DFAT: Eighth Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum looks at bilateral opportunities in “Asian Century.”

The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) is a business-led initiative designed to further develop the Australian and New Zealand bilateral relationship as well as joint relations in the region. The ANZLF brings together ministers and leaders of business, government and academia to create an independent public platform for consideration of the whole Australia New Zealand relationship. The inaugural forum was held in Wellington in May 2004 and has been held annually since, with the exception of 2010, hosted alternatively in Australia and New Zealand.

The eighth ANZLF, held in Sydney on 12/13 April 2012, provided an opportunity to focus on the scope and shape of closer economic cooperation and integration between Australia and New Zealand in the near future. The Forum brought together 100 government, business and community leaders from both countries. Meeting under the theme “Australia and New Zealand – Together in the Indo-Pacific Century”, the Forum considered the broad strategic context for further expansion of the relationship in the lead up to the celebration of CER’s 30th anniversary in 2013.

The co-chairs, Rod McGeoch AM (Chairman of Sky City Entertainment Group Limited) from Australia and Jonathan Ling (Chief Executive Officer of Fletcher Building) from New Zealand, identified key areas such as the Single Economic Market agenda, the 30th anniversary of the CER, current Pacific development, and business opportunities from major events such as the Australia New Zealand joint hosting of the Cricket World Cup and the ANZAC Centenary, both in 2015. The Forum also discussed collaborative approaches for taking advantage of economic opportunities in the region during the “Asian Century”, and featured a keynote presentation from Dr Ken Henry AC, the Head of the “Australia in the Asian Century” White Paper Task Force.

Ministerial representation from Australia included Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Finance and Deregulation; the Hon. Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy and Tourism; and the Hon. Richard Marles, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Pacific Island Affairs. The Finance Minister and Deputy PM Minister Bill English, Foreign Minister Murray McCully, Trade Minister Tim Groser, Economic Development Minister Stephen Joyce and Commerce Minister Craig Foss attended from New Zealand. The New Zealand Leader of the opposition Mr David Shearer and Deputy Leader of the Australian Opposition Ms Julie Bishop also addressed the Forum.

The next forum is expected to be held in the first half of 2013.

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