Julie Bishop - Member for Curtin

Address to Liberal Friends of India launch

17 April 2013

E&OE…   
 
High Commissioner Nanda, Consular General here in Sydney Mr Goel, my dear parliamentary colleagues Philip Ruddock and Alex Hawke and Pru Goward and the many friends who have gathered here this evening.

I’m absolutely delighted to see so many people here on this very important occasion. Australia and India are good friends and within Australia there is no greater friend of India than the Liberal Party of Australia. That’s why I’m here this evening, to assist with this launch of the Liberal Friends of India. It is an important  initiative, not only for our Party but also for our bilateral relationship.
 
I acknowledge the efforts of the patrons – Philip Ruddock and the work that he has done with the Indian Australian community here, Matt Keane and also Nehal Gupta the co-chair. I congratulate you on this initiative and I think great things will come from it.
 
It’s timely that we have the launch this evening, for the Lowy Institute, the Sydney think tank, is launching this evening the India Australia Poll of 2013 and that survey reflects attitudes of Indian people about Australia and I’m pleased to say that I’ve seen a copy of the report and it indicates that there is an increasing level of warmth from the participants in the survey about Australia.

Read more: Address to Liberal Friends of India launch

Address to the End of Polio Global Citizen Gathering

12 March 2013

E&OE… 

Your excellencies, my parliamentary colleagues, particularly Teresa Gambaro my Shadow Parliamentary Secretary and the Member for Brisbane.

Akram Azimi, your story gives me so much personal pride. When I think back to that day when I was able to award you a scholarship it puts everything in perspective and makes my role at that time as a Cabinet Minister seem relevant, worthwhile. Thank you, and for being Young Australian of the Year, congratulations.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is appropriate that we should meet here today on the lawn of our National Parliament, on the very day 100 years ago that our capital was given its name. Australia is one of the longest, continuous democracies in the world and we are a beacon of opportunity and hope for people around the globe. Our commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights finds expression not only in the National Parliament but in the civic and community organisations across our land. There are two present here today, Rotary International and the Global Poverty Project who together with the Gates Foundation and UNICEF are committed to the eradication of polio and are leading that crusade.

I recall George H Bush, President 41, who described the community organisations across the United States as “a brilliant diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky”. Such beautiful words and I think they should apply to the community organisations across Australia and Rotary is surely one of the brightest stars.

Read more: Address to the End of Polio Global Citizen Gathering

Address to Western Pacific Diabetes Declaration Launch

13 March 2013

E&OE… 

Distinguished guests from the International Federation, representatives from Diabetes Australia and my parliamentary colleagues, in particular Richard Marles Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Pacific Affairs.

I’m delighted to have the opportunity to show my support on behalf of the Coalition for the Western Pacific Region Diabetes Declaration Action Plan for 2012-2015. For over three decades Diabetes Australia has been raising awareness, supporting further research into the causes of diabetes, being a voice for those who are suffering from it and calling on the rest of our country to be aware of the consequences of this debilitating disease and holding out hope for the 1.5 to 1.8 million Australians who are hoping for a cure for diabetes.

You will forgive me if, as a Western Australian, I pick out three people in this room, who happen to be West Australians, who’ve done an extraordinary job of raising awareness of diabetes amongst the parliamentarians who spend a lot of time here in Canberra and yet have time to focus on issues beyond the day to day.

Read more: Address to Western Pacific Diabetes Declaration Launch

The New Colombo Plan rountable

22 March 2013

E&OE…

Thank you Don. Ladies and Gentlemen, I add my welcome to you all to this policy development round table in our national capital. I am personally delighted that so many people have seen fit to take time out of their busy lives to be here; to help develop what we hope will be a signature policy of an incoming Coalition Government.
 
I particularly want to acknowledge the Ambassadors and High Commissioners from China, from India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Deputies from Japan, South Korea, Fiji and Malaysia and representatives from Hong Kong. You are all most welcome here.
 
I also want to acknowledge the presence of representatives from our universities, from our student bodies, from our NGO’s, from organisations across the country who feel passionate about deeper engagement with our region.

I want to make a personal thanks to James Packer, and to Tony Shepherd for taking time to be here today. It’s deeply appreciated. 

Read more: The New Colombo Plan rountable