Report to Queensland Parliament Honourable Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Parliamentary Delegation to 24-26 June 2019

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Honourable Members I table this report for the information of the House on behalf of the Queensland Parliamentary Delegation to Vanuatu. The delegation comprised myself, the Member for Mirani, Stephen Andrew MP and George Hasanakos, Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker.

Honourable Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Date: 26 July 2019

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Purpose of the Travel The primary purpose of this travel was to visit the Vanuatu Parliament and sign a new twinning agreement between the Queensland Parliament and the National . However the travel also included other events which supported the relationship between Queensland and Vanuatu. This included a trip to Ambae, the ancestral home of the Member for Mirani who is the first Member of the Queensland Parliament of South Sea Islander heritage. This bond was able to be a bridge for a stronger relationship between Queensland and Vanuatu. I thank the Honourable Member for his assistance in the trip and for his work in supporting closer relations between Queensland and Vanuatu. The trip was held between 24-26 June 2019. The itinerary is enclosed at Attachment A. The full details of events on the trip are set out in Attachment B.

Clockwise from top left: Paining of a map of Vanuatu at the Cultural Centre; George Hasanakos discusses the return of residents to Ambae; Speaker the Hon. Curtis Pitt tries the Vanuatu Speaker’s Chair on for size; Mr Stephen Andrew MP, Hon. Alickson Vira MP and Mr Speaker with some Ambae chiefs.

Accompanying persons I was accompanied by the Member for Mirani for events up until late afternoon on Tuesday 25 June. I was also accompanied by George Hasanakos, Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker for the duration of the trip.

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Benefits obtained from this travel The benefits of the trip to Vanuatu are set out below in relation to each of the events attended. The benefits of the travel included;

• Develop closer ties with the Vanuatu Parliament, Speaker Saimon and other Vanuatu Parliamentarians.

• Developing closer ties with the highest levels of the Vanuatu Government

• Honouring the links of Queensland’s South Sea Islander Community to Vanuatu

• Strengthening relationships with key Vanuatu Parliament personnel.

• Learning about the development needs of the Vanuatu Parliament as an institution

• Conveying the goodwill of the Queensland Parliament to residents of the Island of Ambae who have experienced two full evacuations over the last two years due to earthquakes

• Representation of the Queensland Parliament in Commonwealth Parliamentary Association activity.

• Gain a greater awareness of political issues in Vanuatu

The basis of the reporting requirement for this travel is detailed at Attachment C.

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Attachment A - Travel itinerary MONDAY 24 JUNE 2019

10:40am Depart Brisbane International Airport (Duration: 2h 40m)

(AEST) Hon. Curtis Pitt MP Mr Stephen Andrew MP Mr George Hasanakos 2:20pm Arrive Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Vanuatu.

(VUT)

2:25pm Welcome reception

Venue: Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Vanuatu

2:50pm Travel to Hotel

3:05pm Check into Hotel

3:45pm Travel to Office of Vanuatu President

4:00pm Meeting with President of Vanuatu, His Excellency

Venue: Office of the Vanuatu President, Port Vila

5:00pm Travel to Hotel

5:50pm Travel to Blue Marlin Restaurant

6:00pm Dinner with the Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu HE Jenny Da Rin

Venue: Blue Marlin Restaurant, Numbatu, Port Vila

8:30pm Travel to Hotel

TUESDAY 25 JUNE 2019

6:30am Travel to Bauerfield Domestic Airport, Port Vila

7:30am Depart Bauerfield Domestic Airport, Port Vila

8:45am Arrive Longana Airport, East Ambae

8:50am Travel and visit Ambae Communities

3:00pm Depart Longana Airport, East Ambae

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3:30pm Arrive Walaha Airport, West Ambae

3:30pm Meeting with local residents

4:00pm Depart Walaha Airport, West Ambae

Stephen Andrew leaves delegation and remains on West Ambae

6:00pm Arrive Bauerfield Domestic Airport, Port Vila

6:05pm Travel to Hotel

6:30pm Travel to Golden Port Restaurant

6:45pm Dinner with Speaker of Vanuatu Parliament, Hon. Esmon Saimon MP

Venue: Golden Port Restaurant, Kumul Highway, Port Vila

8:30pm Travel to Hotel

WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE 2019

8:15am Travel to Parliament of Vanuatu

8:30am Visit to Parliament of Vanuatu for signing of the Twinning Agreement

10:00am Travel to Hotel

11:00am Check out of Hotel

12:30pm Meeting with Vanuatu Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon.

