6 November 2015

Over the next two days, as Federal Member for Newcastle, I will host a Parliamentary delegation from ASEAN Member Parliaments* as part of the Parliament of Australia’s Guest of Parliament program.

Newcastle was selected as a host to the delegation due to our status as a leading regional city in Australia and because of our diverse and thriving local economy.

A number of meetings and site visits have been planned for the visit to allow for a better understanding of life in Australia from a trade, education and cultural perspective.

A highlight of the delegation’s time in Newcastle will be a visit to Nobby’s Beach, where they will view a demonstration of Nobby’s Surf Life Saving Club’s New Wave Program that supports local children with disability to develop water awareness and participate in surf club activities.

The delegation will also meet with representatives from a variety of our world-leading organisations and institutions including the University of Newcastle, RDA Hunter, Renew Newcastle and Hunter Wetlands.

The delegation aims to strengthen relationships with ASEAN Member Parliaments through the development of people to people links, and to allow parliamentarians in our region to gain a positive insight and understanding of Australia and its political system.

As well as the visit to Newcastle, the delegation’s week-long stay in Australia will include visits to the New South Wales and Australian Parliaments.

*ASEAN Member Parliaments - Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.