01 EST Copyright Commonwealth of Australia Funnelback en-au government http://australia.gov.au/AGOSP/global_site/library/images/australia_gov_au_sml.png 23 144 http://australia.gov.au/news-and-media http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html http://www.australia.gov.au Media Releases collected from Australian Government agencies, ministers and departments http://media.australia.gov.au/notify/click.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.austrade.gov.au%2FAbout%26%2345%3BAustrade%2FNews%2FLatest%26%2345%3Bfrom%26%2345%3BAustrade%2FAustralian%26%2345%3Bnative%26%2345%3Bflower%26%2345%3Bexports%26%2345%3Bto%26%2345%3BJapan%26%2345%3Bsolid%26%2345%3Bdespite%26%2345%3Bchallenges&collection=releases&rank=0&auth=JbRxStjI8ZGEYqmQpRy3YQ http://media.australia.gov.au/notify/click.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.austrade.gov.au%2FAbout%26%2345%3BAustrade%2FNews%2FLatest%26%2345%3Bfrom%26%2345%3BAustrade%2FAustralian%26%2345%3Bnative%26%2345%3Bflower%26%2345%3Bexports%26%2345%3Bto%26%2345%3BJapan%26%2345%3Bsolid%26%2345%3Bdespite%26%2345%3Bchallenges&collection=releases&rank=0&auth=JbRxStjI8ZGEYqmQpRy3YQ Australia's wildflower exports achieved solid sales results in Japan in 2012, despite numerous challenges to the industry, according to data from the North Asian nation's largest wholesale flower auction. Japan is the biggest export market for Australian banksias and other native flowers, which are used to create high-end bouquets for posh weddings, exhibitions and hotel lobbies, as well as ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. However, a strong Australian dollar and natural disasters in Japan have challenged the industry. 23 May 2013 http://media.australia.gov.au/notify/click.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.austrade.gov.au%2FAbout%26%2345%3BAustrade%2FNews%2FMedia%26%2345%3BReleases%26%2345%3Band%26%2345%3BSpeeches%2F2013%2FAustralias%26%2345%3Brenowned%26%2345%3Bevents%26%2345%3Bspecialists%26%2345%3Bat%26%2345%3BSportAccord%26%2345%3BConvention&collection=releases&rank=1&auth=eI9byWKZw3YGYt3zAKh0MA http://media.australia.gov.au/notify/click.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.austrade.gov.au%2FAbout%26%2345%3BAustrade%2FNews%2FMedia%26%2345%3BReleases%26%2345%3Band%26%2345%3BSpeeches%2F2013%2FAustralias%26%2345%3Brenowned%26%2345%3Bevents%26%2345%3Bspecialists%26%2345%3Bat%26%2345%3BSportAccord%26%2345%3BConvention&collection=releases&rank=1&auth=eI9byWKZw3YGYt3zAKh0MA Organisers of the world's biggest sporting events will be able to engage with Australia's major sport event specialists at the SportAccord Convention in St Petersburg, Russia between 2631 May. Since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Australia's sport event specialists have earned stellar reputations for providing host nations with high quality services in such areas as operational planning and management, security, broadcasting, surface technologies and event cleaning. For example, project planning, event operations and management services for Rio 2016. 23 May 2013 http://media.australia.gov.au/notify/click.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fministers.dfat.gov.au%2Fthistlethwaite%2Freleases%2F2013%2Fmt_mr_130523.html&collection=releases&rank=2&auth=RaK%2FMqPwv90BcIRT67eUBQ http://media.australia.gov.au/notify/click.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fministers.dfat.gov.au%2Fthistlethwaite%2Freleases%2F2013%2Fmt_mr_130523.html&collection=releases&rank=2&auth=RaK%2FMqPwv90BcIRT67eUBQ The Gillard Government is supporting Pacific island countries to develop healthier communities through sport. Senator Kate Lundy, Minister for Sport, and Senator Matt Thistlethwaite, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, today announced the opening of the Pacific Sports Partnerships, a $14 million competitive grants program funded by AusAID and managed by the Australian Sports Commission. Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Senator Matt Thistlethwaite explained that the Pacific Sports Partnerships Program has been supported through Australia's aid program since 2010 and has partnered with a range of sports including cricket, football, netball, rugby league and rugby union. No Date