John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, it is indeed a very special moment in the history of the relations between two old friends and close allies that, for the first time in the history of this parliament, a Canadian Prime Minister is given the honour of addressing it before the members and senators of both houses. It was a privilege extended by Canada to one of my predecessors, John Curtin, in 1944 and again to me in May of last year.

Canada and Australia share a deep and rich history. Canada and Australia are both members of the Commonwealth. We are nations that have fought together in most major conflicts since World War I. The war memorials of Canada list the battles in which thousands of Canadians died in World War I, as the war memorials of Australia do the same. I was reminded in June of 2004, when I represented Australia at the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion, of the remarkable contribution made by Canada to the liberation of France and to the liberation of other nations in Europe.

It is poignant, in a sense, that we meet on 11 September and mark the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack on New York and Washington, which produced an allied response in Afghanistan—which persists to this very day—in which Australians and Canadians are again fighting together against the contemporary enemy, terrorism. I have to say on behalf of all Australians that we mourn the fact that no fewer than 72 Canadians have lost their lives out of a battle force of between 2,000 and 2,500. Our Canadian friends have paid a very heavy price in defence of the way of life that we all hold dear. I record the respect, the gratitude and the sorrow of the people of Australia for such a large loss of life on the part of our Canadian friends.

Australia and Canada of course have a lot of other things in common. We are both federations, we are nations that are rich in resources and we are nations that are essentially built on immigration. Therefore, any contact between the prime ministers and leaders of the two nations produces common and very fertile ground for mutual discussion and exchange of views.

Could I record—not on a partisan note, but nonetheless recognising the philosophical consistency of the party I lead and the party led by Mr Harper—his contribution to the development of the current manifestation of Centre Right politics in his country. The current Conservative Party of Canada is a new party. It was in fact formed as a result of his inspired leadership. It brought together the old Reform Party and the old Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He has the interesting experience of leading a minority government, which brings its own challenges, but challenges to which he has risen remarkably over the 18 months that he has been Prime Minister of his country.

One of the things that we have agreed on today is to expand the opportunity for young Canadians to come in greater numbers and to stay longer in our country and for young Australians to go for longer periods and in greater numbers to Canada. There have always been exchanges. There have been many intermarriages between Australians and Canadians. I hope that that particular agreement produces even deeper bonds between the young of our two societies.

Sir, you come as a good friend. You come as the leader of a country for which we have immense affection, a country with which we share common values, common goals and common objectives, and it is a real privilege to have you addressing our parliament today.

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