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Remarks By Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Australian Parliament Parliament House Canberra, Australia Tuesday, 8th July 2014 ------------------- The Honourable Tony Abbott MP, thought long and hard over what Prime Minister of Australia, had happened in the past, and The Honourable Bronwyn Bishop came to make a vow for peace MP, Speaker of the House of with their whole hearts. We Representatives, Japanese have followed that path Senator the Honourable Stephen until the present day. Parry, President of the Senate, The Honourable Bill Shorten MP, We will never let the horrors of the Leader of the Opposition, past century's history repeat Members and Senators, themselves. This vow that Japan Distinguished guests, made after the war is still fully alive I would like to respectfully today. It will never change going acknowledge the Traditional forward. There is no question at all Owners of the Land on which this about this point. event is taking place and their elders past and present. I stand here in the Australian legislative chamber to state this * * * vow to you solemnly and proudly. Now, ladies and gentlemen, When Our fathers and grandfathers lived we Japanese started out again in a time that saw Kokoda and after the Second World War, we Sandakan. 1 She accepted Australia’s invitation How many young Australians, with and, in memory of her son, poured bright futures to come, lost their Japanese sake into Sydney Bay. lives? And for those who made it through the war, how much Her son was on a small submarine trauma did they feel even years that had sunk in Sydney Bay during and years later, from these painful an attack on Australia. The people memories? of Australia kept his valour in memory so many years, and I can find absolutely no words to brought over the brave soldier’s say. I can only stay humble against mother from Japan. the evils and horrors of history. This is so beautifully open-minded. May I most humbly speak for Japan and on behalf of the Japanese “Hostility to Japan must go. It is people here in sending my most better to hope than always to sincere condolences towards the remember.” many souls who lost their lives. These are the words of Prime There is a story from 1968 that Minister R.G. Menzies when he pulls at my heartstrings even now. restarted Australia-Japan ties after the war. Australia invited a Japanese woman to come here. Her name Again speaking both for Japan and was Matsue Matsuo, and she was for the Japanese people, I wish to 83 years old. state my great and whole-hearted gratitude for the spirit of tolerance 2 and for the friendship that coming of Japan’s industry after Australia has shown to Japan. the war first became possible through the help of Australia, our We in Japan will never forget your indispensable partner. open-minded spirit nor the past history between us. Just as Prime Minister Menzies and my grandfather did, Prime Minister * * * Tony Abbott and I hope to make a truly new base for our relations. Prime Minister Menzies was the first to welcome a Japanese prime This afternoon, Prime Minister minister to Australia after the war. Abbott and I will sign the Japan- That was 57 years ago. Australia Economic Partnership Agreement. We signed a Commerce Treaty between us. Seven years ago, when our talks on this EPA began, many asked if we That propelled us on the road to would ever see this day. I think prosperity, which we still enjoy even many members of this today. honourable body felt the same way. It was my grandfather, Nobusuke Let us congratulate each other for Kishi, who signed it. the many efforts that brought us here today. This was the start of Australian coal, iron ore, and natural gas The next step for us will be the TPP. coming into Japan. The second- After that, RCEP. And then the 3 FTAAP. Let us walk forward I am now working to reform together, Australia and Japan, with systems and norms that have not no limits. changed in many decades. Japan will grow by increasing its Yes, we can do it. After all, when productivity while keeping good Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and fiscal discipline. Japan’s Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira said that the creation of a To do that, I will become like a drill Pacific community was a significant bit myself, breaking through the long-term objective, we built the vested interests and the norms cornerstone for APEC. That was no that have deep roots. less than 34 years ago. Reforms are now starting in the Visions always come from a fields of agriculture, energy policy, longitude of 135 degrees east, do and medicine for the first time in they not? decades. We also started to reform old norms in our labour regulations. Of course, we are the ones who benefit by making markets that are Since the beginning, I have broad, open, and free. stressed that I want to make Japan a place Ladies and gentlemen, opening up where women shine. I have also Japan’s economy and society is said time and again that for non- one of the major engines for my Japanese with a can-do spirit and Growth Strategy. ability, Japan and Japanese society must be a beacon of hope. 4 This EPA with Australia will be a Australia and Japan have now great catalyst to spark further freed ourselves from one old layer changes as we open up Japan’s and are now moving towards a economy. new “special relationship.” It will also give us a great push Prime Minister Abbott and I forward as we work towards the confirmed that already, on April 7 TPP. in Tokyo. * * * Today, Prime Minister Abbott and I will sign an agreement concerning Japan and Australia have the transfer of defence equipment deepened our economic ties. We and technology. will now join up in a scrum, just like in rugby, to nurture a regional and That will make the first cut world order and to safeguard engraving the special relationship peace. in our future history. Today I stand in front of you, who That is not all. So far as national represent the people of Australia, security goes, Japan has been self- and state solemnly that now Japan absorbed for a long time. and Australia will finally use our relationship of trust, which has Now, Japan has built a stood up through the trials of determination. As a nation that history, in our cooperation in the longs for permanent peace in the area of security. world, and as a country whose economy is among the biggest, 5 Japan is now determined to do can act jointly with other countries more to enhance peace in the in as many ways as possible. region, and peace in the world. We want to make Japan a country Ladies and gentlemen, it is to put that will work to build an that determination into concrete international order that upholds action, that Japan has chosen to the rule of law. Our desire is to strengthen its ties with Australia. make Japan a country that is all the more willing to contribute to peace Yes, our countries both love peace. in the region and beyond. It is for We value freedom and democracy. this reason that Japan has raised And we hold human rights and the the banner of “Proactive rule of law dear. Contribution to Peace.” Today is the day that we bring life Whatever we decide to do, I will to our new special relationship. To tell you that Japan will continue to make its birthday today, I should work together with our neighbour have brought a huge cake to share at a longitude of 135 degrees east. a piece with every one of you. This is why we have made this There are many things Japan and “special relationship.” Australia can do together by each of us joining hands with the United Let us join together all the more in States, an ally for both our nations. order to make the vast seas from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian and Japan is now working to change its those skies open and free. legal basis for security so that we 6 In everything we say and do, we the gallery, where you will see Mr. must follow the law and never fall Robert McNeil of the Fire and back onto force or coercion. When Rescue New South Wales. there are disputes, we must always use peaceful means to find Mr. McNeil, to you I give my deep solutions. appreciation. These are natural rules. I believe Minamisanriku in Japan’s Miyagi strongly that when Japan and Prefecture was one of the towns Australia, sharing the common that suffered the very worst values, join hands, these natural damage from the tsunami that hit rules will become the norm for the our Tohoku region on March 11, seas of prosperity that stretch 2011. from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian. Mr. McNeil, leading a team of 76 people and two dogs, immediately * * * came to Minamisanriku. Today is the day our special There, he worked together with relationship is born. It is fitting that fire fighters from Japan. Mr. I conclude my speech with words McNeil said, “When the Japanese of gratitude to our dear friends and fire fighters were grieving, we with an appeal to our young were able to share their grief. people. There were no walls of communication between us.” I would ask the members of this esteemed body to please look to 7 We will keep his words in our I wish to thank all those who have hearts warmly forever.

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