Meeting Arrangements
- Dates and Venues
- Airport
- Dress
- Hospitality
- Smoking Policy
- Medical Facilities
- Car Pennants
- Official Opening
- Responsibility for Arrangements
- Security Arrangements
Dates and Venues
| 4 August 2009 | Smaller Island States Leaders’ Meeting (Cairns Convention Centre) Pacific ACP Leaders’ Meeting |
| 5 August 2009 | Opening Ceremony (Cairns Convention Centre) 40th Pacific Islands Plenary Session |
| 6 August 2009 | Forum Leaders’ Retreat (Whitfield House) |
| 7 August 2009 | 21st Post-Forum Dialogue Partners’ Meeting (Cairns Convention Centre) |
Airport
Forum Leaders and spouses and accompanying delegates will be met on arrival at the airport at the point of entry into Australia by Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Taskforce representatives. On arrival in Cairns, transport will be provided from the airport to hotel.
Baggage
All delegates will be issued with special baggage identification tags. Baggage identification tags will be forwarded to each Member State by the PIF Taskforce. One member accompanying the Forum Leader who has overall responsibility for their delegation’s baggage will be asked to assist the PIF Taskforce representatives with the movement of baggage from the airport to the hotel on arrival, and hotel to airport on departure. Delegates arriving separately from their Forum Leader will be responsible for their own transport and baggage arrangements.
Entry Formalities
Customs formalities will be kept to a minimum and every courtesy will be extended to Forum Leaders and their delegations. All delegation members, including Forum Leaders and spouses, ministers, officials, security officers and media representatives, will be required to obtain a Business Visa prior to travelling to Australia. Persons holding Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) eligible passports should apply for an ETA (Business Entrant – Short Validity) – subclass 977. All other passport holders should apply for a Business (Short Stay) visa subclass 456. The Forum Leaders and spouses and all members of delegations must complete an Incoming Passenger Card, to be presented on arrival with the passport.
Quarantine requirements
Australia has strict quarantine requirements. The Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS) is part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and plays an essential role in maintaining Australia’s animal, plant and human health status.
Information relating to international aircraft arrivals into Australia are outlined in the “AQIS Guidelines for Airline and Aircraft Operators Arriving in Australia” document that can be found on the The Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service website.
Information relating to what items may not be brought into Australia can also be found on the The Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service website.
Dress
Dress for the Opening Ceremony of the Forum, the Plenary Session and the Post Forum Dialogue will be lounge suit/day dress or national dress. Dress for the retreat will be casual. Dress for other occasions will be advised at a later date.
Hospitality
For details on the level of hospitality provided by the Australian Government, please refer to the Advice on Arrangements document forwarded to Member States, Associate Members, Forum Observers, Post Forum Dialogue Partners and CROP Organisations.
Smoking Policy
The Queensland Government has strict tobacco laws which ban smoking in enclosed public areas, including the Cairns Convention Centre and Whitfield House. It is also forbidden to smoke in Forum vehicles, airports, accommodation venues, shopping centres and restaurants. If you wish to smoke please make yourself aware of the designated smoking areas near to the venues.
Medical Facilities
Medical staff and appropriate facilities will be present at all Forum venues.
Car Pennants
The PIF Taskforce will provide car pennants for each Forum Leader.
Official Opening
The official opening of the Forum will take place at 9.00 am Wednesday 5 August 2009. A detailed program for the opening ceremony will be issued on arrival in Australia.
Responsibility for Arrangements
The PIF Taskforce is responsible for Forum arrangements, including the venue, service facilities, support staff, security arrangements, hospitality and accommodation. The Forum Secretariat is responsible for the management of the Forum and associated meetings, including preparation of agendas, meeting documentation, access, and all secretariat services for the meeting proper.
The Forum Secretariat contact is:
Director, Political Governance and Security:
Telephone: (679) 3312600 extension 2265 or 3220265
Fax: (679) 3220240/3220266
Contact details in Cairns for the Forum Secretariat will be advised at a later date.
Security Arrangements
The Australian Government accepts responsibility for the protection of each Forum Leader for the duration of their visit to Australia. Each Forum Leader will be provided with a Close Personal Protection officer. The Australian Government accepts full responsibility for all security arrangements in Australia. Where there is a requirement for specific security arrangements due to a credible threat, an appropriate security package will be provided. Foreign security officers are not permitted to import or carry firearms or security related equipment in Australia. Access to all PIF venues will be controlled by accreditation passes which will be issued by the PIF Taskforce to accredited persons on arrival in Cairns.