Page 1993 - Week 07 - Thursday, 24 June 2021
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Thursday, 24 June 2021
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms Burch) (10.01): Members:
Dhawura nguna, dhawura Ngunnawal.
Yanggu ngalawiri, dhunimanyin Ngunnawalwari dhawurawari.
Nginggada Dindi dhawura Ngunnaawalbun yindjumaralidjinyin.
The words I have just spoken are in the language of the traditional custodians and translate to:
This is Ngunnawal country.
Today we are gathering on Ngunnawal country.
We always pay respect to Elders, female and male, and Ngunnawal country.
Members, I ask you to stand in silence and pray or reflect on our responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
Chief Minister—New Zealand trade mission
Ministerial statement
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism) (10.02): I am pleased to update the Assembly on the ACT government’s recent trade mission to Wellington and Auckland last month.
New Zealand continues to be an important trade and tourism partner, as reflected in Canberra’s international engagement strategy. Last month’s delegation was an important opportunity to discuss the re-establishment of direct flights between Canberra and New Zealand, and to strengthen our relationship with our sister city, Wellington.
The pandemic has clearly impacted on the ACT’s international partnerships, including global trade and tourism opportunities, with governments around the world necessarily shifting their focus to managing public health emergencies and economic crises. Like Australia, New Zealand has not emerged from the pandemic unscathed. However, it has been in a better position than many other countries thanks to considered and decisive action, particularly at the height of the first wave of the pandemic. It is this response that has helped allow travel to resume between our two countries.
Of course, Canberra has enjoyed flights to and from Wellington before, and we are committed to re-establishing aviation routes between the ACT and New Zealand again. So in that context, I am pleased to inform the Assembly that discussions with key aviation industry and government figures around the establishment of direct flights with Wellington and Auckland have been positive, and there is genuine interest in either connecting or reconnecting to Canberra. This included productive meetings with Auckland Airport, Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand.
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