Aussie Prime Minister makes history
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will this morning make history by being the first foreign leader to address Parliament.
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Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will this morning make history by being the first foreign leader to address Parliament.
Ms Gillard's speech will be delivered in the debating chamber at 11am, outside regular sitting hours after the Green Party raised concerns the move would set a precedent.
Prime Minister John Key said her speech would be the highlight of the visit, and shows the special and unique relationship between the two countries.
Ms Gillard arrived in New Zealand yesterday, making her the first Australian leader to visit since 2007.
Her visit comes as fresh concerns are raised over the large number of New Zealanders moving across the ditch, and over a deal that will allow more investment from Australia.
Ms Gillard's two-day programme began at a trans-Tasman business lunch yesterday in Auckland, where she focused on the strong business relationship between New Zealand and Australia.
Ms Gillard referred to the strong "mateship" between the two countries and paid tribute to New Zealand's support during "Australia's summer of hardship".
"You brought mateship, you brought comfort and your work won't be forgotten," she said.
"We, too, will not forget the 29 men who never came home from the Pike River mine.
"They live on in our hearts and our memories. And at a time of hardship and grief, Australia will always be there to help," she said.
Ms Gillard joined Mr Key at the Glen Taylor School in Glendowie, where Mr Key launched the controversial national standards programme in 2009.
Mr Key said he wanted to show it to Ms Gillard as an example of a successful school.
Ms Gillard landed in Wellington yesterday evening for the second leg of the trip, and attended a dinner at Premier House hosted by Mr Key.
She will call on the Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand, this morning before being officially welcomed to Parliament and meeting with Mr Key and cabinet ministers.
Both prime ministers will then sign the CER Investment Protocol, which sets a higher threshold for trans-Tasman investment that does not have to go through a screening process.
After an official lunch at Parliament, Ms Gillard will meet with volunteers who went to Australia to help with the Queensland floods.
She will also meet Labour leader Phil Goff, and hold a joint wreathlaying ceremony with Mr Key at the National War Memorial before leaving to return to Canberra shortly before 4pm.
NZPA
Wed, 16 Feb 2011
Wed, 16 Feb 2011
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Aussie Prime Minister makes history
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