Page 1892 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2016
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MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.34): I indicate that the opposition will support this motion. I do so warmly. I think it is quite nice that this week, with all the argy-bargy of budgets and budget replies, there is something that I am sure Mr Rattenbury will support as well, something that we can all agree on: moving forward with this closer arrangement with Wellington.
In doing some research recently on Wellington, I found it quite surprising how similar we are as cities. There are things that I was unaware of. Obviously we are both capital cities, but the size in terms of population is similar; we both have 25 per cent of our population born overseas; we are both very livable cities; and, compared to the rest of our nations, we have similar hallmarks, with higher incomes, higher levels of education and tertiary qualification, and, in terms of employment, more people employed in professional employment. I suppose that is what you would expect from national capitals.
There is no doubt that we share not just those similarities but, in many regards, our values. We have many similar areas of shared culture. For both New Zealanders and Australians, we share that crucible which was so important in the foundation of both our nations, the Anzac story. That shared history that is woven between both our nations has been expressed many times through the Anzac story—not just on the beaches of Gallipoli in 1915 but throughout the western front; throughout World War II; in Vietnam, where we had New Zealand troops serving alongside Australians; and onwards, as it was and is today, serving together in Iraq. I was honoured to serve with Kiwis in New Zealand. That is just one part of our interwoven history that is so important for both our nations.
I commend the government and the airport on establishing international flights. I think that is a great step forward. It has bipartisan support and will be very important in enhancing the relationship and forging a sister city relationship with Wellington. I hope, as I am sure the Chief Minister and others do, that that will assist in that process for shared culture, tourism and economic growth between our two wonderful cities.
I do not know that it will make any difference to our sporting arrangements, as the Chief Minister alluded to. I have to confess that my wife is a Kiwi, so I declare that as a conflict of interest in supporting this motion today. As you would all appreciate, rugby can be a difficult season in my household, but it is better when the cricket comes on, it is fair to say, when we seem to do better. But those battles—the battles on the battlefields, the battles at Gallipoli, and the sporting battles that we enjoy, with the Brumbies, the All Blacks and all of our great sporting teams playing each other—are something that we have shared as nations together.
I congratulate the Chief Minister for bringing this initiative forward. It has bipartisan support. If there is any way that we can assist in this, be it through the promotion of it or the support of it, as Assembly members we can join together in the interests of our city and clearly put politics aside to take a step forward in the relationship with our cousins across the ditch.
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