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

I present the report of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Belgium and Norway from 1 to 6 December 2024 and ask leave of the House to make a short statement in connection with the report.

Leave granted.

I'd like to begin by acknowledging my colleagues who were part of this delegation to Belgium and Norway. It was a pleasure to travel with Senators Helen Polley and Tammy Tyrrell; the member for Capricornia, the Hon. Michelle Landry; and the member for Leichhardt, the Hon. Warren Entsch. I thank them all for their keen engagement during our time in Europe. It was a privilege to lead the delegation.

Australia maintains a biennial commitment to visit the European Parliament in Belgium. On this occasion, we were privileged to attend the 43rd Australia-EU Inter-parliamentary Committee Meeting at the European Parliament and to continue to strengthen Australia's connections with the European Union. We also travelled to Norway to strengthen Australia's connections there. Delegations such as this are vital in building on those existing relationships and strengthening our shared commitments to a secure, peaceful and prosperous world.

The 43rd Australia-EU Inter-parliamentary Committee Meeting was an opportunity for all members to discuss a range of current issues relating to Australia and EU cooperation, including the free trade agreement negotiations; economic relations; climate change and its impact in Europe, Australia and Pacific nations; and opportunities relating to renewable energy and critical minerals. The members discussed critical political and security developments, including the 2024 elections in the European Parliament, the Russian war against Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East and the situation in the Korean peninsula and across the Taiwanese strait.

The Chair of the Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand, Mr Sean Kelly MEP, thanks Australia for its solidarity in supporting and protecting Ukraine. The delegation also had the opportunity to meet with senior representatives of the NATO parliamentary assembly and senior representatives of the Belgian train sector, and we visited the Belgian parliament. But a particular highlight for the delegation in Belgium was our attendance at the Last Post Ceremony in Ieper. We were privileged to be accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Carney Elias, Australia's Defence Attache to Belgium and the Netherlands, to meet with Belgian volunteers who have been holding the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate each day since 1928. This was a moving tribute to fallen soldiers who fought in Belgium and a strong reminder of Australia's close bonds with Belgium today. It was a humbling experience to be asked to read the ode and lay a wreath on behalf of Australia and the delegation.

The delegation then travelled to Norway. During our visit we were pleased to visit Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, Norwegian cybersecurity agencies and the National Authority for the Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crimes. We were also privileged to visit the Norwegian parliament and meet with the Norwegian Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, as well as the head of the Norwegian Asia delegation. A particular highlight for the delegation in Norway was our visit to Bastoy prison. Bastoy prison is an open, unwalled, low-security prison for adult male sentenced prisoners. It is located on a small island close to the mainland. It is for prisoners who've completed part of their sentences or are nearing the end of longer sentences. The delegation enjoyed a tour of the facility and visited the island's small supermarket, at which inmates could purchase their own food to cook their own meals using an allowance provided to them. The facilities available to inmates, including a small house where inmates may request visits from family, are impressive and about providing pathways back into society. We received a detailed overview of the prison and Norway's criminal law system more generally from staff. Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world and has a restorative justice system that is often referenced as a model for other countries. It was very instructive to see how this system works in action.

During our travels in Belgium and Norway, the delegation was ably supported by Australian officials, led by Her Excellency Caroline Millar, Australian Ambassador to the EU, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg; and Her Excellency Kerin Ayyalaraju, Australian Ambassador to Denmark, Norway and Iceland. I know I speak for the entire delegation when I offer our sincere thanks to the people of Belgium and Norway for their hospitality and to the Australian officials for their excellent support during a very busy visit. I'd also like to thank Charlotte Fletcher from the Senate, who supported the delegation on our trip, and the International Parliamentary Relations Office, especially Shannon Karppinen and Luke Hennessy, for logistical and informational support. I encourage all members of the House to consider the report, and I commend it to the House.