Paul Neville (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise to pay tribute to Mr Tadashi Yamamoto, who was a visionary leader in Japan and dedicated his life to building and improving communications channels for a better world. Australia was the beneficiary of his dedication, and Mr Yamamoto's particular support for young political leaders was to our benefit. Mr Yamamoto founded the Japan Centre for International Exchange in 1970 and in 1992 that organisation entered into an exchange program with Australia's APEC program. These regular exchanges provide valuable opportunities for Australia's young political leaders to experience firsthand the political system in Japan and to strengthen international ties with that nation.

Since 1992 there have been 11 Japanese delegations to Australia and 19 from Australia to Japan. These could not have occurred without the deep commitment to the program of Mr Yamamoto and his staff at JCIE. There are many current and former members of parliament in Australia who have benefited greatly from this exchange program, including the Hon. Andrew Robb AO MP, shadow minister for finance, deregulation and debt reduction; Christopher Pyne MP, Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives; the Hon. Bill Shorten, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relation and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation; Senator Kate Lundy, Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Multicultural Affairs; the Hon. Nicola Roxon, Attorney-General; and the Hon. Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria.

Tadashi Yamamoto's contribution to the Australia-Japan relationship was recognised in 2003 when he was appointed an Honorary Officer of the General Division of the Order of Australia. His citation was 'in recognition of his philanthropic support and initiative in relation to the Japan-Australia young political leaders exchange program'. Tadashi Yamamoto was influential in the conduct of political leaders exchange programs with other countries, including the United States.

Mr Yamamoto was an inspired leader whose significant contribution to strengthening ties of humanity across borders will be sorely missed. On behalf of the Australian Political Exchange Council, I extend my deepest sympathy to his family, including his sons, Taro, Saburo, Shiro and Jiro and his eight grandchildren, as well as the staff of the Japan Centre for International Exchange.

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