Page 2621 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 7 August 2013
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DR BOURKE: Yes, I am.
MADAM SPEAKER: The usual convention is to stand and say, “Supplementary question”, because I thought there were no more supplementaries. So this is a supplementary question to Ms Porter’s question?
DR BOURKE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. May I ask a supplementary?
MADAM SPEAKER: Yes, by all means. I just need to know; that is all.
DR BOURKE: Chief Minister, is there a target group or country that you have identified to raise awareness of Canberra?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Dr Bourke for the supplementary question. At the recent vice-chancellors’ forum it was agreed that one of the priority groups for us should be international students, that the international student market presents the greatest opportunity for benefits both to the university and to our economy from the different groups, with a particular focus initially on China followed by India and Indonesia.
I am sure those opposite will have read that I will be attending a delegation to China with the vice-chancellors of ANU and the University of Canberra, both as Chief Minister and Minister for Higher Education. We have a very full program over five days visiting universities that ANU and UC already have connections with. I will be meeting with education recruitment agents on the ground, with alumni networks in both cities and I also hope to be able to meet with the mayor of Beijing to recommit to the sister city relationship that has existed between our cities for the last 13 years. It will be an important mission. I think—
Mr Smyth: Which no other member voted for.
MS GALLAGHER: Sorry?
Mr Smyth: Which no Labor member voted for.
MS GALLAGHER: I should not respond to interjections.
MADAM SPEAKER: No, you should not.
Mr Smyth: I would be embarrassed to respond as well.
MS GALLAGHER: I am sure that is the case, Mr Smyth, and the sister city relationship is there and as Chief Minister I should respect that relationship and I intend to do that in Beijing when I am there. The visit will be between Shanghai and Beijing with meetings, as I said, mainly focusing on the university sector. I look forward to being there and supporting the ACT community and promoting Canberra. I look forward to reporting back to all the interest that no doubt exists over on that side of the chamber.
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