Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the report of the delegation to Papua New Guinea in November of last year and seek leave to make a short statement in connection with the report.

Leave granted.

Having spent a large number of years working and living in Papua New Guinea, I was pleased to return with the delegation in November. I would like to thank the members of the delegation, including Senator Ian Macdonald, our delegate leader; Senator Kimberley Kitching; and the member for Herbert, Ms Cathy O'Toole. I thank the delegation secretary, Julia Agostino. I thank officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and representatives from the Crawford Business School at ANU, for some pre-delegation briefings. I make special mention of His Excellency the High Commissioner, Mr Bruce Davis, for his support, and his staff who helped the delegation throughout the trip.

The delegation arrived on a landmark day for Port Moresby, PNG. The Rugby League World Cup between Ireland and the PNG team was on—a great introduction to Papua New Guinea. The Kumuls, the national Rugby League team, were victorious. It was a great opportunity to meet many ministers, who celebrated the victory with us and the guests from the High Commissioner. We had the pleasure not only of meeting parliamentarians but also significant administration people in PNG.

Our group attended a very productive meeting with the Women in Leadership group at a luncheon. We went to the national museum and art gallery and went to the Western Highland Provincial Administration. We went with the Mount Hagen chamber of commerce. It was a great pleasure that I could greet the crowd in Mul-Baiyer in pidgin English. This moment is captured wonderfully in a photograph in the report I submit today. Thank you.