Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That:

(1) the House invite His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, to attend and address the House on Thursday, 29 February 2024;

(2) unless otherwise ordered, at the sitting of the House on 29 February:

(a) the House shall meet, at the ringing of the bells, at no earlier than 10.20 am and the proceedings shall be welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and an address by the President of the Republic of the Philippines;

(b) at the conclusion of the address by the President of the Republic of the Philippines the House shall suspend until the ringing of the bells, when business shall proceed in accordance with standing order 34;

(c) the provisions of standing order 257(c) relating to good order shall apply to the area of Members' seats as well as the galleries for the period set out at (3); and

(d) the Federation Chamber shall not meet;

(3) a message be sent to the Senate inviting Senators to attend the House as guests for the welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and address by the President of the Republic of the Philippines; and

(4) any variation to the arrangement be made only by an action by the Speaker or by a motion moved by a Minister.

It's a privilege to move this motion inviting the President of the Philippines, His Excellency Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, to address the parliament tomorrow. Australia and the Philippines have been working together for almost 80 years. Our partnership is one grounded in a commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Now, as we look to the future, we want to deepen engagement across defence and security, trade and investment, and people-to-people links.

Australia was proud to elevate our bilateral ties with the Philippines to a strategic partnership during the Prime Minister's visit to Manila last year. This elevation reflects the deep connections we share through business, education, tourism and family, including more than 400,000 people of Filipino heritage that call Australia home. President Marcos's address to parliament tomorrow will be an equally historic occasion, celebrating our strong relationship.

Question agreed to.