Australian parliamentary delegation to visit Phl

MANILA, Philippines - A delegation of Australian senators and members of Parliament will visit the Philippines starting today as part of their Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional tour.

The delegation leader, The Hon. Bruce Scott, Deputy Speaker, said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to visit the Philippines, a country where Australia has a strong bilateral relationship. Australia values its deep-rooted and broad-ranging partnership with the Philippines, particularly in the areas of growing people-to-people ties, trade and investment, development and security cooperation.”

Through this visit, the Australian parliamentary delegation will gain a greater appreciation of the current political and economic issues facing the Philippines, and gain a better understanding of the Philippines’ relations with its ASEAN neighbors.

The delegation will meet counterparts in the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, and key Philippine government departments, commercial entities and development organizations.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell said, “This visit will reinforce the very good state of the bilateral relationship. It will also highlight to the delegation the excellent cooperation underway across the breadth of our relations.”

While in the Philippines, the Australian Parliamentary delegation will visit Bohol where the Australian government has a number of aid programs, including post-earthquake rehabilitation activities.

The other members of the delegation include Ken Wyatt MP, Sen. the Hon Don Farrell, Sen. Helen Kroger, Hon. Alan Griffin MP, Elysia Ruttley, adviser to the deputy speaker, and Peter Banson, delegation secretary.