Sharon Grierson (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to take advantage of this debate to share with the House some observations and knowledge arising from the recent opportunity I had to visit Mongolia and Timor Leste. These experiences, when reflected upon, have significance for what we do here in this parliament, the legislation we enact and the policies we deliver. In June 2009 an invitation was extended from His Excellency Mr Enkhbold, the Vice-Chairman of Mongolia’s State Great Khural, their parliament, and Chair of the Mongolia-Australia Friendship Group—or the ‘Mozzies’ as they affectionately call it—offering on behalf of the Mongolian parliament to host a delegation from our parliament. The delegation included Kirsten Livermore, the member for Capricornia, who led our delegation. She is particularly deserving of great praise for her diplomacy, her skill and her level of engagement with Mongolia. The delegation also included the Hon. Peter Lindsay, the member for Herbert, and Dr Mal Washer, the member for Moore, as well as Mrs Washer.

The visit was particularly extended to people interested in mining communities, and we were assisted by public servants Ms Bayasa and Mr Batbold, who were excellent advocates for their country. The delegation’s program was divided into formal meetings with members of the executive and the parliament, visits to two national parks showcasing the natural environment of Mongolia and meetings with Australians who are representatives of Australian companies operating in Mongolia. We also had the great opportunity to visit Oyu Tolgoi, an Ivanhoe-Rio copper mine in the Gobi Desert, as well as spending an afternoon with children from Didi Kalika’s Lotus Children’s Centre. Didi is originally from Albury, and her work in setting up that orphanage and the work of the carers whom she employs are outstanding.

In the Gobi Desert, where we visited those mines, it was a great pleasure for me to find that the geologist was from Newcastle; to hear them talk about their discovery of, I think, 40 dinosaur eggs in the final drilling that disclosed all the copper and gold that is available there; and to meet a young Novocastrian who was studying for a PhD, looking at the impact of mining on the Mongolian people, with particular reference to gender relationships. I was not surprised but certainly delighted to see that Novocastrians play a role there.

We were there because Mongolia extends to us the desire for a third neighbour. Surrounded as it is—landlocked between Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia—it is certainly in need of third neighbours and it looks to us. It has a strong desire for Australia to establish an embassy in Mongolia, and we discussed particularly the significance to Mongolians of the AusAID scholarship program and other areas of cooperation, particularly mining, between our countries.

In many ways Mongolia is reminiscent of the preboom days in this country, and Mongolians now struggle with the challenge of getting international investment agreements right—ones that will benefit their communities and their country and that will still be attractive for international investment. We are pleased to report that an investment agreement with Rio was signed shortly after our visit, and I can only praise Mongolia’s Prime Minister, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy and foreign affairs minister for their very frank discussions with us. Certainly I understand that they look to us for our technical expertise as well. Although they are very grateful for the scholarship program, which many Mongolians have benefited from, now they would like to see it widened so that they can look to develop technical skills to deal with things like mining regulations and safety issues. They also ask us to remove any barriers to studying here and to bringing family. I think there are some real barriers now, and we look at the need for real engagement and people-to-people exchange that can be offered if families do come with what are often older participants in these programs. So overall the trip was an outstanding success. I congratulate the member for Capricornia on her report, which I know has been given to our relevant ministers.

I also recently had the opportunity to visit East Timor, Timor-Leste, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary of democracy. I was there in the role of chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit to deliver a paper to the East Timorese parliament regarding the Financial Management and Accountability Act. I acknowledge the support of the secretariat in assisting me with developing that paper. It was requested because the conference that I attended was dealing with East Timor’s, or Timor-Leste’s, first legislation to look at true accountability and financial management. I can only say that I was so impressed, particularly with the young female members of parliament that I met. They had many questions, and it was clear that they set the highest goals and ideals for their people. I would like to particularly thank Suzanne McCourt and Brian Diamond, DFAT staff from the embassy there, and Mr Peter Heyward, the Australian ambassador, who extended great hospitality to me during my visit. Fe Gaffud, the senior budget expert and trainer from the UNDP Parliament Project, was responsible for the conference. I thank her for her excellent organisation.

I can only say that, when visiting countries like this, you understand how important it is that Australia is thoroughly supportive of these countries. In East Timor the life expectancy is 60. In Mongolia it is between 60 and 65. Conditions are harsh and poverty is real. Certainly the work done today by young people to gain our support for the Millennium Development Goals is a salient reminder of our obligations.

While I was in Mongolia, 27 people died in 10 days as a result of a flood through their capital Ulaanbaatar. That is just from higher rainfall in that area. Gers were washed away and people drowned. While I was in Timor Leste, in Dili, an earthquake occurred. As I come from Newcastle, it made me rather edgy. Climate change is very real in countries such as these. In Mongolia desertification is extensive and growing. They do not have climate scepticism. That is an indulgence for developed nations like ours. They know from their everyday lives the impact that climate change has. I can only say to those who may think it is not our role to show regional and international leadership on climate change: please reflect on the plight of our neighbours in our region because they are certainly already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Coincidentally, I also visited East Timor on a separate occasion to look at Operation Astute, the Australian Defence Force’s continuing contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability in East Timor. The training they were giving was welcomed and certainly, as always, their professionalism was great.

Today I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the participants in the Micah Challenge who came to see me today in my office. Newcastle remains strongly representative of the community that desires to see global poverty eradicated. I support their work. Also tonight I had the pleasure to spend time with two international students from our university, Alexa Halford and Vicky Chew. I have learnt so much already today in my discussions with international students, having dinner with them tonight and visiting them in their workshops. I know that the federal government will respond appropriately because the input and the output have been exceptional. I look forward to their communique being presented to this parliament tomorrow and congratulate them on the work they are doing. I wish Mr Bruce Baird, a former member of this parliament, success in his review of the role and activities of international colleges and private institutions for international students, because issues raised today were quite alarming. There is certainly a great deal of work to do.