Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank my colleagues from across the chamber, Mr Ferguson and Mr Hayes, for the opportunity speak today about the importance of Australia's relationship with Peru. It is very timely that we are discussing this motion as we celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with Peru in the year 2013. In the time available to me this morning I wish to touch upon three aspects: the first is our investment relationship; the second is our developing tourist trade; and the third, the educational connections between our two countries.

Australia is one of the very important investors in Peru. Many in this place would be aware that, since 1997, Australia and Peru have had a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement. This is indeed very important. Peru has a very critical open investment regime and very abundant natural resources—much like Australia—which makes it an attractive destination for Australian investment. Perhaps people would not be aware that there are many Australian companies with offices in Peru, and they are heavily involved in the mining sector. In fact, Australian investment is estimated by our authorities here to be at least $1.7 billion, with around $5 billion in new projects pending. This makes Australia amongst Peru's top 10 investors. This is indeed very significant.

We also find Peru to be a very attractive destination for tourism. Any Australian setting out today to do the world tour is lured by that wonderful trek, Machu Picchu. That is usually amongst the top international tourist destinations that many young Australians want to go to and experience. Around 30,000 Australians travelled to Peru in 2011 and 2012, and the vast bulk of those were travelling to see the wonderful Machu Picchu and all the other wonderful tourist destinations in Peru that they have to offer.

The final point I want to raise today, in addition to the investment and tourism relationships that we have developed over time, is that we have had significant cooperation on the issue of education. In 2006, during the previous coalition government, Australia and Peru signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in education, and our educational ties are in fact growing.

Many would be aware that, in the very beginning, when the founder of the Liberal Party, Sir Robert Menzies, was thinking about our foreign policy, he devised the Colombo Plan, to get the best and brightest from around the world and educate them here in Australia. The current shadow foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, has tweaked that plan and we have now in place a policy, a reverse Colombo Plan, to not only educate in our country, in our higher educational institutions, the best and brightest from around the world but also to send our best and brightest out into the world and to help them experience all that the world has to offer. I am confident that, with this plan that we will develop in government, there will be an opportunity for some of our best and brightest who wish to study in Peru to be able to do just that.

Australia has a very good relationship with Peru. We are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations, and I am sure we will celebrate many more in the future. Our investment in Peru is very strong and our tourist links are growing stronger as are our educational links. We look forward to continuing strong diplomatic relations with Peru in the years to come.

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