Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the report of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina from 29 September to 8 October 2008. In presenting this report may I observe that this particular delegation was led by the President of the Senate and the report has been tabled by him in another place. For this visit, I was accompanied by my colleague the member for Hindmarsh, Steve Georganas, who will speak later, as well as a number of senators accompanying the President: Senators Steve Fielding, Mark Furner, Annette Hurley and Barnaby Joyce. I might say they were excellent company. In that sense, not only was the visit very successful but one where there was a good opportunity to learn a great deal about the area and better understand it and some of the tragedies that can befall some parts of the world.

This was not the first visit I had made to the region—I had visited as a minister in 1997—but this visit certainly provided an important opportunity for the Australian parliament to renew and develop its contacts with the Croatian President, the Prime Minister, the parliament itself and local Croatian authorities. It gave a better understanding of what they have endured and a better appreciation of what they are seeking to do in the future.

Croatia has entered a period where accession to the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has started. These are very important developments that will help with its postwar economic development and social progress. We had an opportunity to travel and meet with important representatives in such places as Vukovar, Split and Dubrovnik, and we were able to have a good understanding of their aspirations for the future.

Unfortunately, our visit coincided with the disappearance of a young Australian backpacker, Britt Lapthorne. The leader of the delegation was briefed on the situation upon arrival in Croatia by our ambassador and attended a number of meetings with the Croatian Minister for the Interior and police authorities, and the Lapthorne family met with us. I attended a memorial service for Britt in Melbourne along with our friend the member for McEwen and also Senator Steve Fielding. We bonded very much with the family—we understood their agony. The Australian Ambassador was able to represent our Australian views, but I think the President had a good understanding of the needs of the family and worked hard to ensure that there was a good understanding that everything was being done that could possibly be done to assist.

We were, of course, the first parliamentary delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We had constructive discussions with major political figures and leaders of interreligious bodies. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the body dealing with war crimes, has amongst its membership an Australian judge, David Re. We experienced much of the history and geography of the area. We had a trip to Mostar, in which we were able to visit the Centre for Children and Youth for those with special needs. This is a project that Australia has been helping with.

This was a particularly useful visit to understand the way in which they want to move forward. I would like to be able elaborate greatly on it, but I see the time is fast disappearing. My colleagues were good company and we were well served by our ambassadors, Her Excellency Tracy Reid, Australian Ambassador to Croatia, and His Excellency Peter Shannon, Australian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We were aided by Julia Clifford and also Christopher Reid, who helped to ensure that the delegation functioned well.

The President expressed our thanks to the Parliamentary Library for their briefings, the Parliamentary Relations Office and also HRG travel for their assistance and, like me, offered thanks to delegates for making it such a constructive visit.

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