PM Transcripts

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PRIME MINISTER499
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, TH1 IHO N P J KFATING SIP
VISIT TO NEW ZFALAND
At the invitation of Prirnc Minister Bolger, I Shall Make an official visit to
New Zealand from 20 to 23 May.
The visit will provide a valuable opportunity to rcaffirmn the relevance and vitality of
the Australia-Ncew Zealand relationship at a tinie when bothi countrics are undergoing
significant economic and social change, and as we position ourselvcs to take full
advantage of closer integration with the Asia-Pacific region.
It is fitting that New Zealand should be the destination of my first over-seas visit since
the March election. Thc trans-Tasman relationship is among Australia's most
important reflecting thc weight of the interests and values we share with New Zealand.
Two-way trade bctween the two countries has grown rapidly since the signing of thc
Australia-New Zcaland Closer Economic Relatioi s To ISAgreenient ( CER) in 1983
and reached over $ 5 billion in 1991-92. New Zealand is Australia's third largest
trading partner, and Australia is Ncw Zcaland's largest. Investnment between Australia
and Ncw Zealand has also grown rapidly to reach a two-way total of about
$ 13.5 billion in 1991.
Increasing interaction between the Australian and New Zealand economics provides a
sound basis for the two countries to eomipctc succesully in the wider international
economy. Creating a singlc mnarkct in Australasia under CER should not be an end in
itsclf. Rather the CER process should be uscd as a platform for both countries to
engage more closely with the dynamic Asia-Pacific regio.
The strength of the bilateral relationship is also reflected in the scale of people-topeople
contacts between the two countries. Over 800,000 Australians and
New Zealanders travelled across the Tasman on short-termi visits in 1991. Australia is
the largcst source of visitors to New Zealand, and New Zealand ranks third as a source
of visitors to Australia. Nearly 290,000 New Zealanders are long-termn residents of
Australia. I expect the agenda for my discussions with Prime Minister lHolger and his Ministers
will be wide ranging and include the further development of our substantial economic
relationship, trans-Tasman aviation and travel arrangements, defence relations, our
respective approaches to closer economic integration with the Asia-Pacific rcgion, and
Australia-New Zealand cooperation in the South-West Pacific.
CANBERRA 13. April 1993