Page 3570 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 19 October 1993
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While there are other means of establishing closer ties between the ACT and overseas centres, the general experience of twinning within Australia suggests that it provides an entree for the development of valuable cultural and commercial links. It is perhaps a measure of our separate identity since self-government that Canberra has been put forward as a suggested twin for several overseas cities or provinces. As members would be aware, it has been my view that twinning arrangements should be instituted by the ACT community and that any decision to adopt an official relationship should not be taken unilaterally by the Government.
Earlier in the year I mentioned to this Assembly that there were a number of suggestions for sister city relationships with Canberra and that Nara in Japan was the most advanced of these proposals. There have been several interchanges at government and community levels between the two cities, both before and after self-government. Ainslie Primary School has fostered a twinning agreement with Tsubai Primary School in Nara, and Canberra Girls Grammar School has initiated a series of exchanges with Ichijo High School.
The links between different sectors of the Canberra and Nara communities have blossomed over the past few years, culminating recently in sister ties between the ACT and Nara Australia-Japan societies and a twinning agreement in April 1993 between the ACT and Nara chambers of commerce and industry. Assembly members also had the opportunity last week to meet with the Speaker of the Nara City Local Assembly and some of his colleagues when Madam Speaker hosted part of their visit to Canberra.
The Government considers that an official sister city relationship between Canberra and Nara would have the potential for increased links across our communities, to the benefit of both cities. It is for this reason that, when I visit Nara next week, on behalf of the Government and the people of Canberra I shall sign a proclamation with the Mayor of Nara to announce in-principle agreement to such a relationship. This document will acknowledge the existing ties between our cities and set out our intentions to progress the relationship through twinning. The proclamation will be followed in due course by the development of a program of activities to enhance the sister city relationship.
Madam Speaker, I would like to turn now to other twinning proposals. It is the Government's view that all other cities or provinces suggested as twins for Canberra or the ACT should be examined in more detail. The Government will initiate an assessment process for the current proposals which involves community input. Relevant considerations in the assessment process for cities or provinces proposed for twinning with us will include government commitment to social justice and human rights for all citizens; the city or province being a centre of national or provincial government and having an innovative urban planning focus and quality in education and training; broadly based community support within the ACT; educational, cultural or tourist links with Canberra or potential for these; and bilateral investment opportunities. I shall be announcing the details of the proposed assessment process shortly.
I would like to emphasise, Madam Speaker, that in the climate of financial restraint, and given the need to take account of the ongoing nature of twinning, it is the Government's intention that, apart from reciprocal hospitality at an official level, any sister city relationship be substantially self-supporting.
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