Page 2269 - Week 06 - Thursday, 6 June 2019
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part of the twinning arrangements; and last year a visit by the Assembly’s former Deputy Clerk, again in a review of their standing orders.
We can see that there has been a long history of a significant number of members of this place visiting Kiribati and creating that relationship, to the benefit of both our parliaments.
The Assembly has also hosted a number of visits by members and officers of the Kiribati parliament. There was an attachment of two members from the Kiribati parliament here in 2011; the Kiribati Deputy Clerk undertook an attachment here in November 2011; two IT staff visited the Assembly in 2009; the Kiribati public accounts committee undertook a two-day program here in the Assembly in February 2010; and the Hansard staff undertook an attachment in 2017.
Another link with Kiribati has been formed with the Office of the Legislative Assembly social club, which has donated to a Kiribati charity on several occasions.
As an enduring symbol of the relationship, in June of 2012 the then Speaker, Shane Rattenbury, officially opened the Kiribati room here in the Assembly building. It serves as a venue for various committee meetings and proceedings. The room is decorated with a range of culturally significant artworks gifted to the Assembly by the Kiribati parliament.
Like all strong relationships, twinning is a long-term partnership built on collaboration and understanding, one that puts people first. In the last 12 years, the program has introduced our members and staff to new experiences and new friends. It has been underscored by the shared value of democratic practice and the parliamentary form of government.
Against this brief background on the special significance of the Assembly’s relationship with both the parliament and the people of Kiribati, I wish to congratulate the President and the Speaker of the Parliament of Kiribati on reaching this significant milestone in the democratic history of their very young nation. I look forward to continuing to build on this strong foundation and friendship and to a time when I myself have my first visit to Kiribati. I will join my colleague Mrs Kikkert and our Deputy Clerk on that visit. I commend this motion to the Assembly.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (4.50): I thank the Speaker for moving this motion today. On 12 July 1979, nearly 40 years ago, the Republic of Kiribati achieved independence from the United Kingdom and became a parliamentary democracy. Today, on behalf of the territory government, I extend my deepest congratulations and friendship to the people of Kiribati and the Kiribati parliament in achieving this significant milestone. In particular, I extent my best wishes to the Speaker of the parliament, the Hon Tebuai Uaai, and the President of Kiribati, the Hon Taneti Maamau. On behalf of all members in this place, I congratulate them on this significant achievement.
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