AUSTRALIA AND THE COMMONWEALTH
Australia is an active member of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 53 countries, which accounts for two billion people, and comprises mostly developing countries. Australia supports the strengthening of the Commonwealth’s focus on its core values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law and good governance, as well as targeted Commonwealth efforts to promote sustainable development and poverty alleviation. A Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was held in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2009.