Page 919 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018
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In my meeting with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, I was again joined by a delegation from the Australian National University. We discussed the latest research on renewable energy being conducted in the United States. I also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the ANU’s Energy Change Institute. This agreement places Canberra in a prime position to realise the benefits from the joint research programs, innovative energy policies and new energy products and devices being developed through the NREL-ECI coordination.
Rounding out our meetings with peak bodies was one with the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, representing leading companies and organisations in advancing fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies. The association operates a number of working groups and committees, collaborating with members on specific initiatives and technologies to develop the hydrogen industry. It is worth noting that their membership includes Hyundai, who have partnered with the ACT government to develop a demonstration and research program on the use of hydrogen for transport.
In relation to direct city-to-city relations, on 26 February I met with the Secretary of the District of Columbia, Ms Lauren Vaughan, who, amongst other tasks, holds responsibility for establishing and maintaining Washington’s numerous sister city relationships. The notable similarities between the District of Columbia and the Australian Capital Territory provide fertile ground for both districts to work together in a direct government-to-government relationship. I am pleased to report to the Assembly that the government of the District of Columbia are keen to work collaboratively on such an arrangement. This will be explored in the coming months and years.
Also present at the meeting with the Secretary of the District of Columbia was Ms Polly Donaldson, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, with whom I spoke at some length about affordable housing and homelessness. This is an area where both districts can work together to discover and implement mutually beneficial policy options.
The primary objective of this mission was to further deepen our national and subnational bilateral relationship with the United States. The relationships formed and the agreements made will promote opportunities to work together across a range of government to government and business connections. Being uniquely positioned as the nation’s capital, seat of the Australian federal government and home to numerous national institutions, Canberra stands to realise significant benefits in collaborating with the United States, and particularly with Washington DC based organisations.
In closing, I would like to acknowledge the support provided to the Washington DC mission by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, particularly Mr Rory Linehan. I would also like to acknowledge the Australian National University, and particularly Mr Paul Harris, who is the university’s representative in North America, based at the Australian embassy in Washington. I also thank the National Governors Association for their invitation to participate in their winter session.
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