Venue: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Port Vila

1:00pm Travel to Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila

2:00pm Debrief with Clerk of Vanuatu Parliament, Mr Raymond Manuake

Venue: Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Vanuatu

3:05pm Depart Bauerfield Domestic Airport, Port Vila (Duration: 3h 10m)

(VUT)

5:15pm Arrive Brisbane International Airport

(AEST)

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Attachment B – Details of Events

Welcome Reception

Date: Monday 24 June 2019

Attendees:

Hon. Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Member for Mulgrave

Mr Stephen Andrew MP Member for Mirani

Hon. Esmon Saimon Speaker, Parliament of Vanuatu

Mr. Roch Wamytan President, Congress of New Caledonia

Hon. Edwin Amblus Macreveth First Deputy-Speaker, Parliament of Vanuatu

Mr Raymond Manuake Clerk of Vanuatu Parliament

Hon. Alickson Vira Member for Ambae, Vanuatu Parliament

Mr Gaétan Ruru Interparliamentary Officer, Vanuatu Parliament

Mr Greg Illingworth First Secretary, Political Section, Australian High Commission, Vanuatu

Mr George Hasanakos Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker

Venue: Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Meeting Summary: The delegation was immediately met after departing the aircraft at Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Vanuatu. The welcoming party led by the Speaker of the Vanuatu Parliament warmly greeted the Queensland delegates and a 20 minute discussion was held about the upcoming events and the relationship between the two parliaments. A warm discussion was also had about Mr Andrew’s ancestral links to Ambae. The President of the Congress of New Caledonia, Mr. Roch Wamytan was in attendance and he expressed an interest in closer relations with the Queensland Parliament. The reception finished with a traditional tribal welcome display.

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Meeting with President of Vanuatu, His Excellency Tallis Obed Moses

Date: Monday 24 June 2019

Attendees:

His Excellency Tallis Obed Moses President, Republic of Vanuatu

Hon. Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Member for Mulgrave

Mr Stephen Andrew MP Member for Mirani

Mr George Hasanakos Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker

Venue: Office of the Vanuatu President, Port Vila

Meeting Summary: His Excellency Tallis Obed Moses invited the Queensland delegation to meet in his private office. Discussion was held about the links between Vanuatu and the Queensland, specifically the links between Vanuatu and Queensland South Sea Islanders. His Excellency recalled warmly his previous trips to Queensland. Further discussion was held about the benefits of twinning relationship between the Queensland and Vanuatu Parliaments and the Pacific seasonal worker program.

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Dinner with the Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu HE Jenny Da Rin

Date: Monday 24 June 2019

Attendees:

Her Excellency Jenny Da Rin Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu

Hon. Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Member for Mulgrave

Mr Stephen Andrew MP Member for Mirani

Mr Greg Illingworth First Secretary, Political Section, Australian High Commission, Vanuatu

Mr George Hasanakos Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker

Venue: Blue Marlin Restaurant, Numbatu, Port Vila

Meeting Summary: The Australian High Commissioner and her staff gave a detailed briefing about Vanuatu and Australian-Vanuatu relations. The Speaker gave a detailed briefing of the Queensland Parliament’s activities under the twinning relationship with the Vanuatu Parliament. A detailed discussion also took place about the situation on Ambae after the recent eruptions of the Manaro volcano and the subsequent evacuations was also held.

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Visit to Ambae Villages

Date: Tuesday 25 June 2019

Attendees:

Hon. Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Member for Mulgrave

Mr Stephen Andrew MP Member for Mirani

Hon. Alickson Vira Member for Ambae, Vanuatu Parliament

Various Village and Tribal Chiefs

Mr George Hasanakos Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker

Venue: Ambae

Meeting Summary: The Queensland Delegation and the Hon. Alickson Vira, member for Ambae were escorted to several villages in North-East Ambae by the local Police to be given traditional welcomes by local residents. At each village the delegation was offered local food and coconut water. The Queensland delegation was welcomed with official speeches and traditional dance and ceremony. The Speaker and Mr Andrew both gave speeches on behalf of Queensland at each village Mr Andrew was made a tribal chief in a ceremony and was taken to the beach where his ancestors were forcibly taken to Queensland in the late 19th century. The delegation was each gifted a traditional walking stick and welcome mat. Mr Hasanakos donated his walking stick and welcome mat to the Parliament for future display to commemorate the visit. The return flights taking the delegation from Port Vila (to Longana and Walaha airports on Ambae) were paid for by the Vanuatu Government. Mr Andrew remained at Walaha to continue his visit to Ambae supported by the Vanuatu Government.

