Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Stephens, I seek leave to amended general business notice of motion No. 248, relating to diplomatic relations.

Question agreed to.

by leave—I move the amended motion:

That the Senate—

(a) notes That the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Holy See was commemorated in Rome on Monday, 28 April 2014, together with the centenary anniversary of the first Apostolic Delegation in Australia;

(b) congratulates renowned artist Jiawei Shen on his portrait of Pope Francis which was presented to Pope Francis in a private audience to commemorate the 40th anniversary;

(c) acknowledges the co-operation between the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr John McCarthy, the Chairman of the Hazelhurst Gallery, Mr Bryon Hurst, and sponsors of the portrait project, the Australian Catholic University, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Wayne McKenna, to enable the portrait to be done at no expense to the Australian taxpayer; and

(d) thanks His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, for celebrating a Thanksgiving Mass to commemorate the significant diplomatic relationship.

Question agreed to.