Audio: Aussie & NZ Finance Ministers Swan & English

• Scoop Audio: - Finace Ministers Bill English and Wayne Swann, 14/7/11

The press conference began with Bill English touching on subjects including:

• integration of Aus-NZ economies / single economic market.
• investment protocol, savings schemes, airport streamlining.
• company directors who are banned from operating in one country will also be banned from operating in the other.
• Wayne Swan & Gerry Brownlee met to discuss disaster relief / Christchurch recovery.
• roll out of broadband (in both countries) and opportunities for a competitive market.
• integration of financial services

Four minutes in it was Wayne Swan's turn to address reporters, and he spoke about:

• New Zealand as "A very important trading partner, but it's more then that, it's a great mate."
• desire for "tearing down trade barriers" for trans-Tasman business.
• single economic market as a "priority."
• "Our part of the world has strong growth prospects and if we work together in the region we are all the stronger for that."
• "In the Asian century we do stand to benefit as a major supplier of goods to the growing middle classes in Asia, and if we cooperate, we can all grow strongly together."
• climate change and Australian Clean Energy Future Package: "I think a lot of Australians will be comforted to see there is an emissions trading scheme which is working very well in New Zealand. The sky hasn't fallen in, and the economy has continued to grow."
• future linking the Australian and NZ emissions trading schemes.

Bill English & Wayne Swan then answered questions about:

• broadband.
• disaster relief and Christchurch rebuild.
• taxes (Wayne Swan wouldn't comment of capital gains taxes).
• linking of emissions trading schemes.
• research and development.
• currency controls.
• banking regulations.
• Australian importation of NZ apples.

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