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Dinner with Vanuatu Speaker, Hon. Esmon Saimon MP

Date: Tuesday 25 June 2019

Attendees:

Hon. Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Member for Mulgrave

Hon. Esmon Saimon Speaker, Parliament of Vanuatu

Hon. Edwin Amblus Macreveth First Deputy-Speaker, Parliament of Vanuatu

Mr Raymond Manuake Clerk of Vanuatu Parliament

Hon. Alickson Vira Member for Ambae, Vanuatu Parliament

Mr Gaétan Ruru Interparliamentary Officer, Vanuatu Parliament

Mr George Hasanakos Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker

Venue: Golden Port Restaurant, Kumul Highway, Port Vila

Meeting Summary: An informal dinner was held where discussion of Vanuatu and Queensland Parliamentary practice and custom predominated discussion. There was also significant discussion of the upcoming Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference to be held at the Queensland Parliament. The Vanuatu Parliament delegation showed great interest in Queensland Parliament’s education program as outlined by Mr Speaker.

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Visit to Parliament of Vanuatu for signing of Partnership Agreement

Date: Wednesday 26 June 2019

Attendees:

Hon. Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Member for Mulgrave

Hon. Esmon Saimon Speaker, Parliament of Vanuatu

Her Excellency Jenny Da Rin Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu

Hon. Edwin Amblus Macreveth First Deputy-Speaker, Parliament of Vanuatu

Mr Raymond Manuake Clerk of Vanuatu Parliament

Hon. Alickson Vira Member for Ambae, Vanuatu Parliament

Mr Gaétan Ruru Interparliamentary Officer, Vanuatu Parliament

Mr George Hasanakos Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker

Mr Greg Illingworth First Secretary, Political Section, Australian High Commission, Vanuatu

Venue: Parliament of Vanuatu, Port Vila

Meeting Summary: Mr Speaker and Mr Hasanakos were welcomed by the Vanuatu Speaker and Clerk upon their arrival at the Parliament of Vanuatu and hosted in the Speaker’s Office. A tour of the Parliament of Vanuatu followed, the highlight of which was a tour of the Vanuatu parliament chamber. The Twinning Agreement signing ceremony was attended by other Vanuatu Parliament officials, the Member for Ambae and the Australian High Commissioner. Both Speakers gave speeches reaffirming their support of the twinning partnership between the Queensland and Vanuatu Parliaments.

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Meeting with Vanuatu Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu MP

Date: Wednesday 26 June 2019

Attendees:

Hon. Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Member for Mulgrave

Hon. Ralph Regenvanu Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade

Mr George Hasanakos Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker

Mr Greg Illingworth First Secretary, Political Section, Australian High Commission, Vanuatu

Venue: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Port Vila

Meeting Summary: Foreign Minister Regenvanu hosted the meeting in his office, which discussed the Queensland Vanuatu relations generally and specifically between the parliaments of the two jurisdictions. Foreign Minister Regenvanu showed great interest in Queensland-Vanuatu Parliamentary relationship and the benefits it provides for Vanuatu. Discussion also covered Queensland’s development of the Parliamentary Committee system over the past 30 years and how this can act as a guide for development of the Parliamentary Committee system in other jurisdictions. Mr Speaker offered to assist the Minister (in his capacity as Chair of the Standing Orders Review Committee) with the drafting of new standing and sessional orders for the Vanuatu National Parliament.

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Debrief with Clerk of Vanuatu Parliament, Mr Raymond Manuake

Date: Wednesday 26 June 2019

Attendees:

Hon. Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Member for Mulgrave

Mr Raymond Manuake Clerk of Vanuatu Parliament

Mr George Hasanakos Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker

Venue: Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Meeting Summary: The Clerk of the Vanuatu Parliament met with Mr Speaker and Mr Hasanakos prior to their departure to Brisbane to discuss outcomes of the visit. Discussion was had about the types of future assistance the Queensland Parliament can provide to the Vanuatu Parliament under the twinning relationship. Mr Speaker offered assistance, with education, committees and standing order reform.

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APPENDIX C – APPLICABLE CPA QUEENSLAND BRANCH RULES ON REPORTING OF TRAVEL

CPA Queensland Branch Membership, CPA activities and Administrative Guidelines 3.10 Report to Parliament

Following return from overseas travel, the Member must table in Parliament within one month of return, or the next available sitting, a written report on the overseas travel undertaken.

The report is to detail:

• the CPA activity undertaken

• benefits obtained from the overseas travel

• any duties undertaken on behalf of Queensland (which would be ancillary to the primary purpose of the travel)

• the final itinerary or program, including countries visited, dates of travel, and sufficient detail to substantiate the official nature of the journey

• details of accompanying persons (including the spouse) whose costs are to be met by public funds and purpose for their attendance

• details of any personal component of the travel.

All overseas travel for officers will be detailed in the Parliamentary Service annual report.

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