Blog: Your Ambassadors: Building influence in the world, seeking opportunities for growth, and delivering for Australians

I had the privilege of participating in the Global Heads of Mission Meeting (GHOMM) in Canberra on 9-11 September.  It was an important event as the Australian Government brought all Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consuls-General home to establish its priorities and vision for our diplomatic network.  The meeting enabled us to identify strategies together to expand Australia’s influence, find opportunities to boost trade and investment and position ourselves to respond effectively to emerging challenges.  It was the second GHOMM I attended – the first being in 2017. 

 

 

Together with around 110 Ambassadors, I heard important messages from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham, and Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government (and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister) Mark Coulton, about how the diplomatic network can work more effectively to advance Australia’s interests as strategic and economic power changes.  Issues outlined included challenges to the economy, great power rivalries and how to expand our influence in order to secure an open, stable, and prosperous future for Australia and the Indo-Pacific region.  It was a special honour for me to hear a speech by Governor-General David Hurley at a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reception. 

 

 

I was struck by the pace of global change since the release of the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper.  There have been significant technological advances, challenges to globalisation and the rules-based international order, trade tensions, and shifts in strategic power since the release of the Foreign Policy White Paper just two years ago.  

 

 

 

The Prime Minister emphasised that Australia cannot be a bystander as the world changes.  Instead, we should actively shape the environment in a way that benefits us and our region.  We need to continue to be competitive, agile, and adapt skilfully to profound change.  He said Australia sought the freedom to peacefully pursue our national interests, consistent with our values, while being transparent and honest about our aspirations for the future.  The Prime Minister noted that Australia’s optimism, resilience and spirit of quiet achievement is respected internationally as is our positive contribution to global affairs.

 

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of opening markets as a means of strengthening our economy.  One in five Australian jobs are supported by trade, and one in 10 jobs are created by foreign investment.  On this point, the Foreign Minister emphasised that foreign policy was an extension of domestic policy – we must be able to identify a direct link between what we do overseas and its impact in Australian communities.  The Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister highlighted the need to continue the strong growth of exports into the future by maintaining the existing free trade agreements we have, including with China, and negotiating new markets.  He aims for 90 per cent of all Australian exports to be covered by free trade agreements in the next few years, up from 70 per cent currently. 

 

 

After the two-day meeting, Ambassadors then travelled across the country to rural and regional centres.  The purpose was to identify opportunities to further leverage the diplomatic network for all Australians and to better understand how we can support exports and investment.  My regional trip took me to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Fraser Coast (Hervey Bay and Maryborough).  It was an honour to be welcomed by the Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey at Government House in Brisbane alongside four Ambassadors also visiting Queensland.  We heard first hand of the situation in Queensland and how we can contribute.  I then called on the CEO of Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) Paul Martyn to discuss economic conditions in Chengdu and Chongqing, and how our Consulate-General could better work together with the TIQ Chengdu Office to pursue stronger outcomes.  I thanked TIQ for their strong collaboration and efforts over the past year in bringing a series of events to Chongqing and Chengdu. 
 

 

I was delighted the Office of the Lord Mayor of Brisbane had organised an event with several members of the LGBTI community and their allies.  Brisbane City Council Councillor Vicki Howard was generous with her time and showed me the Brisbane Pride Festival Memorial Garden at New Farm Park, and the Brisbane Powerhouse.  I gave a brief talk about LGBTI issues in Chengdu and undertook to explore the possibility of linking performing groups from southwest China with the Powerhouse.  I was introduced to a group called Rainbow Hub that welcomes LGBTI international students to Brisbane. 

 

My strategy meeting with officials from the Gold Coast City Council was aimed at offering our assistance to implement Gold Coast’s new sister-city relationship with Chengdu.  I am confident that this new status will benefit both cities in the future. 
 
Fraser Coast: Hervey Bay and Maryborough 

 

I made my way to Fraser Coast Regional Council, which has a 20-year sister-city relationship with the city of Leshan in Sichuan province.  You’ll recall that Leshan has a delightful Australian friendship park.  The two cities have kept in contact and undertake regular mutual visits.  Ever since I arrived in Chengdu, I have worked to facilitate commerce, tourism and education between the two cities.  Fraser Coast featured prominently when Australia was the country of honour at the Sichuan International Tourism Expo in 2017. 

 

I met Mayor George Seymour and Deputy Mayor Darren Everard who briefed me about economic and social developments on the Fraser Coast.  We discussed how we can encourage more trade and investment with Leshan.  I gave a talk at the Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce about business opportunities in southwest China.  I also visited the University of Sunshine Coast's Fraser Coast Campus to discuss ways to leverage the memorandum of understanding they have with Leshan Normal University to further strengthen links.  A forum with students and lecturers was an important opportunity to exchange views about Australia’s rich and diverse relationship with China. 

 

 

As a diplomat overseas, I am used to observing, analysing and assessing a foreign country or region, in an attempt to increase my understanding.  But during this visit, I was trying to understand Fraser Coast, a place in Australia that I’ve never been before, and see it as an outsider.  I was very impressed with what I learnt, and deeply touched by the kindness and generosity of its people.  For me, Fraser Coast exemplifies a proud, resilient and welcoming regional community that is a wonderful place to visit, study or work. 

 

 

As it was my first time on the Fraser Coast, I was taken by its natural beauty as well as its rich history and diversity.  I learnt that its eventful history stretches back more than 5,500 years to when the Butchulla people first made their home on K’gari, now known as Fraser Island.  I was fascinated to learn about the three traditional laws of the Butchulla people, as they resonate so strongly today:

 

1. Whatever is good for the land comes first
2. If you have plenty, you must share
3. Do not take or touch anything that does not belong to you.
 
Unfortunately, my tight travel schedule didn’t allow me to visit World Heritage-listed Fraser Island – the largest sand island in the world, or go on the famous humpback whale watching tours, where you could get “mugged”, ie, your boat being surrounded by these gentle whales.  These will be on my agenda when I return for a holiday. 

 

I visited Maryborough with Mayor Seymour and learnt about its colonial history as a prosperous commercial centre and port for shipping wool, hides, timber, tallow and sugar cane.  Settled in the 1850s during the Gympie Gold Rush, Maryborough has many heritage-listed buildings and is a wonderful glimpse into one of the oldest settlements in Queensland.  It is also a story of a resilient regional town that has seen its fortunes change before its eyes, finding new economic and social vigour. 
 
Maryborough’s own Duncan Chapman is credited with being the first Australian or New Zealand soldier to land at Gallipoli before dawn on 25 April 1915.  He survived Gallipoli and a subsequent campaign in the Dardanelles but was killed in action in Pozières in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. 
 
At the end of my week-long visit home, I came away energised by the Government’s message of optimism and Australia’s active contribution to the Indo-Pacific region.  My role as Consul-General in southwest China in creating opportunities for Australian businesses and the economy, and building relationships to enhance ties, could not be clearer.