Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the report of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Sweden and United Kingdom from 31 October to 9 November 2023, and ask leave of the House to make a short statement in connection with the report.

Leave granted.

I am very pleased to speak to the report of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the United Kingdom and Sweden which took place from 31 October to 9 November last year. It was a great privilege to act as leader for this delegation, and I thank the members for McPherson, Wright and Blair for their support, expertise and contributions during the delegation. The delegation worked well together, and brought a variety of interests and knowledge of issues, which proved to be valuable during our meetings and discussions. The delegation, held in early November, visited Stockholm in Sweden as well as England and Scotland.

I would like to add my appreciation and thanks to Her Excellency, Ms Frances Sagala, Australian Ambassador to Sweden and His Excellency, the Honourable Stephen Smith, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, as well as all their staff for the valuable briefings and support they provided during the trip.

The delegation aimed to strengthen the important parliamentary links with Sweden and the United Kingdom and to discuss issues of common interest and concern. Main topics of discussion included AUKUS; defence cooperation; the international response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine; the Israel-Hamas conflict; and trade and investment relationships, including the negotiations on the Australia EU free trade agreement. We held fruitful discussions with parliamentary counterparts, senior government officials, business leaders, policy analysts and academics. We also visited the parliaments of Sweden, Scotland and the United Kingdom.

This report further details all the meetings the delegation held in each country and the various matters discussed. A highlight for the delegation was our visit to Operation Kudu and the Salisbury Plains, where a Australian Defence Force contingent is training Ukrainian defence recruits in United Kingdom. We received a briefing on the operation from the contingent commander, visited the training area to observe Ukrainian recruits undergoing weapons and tactical training, and we engaged with the Australian and Ukrainian soldiers. The delegation members recognised the professionalism, care and expertise of the Australian soldiers taking part in the training of the Ukrainian citizens, and we appreciate the conversations and hospitality that were shown to us during our visit.

On behalf of the delegation, I would like to record our appreciation for the work that went into preparing such a successful trip, including the arrangements made by the staff of the International and Parliamentary Relations Office and briefings provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I would also like to thank His Excellency, Mr Pontus Melander, Ambassador of Sweden to Australia, on the briefing he gave us, which provided insightful information before the delegation's arrival in Sweden. I would also like to record my thanks to Mr Peter Banson, Deputy Clerk of the House of Representatives, who accompanied the delegation to provide logistic and secretarial support and advice. His assistance was appreciated by us all. The delegation presented a valuable opportunity to strengthen bonds with the UK and Sweden, and we were pleased to be able to hold useful discussions and promote matters of importance to Australia. I commend the report to the House.