PRESS RELEASE

Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives

For immediate release: 21 August 2015

Young Australian political leaders visit New Zealand.

The New Zealand Parliament will host a delegation of young Australians from 22 to 28 August 2015. The delegation consists of six Australian political staff members and aims to provide development for young political leaders.

The Australian Political Exchange was established by the Australian Parliament, with the goal of offering unique insights into the operations of other Parliament’s. It is a reciprocal programme, with New Zealand delegates to visit Australia in late 2015.

Speaker of the House, Rt Hon David Carter, said that he is very pleased to host the delegation, “it provides the delegates with an opportunity to learn first-hand about the current political issues, political structure and parliamentary processes in New Zealand.”

“Australia is one of our largest trading partners and closest friends, and their democracy is very similar to our own. It is our aim to continue to foster close relations through political exchanges.”

The delegation will arrive in Queenstown on Saturday afternoon before progressing to Christchurch and then on to Wellington.

The delegation will meet with New Zealand’s youngest Member of Parliament, Todd Barclay, in his home electorate of Clutha-Southland. The visit to Christchurch will focus on the city re-build and includes a meeting with the Mayor, Her Worship Leanne Dalziel.

At Parliament the delegation will gain knowledge of New Zealand’s parliamentary process, procedures, constitutional arrangements and the electoral system. The delegation will also meet with representatives from each of New Zealand’s political parties, to discuss current political issues and developments on both sides of the Tasman.

The programme will conclude with delegation members honouring the centenary of WW1 with a visit to the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.

The programme runs from 22 August – 28 August 2015.

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