House debates

Tuesday, 28 October 2014

Questions without Notice

G20 Meeting

2:02 pm

Photo of Lucy WicksLucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, my question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on developments associated with the G20?

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I thank the member for Robertson for her question. The G20, to be held in Brisbane on 15 and 16 November, will be the largest ever gathering of international leaders here in Australia. It is a chance to showcase our country and to promote jobs and growth with the leaders—

Mr Albanese interjecting

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will desist.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

of the world's largest and most representative economies. These leaders represent two-thirds of the world's population and some 85 per cent of the world's gross domestic product.

Jobs and growth will be the theme of Australia's G20—jobs and growth. But as well as jobs and growth, freer trade; more infrastructure investment, particularly private sector infrastructure investment; stronger regulation of financial institutions, particularly non-banks; and—

Photo of Graham PerrettGraham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Climate change?

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

fairer international tax rules are the themes that Australia will promote—

Photo of Graham PerrettGraham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Climate change?

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Moreton is pushing his luck as well.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

as this year G20 president. I should acknowledge the work that former Treasurer Peter Costello did to originally convene the G20, and I should also acknowledge the work that former Prime Minister Rudd did to bring the G20 together in its current form.

As well as the G20, Australia will soon host official visits by the leaders of five very important partners: Prime Minister Cameron of Great Britain, our oldest ally and our second largest investor; President Xi of China, our biggest trading partner by far; Prime Minister Modi of India, the world's emerging democratic superpower; Chancellor Merkel of Germany, Europe's strongest economy; and President Hollande of France, where some 46,000 Australians fell during the Great War.

I am sure members opposite will be interested to know that the British, Chinese and Indian leaders will address this parliament on the Friday before and the Monday and Tuesday following the G20. I am sure that I speak for all members of this parliament and all Australians when I say that we do look forward to hosting the visits of these leaders and to strengthening some of our most important international ties.