Margaret May (McPherson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As chair of the Australia-Taiwan Friendship Group, I have spoken many times in this parliament about the relationship between our two countries and the challenges that continually face Taiwan in its quest to build a strong democracy for its 23 million people. This week at the annual friendship dinner, members of the group will be officially farewelling Vanessa Shih, the deputy representative from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office here in Australia. It will be a very sad occasion for many of us as we say our goodbyes, but it will also be an occasion where we will celebrate the wonderful contribution Vanessa has made in building on the very strong relationship between our two countries.

Vanessa Shih is a woman of substance. Her government can be proud of her commitment to her country, her passion for her people, her depth of understanding of the challenges and difficulties that Taiwan continues to face and her wise counsel which, for so many of us as members of the friendship group, has been of enormous benefit in understanding the complexities and issues regarding her country. We will miss her. We will miss her warmth and friendship; we will miss her wise counsel. She is a determined and strong woman—a woman who is a wonderful ambassador for her country as an experienced and skilful representative. She is a woman of passion and persistence who we know will achieve even greater success in whatever new role her government has planned for her. All members of the friendship group wish Vanessa a safe journey home. She is a remarkable young woman who has done her country proud during her term here in Australia.