Travel

Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum

Sydney, 22-23 April 2007

The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum is a business led initiative designed to further develop Australia and New Zealand's bilateral relationship as well as our joint relations in the region. It brings together Ministers and leaders from business, government, academia and the public sector to create an independent platform for thinking about the Australia New Zealand relationship. The Forum was endorsed by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and his then New Zealand counterpart, Hon Phil Goff, in June 2002. The Forum is chaired by the private sector, with James Strong AO (Chairman Insurance Australia Group and Woolworths Ltd) and John Allen (CEO, New Zealand Post) Co-Chairing the Forum's fourth meeting in Sydney in April 2007. The inaugural Forum was held in Wellington May 2004.

A very successful fourth Forum meeting was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney, 22-23 April 2007. There was high-level Australian and New Zealand participation, including considerable commitment from Ministers.

Mr Downer and his New Zealand counter-part, Winston Peters, addressed the opening session of the Forum on the topic of “Regional Strategic Perspectives”. Mr Downer outlined the smooth progress of the Australia New Zealand relationship and the changing dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region in which Australia and New Zealand work closely. Mr Peters’ presentation focused on the importance of Australia New Zealand engagement in the region.

The Forum heard from expert speakers on a range of issues including Australia New Zealand strategies in the Pacific, progress on the trans-Tasman trade and economic relationship, including the Single Economic Market, taxation, common border issues, education, research and development and demographic and labor market trends. Climate change and related economic and sustainability issues also featured prominently in presentations.