THE Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is calling for public submissions and comment on issues relevant to the negotiation of a free trade agreement between Australia and Malaysia.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister John Howard and Malaysian PM Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi agreed to launch FTA negotiations.
The decision to start negotiations follows consideration by both governments and individual scoping studies into the likely impact of an FTA.
As part of the Australian scoping study, the Government received 60 submissions from a range of industry, state and territory and non-government groups. These will contribute to the development of negotiating priorities.
DFAT is asking for new submissions or additional comments to be added to previous submissions for the Australian scoping study.
For more information on the Malaysia-Australia FTA, including a copy of the Australian scoping study, go to www.dfat.go.au/geo/malaysia/fta by May 19.
Submissions or comments can be lodged electronically to malaysia.fta@dfat.gov.au, by fax 02 6261 3541.