Networking Lunch Hosted by the Acting Australian High Commissioner to Singapore

It is an honour for me to join you here today. This is my first visit to Singapore since becoming Governor of Australia’s third most populous state, Queensland, in July last year. Prior to this, including during my judicial career, Kaye and I visited Singapore many times. It is an enriching place of perpetual vitality. Economically, it is a true beacon of growth and dynamism. It is always a joy to be here.

At once I mention that we were deeply saddened to learn of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s health. My thoughts, including of hope, and the thoughts of the people of our State whom I represent, are with you all during this difficult time. Mr Lee visited Queensland many times. He is immensely respected in our country, and his pioneering vision continues to resonate deeply throughout our region.

It is poignant that Mr Lee’s – Singapore’s founding Prime Minister’s – untimely illness should coincide with this highly significant time, commemorating half a century since Singapore’s watershed independence year in 1965.

Over those 50 years, Australian-Singaporean bilateral relations – now based on political, trade and tourism, and, particularly in Queensland’s case, defence, creative industries, arts and culture, and education and training links – have brought great benefit to our two nations. They continue to be strengthened by our corresponding strategic outlooks. 

To this end, I very much look forward to visiting the Singapore Art Museum this afternoon, which collaborates extensively with our own Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art.  Tomorrow, I will visit the James Cook University Singapore campus, recognising the growing education and training industry as a key services export for Queensland, and its importance to Queensland’s bilateral relationship with Singapore.

The Queensland Government has a very strong message for the rest of the world: Queensland is Australia’s foremost business location with endless opportunities.

The Queensland economy is expected to grow by nearly 6% in the coming financial year, boosted by LNG exports – it is forecast to be the fastest growing economy of any Australian State in that year.

Communicating these messages was key to Queensland successfully hosting last year’s G20 events – attended by Singapore’s Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong (and I was honoured to officially welcome Prime Minister Lee and his wife Ms Ho Ching upon their arrival to Brisbane), and also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

I very much look forward to encouraging continued collaboration between Singapore and Queensland when I meet tomorrow with the President, Dr Tony Ton Keng Yam.

I am delighted to be in a room of people whose endeavours are so firmly directed towards giving further strength and substance to our two nations’ economic and bilateral relations. I thank you all for taking time from your busy schedules to be with me today. I trust this networking lunch will provide you with an enriching opportunity to establish new connections and share ideas.

I also warmly thank Australia’s Acting High Commissioner Mr Adrian Lochrin and High Commission staff for organizing today’s lunch.