PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY -EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
LUNCHEON IN HONOUR OF THEIR MAJESTIES
THE KING AND QUEEN OF SPAIN
PARLIAMENT [ HOUSE 16 JUNE 1988
Your Majesties
Minister Distinguished Guests
The Australian Government and people are honoured to welcome
you to our country in our Bicentennial year.
This year we are celebrating 200 years of European
settlement of this continent. But it is right that today we
recall that the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Harbour
in 1788 was only the final link in a long chain of events,
stretching over centuries, by which Australia came to the
attention of the nations of Europe.
Standing at the first point on that chain are the great
navigators of Spain's Golden Age men such as de Quiros and
Torres who explored our region in the early 1600s and whose
discoveries helped open the way for the Dutch, the French
and the British who followed.
In 1606, it was de Quiros who, after five months at sea,
made landfall in the islands of Vanuatu. He immediately
claimed possession of all the lands as far south as the
Pole, and he named them the Southern Land of the Holy
Spirit. Your Majesties, I am relieved to know that you have not come
to Australia to revive the claim made by your intrepid
countryman 382 years ago!
From the earliest days of the young colony of New South
Wales, Spain and Spaniards exerted a direct and positive
influence. For some years, the colonial currency was
derived from Spanish coins of South-American silver the
famous ' holey dollars'. And of course Australia's wool
industry, which was and is one of our most important export
earners, was derived from the merino flocks of Spain. 7 182
2.
Perhaps Spain's most important early contribution to
Australia was the inspiring role of the Benedictine Bishop
Rosendo Salvado, who founded the New Norcia mission and
monastery in Western Australia in the middle of the last
century. He was among the first Europeans to live with
Aboriginal people and to study their languages and cultures.
His legacy was not only the magnificent monastery, with its
important library for Australian studies, but the lesson of
his compassionate and far-sighted attitude towards the
Aboriginal people.
Spanish settlers have arrived in Australia throughout our
history, but special mention should be made of the Basques
and Catalans who from the turn of the century were important
participants in the development of the Queensland sugar
industry.
After the agony of the Spanish Civil War, Australia
attracted many thousands of people from Spain seeking
freedom and prosperity in a new home.
Australia welcomed these new settlers, and welcomes them
still, as valued fellow citizens and as integral members of
our multicultural society. Spanish Australians have
contributed to the arts, to agriculture including
wine-making to industry, and indeed across a wide spectrum
of activities. They have enriched our society.
At the broader level, relations between Australia and Spain
are very sound and friendly.
There is much ground for hope that our two countries,
although physically distant from one another, can cooperate
to our mutual benefit in promoting the many values that we
share. Trade is increasing steadily, as befits two economies which
have complementary characteristics. We both realise the
potential to increase it further. In this context I wish to
extend a special welcome to the delegation of Spanish
businessmen, headed by Mr Ligero, who are in Australia in
conjunction with your visit.
Spain has contributed generously to our Bicentennial
celebrations this year. The visit of your tall ship,
Juan Sebastian de Elcano, will long be remembered by
Australians. Spain's participation in Expo 88 including
your own presence this week at the Spanish national day
has brought a new dimension to our mutual understanding.
Your Majesties,
I mentioned at the outset Spain's-first Golden Age, the age
of the great navigators and the Conquistadors. I believe
today Spain is entering a new Golden Age, making a
remarkable transition to stability, harmony and democracy
after 40 years of civil war followed by dictatorship. 71, 8,3~
Yo) ur owii ri.' Iq, Ytitigr fiIctil y, litoi ifl Its-1 hm Is anamiuh 1 1., 1
and, in particular, in standing firmly on the side of
democracy against those who sought to overthrow it, remains
an inspiration to all of us.
Today, Spain has the fastest growing economy in Europe and
has re-entered the mainstream of the world economy through
the European Community. Spain will attain the Presidency of
the Community next year. It is my hope that, under Spanish
leadership, the Community will renew its efforts to pursue
liberalised trade policies to the benefit, not only of
countries such as Australia, but also ultimately to the
benefit of the EC members themselves.
You have called for, and worked towards, a fairer
international order, based on freedom and dignity for all
mankind, for a new economic rationality which can promote
the harmonious development of all nations, and for an active
solidarity in reducing tensions leading to a true and just
peace. In this you have the full support of Australia.
In 1992 the world will be celebrating one of the major
achievements of your first Golden Age, the 500th Anniversary
of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus.
1992 will certainly be the year of Spain the hallmark of
the new Golden Age: Barcelona will be hosting the Olympics,
and Seville will host Expo 92.
I am delighted to be able to announce today that Australia
will be participating enthusiastically not only at
Barcelona, but also at Seville.
I hope, Your Majesty, that the next few years will see
continuing and increased contacts between our countries,
contacts based on our very many bonds and shared interests.
Your visit to Australia is a positive, significant, and most
welcome step in this direction. 7 1.8 / J