Q!
PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
CLOSING CEREMONY OF WORLD EXPO 88
BRISBANE 30 OCTOBER 1988
Sir Edward Williams,
Sir Liew Edwards,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Tonight the final curtain falls on the biggest single event
of the Bicentennial celebrations: World Expo 88. I believe
the applause for this event will ring on loudly for many
months and many years because Expo 88 has truly been a
stunning performance.
Throughout Australia many people have participated
enthusiastically in many Bicentennial events. But no
Bicentennial event can match the magnificent record of
participation achieved by Expo 88: 38 national governments,
12 other governments, 154 corporations including 32 as
exhibitors and most importantly 15.5 million visitors from
Australia and around the world.
Expo's success is due to the unfailing dedication,
determination and vitality of many people. I especially
want to extend my thanks to Ned Williams,
Commissioner-General of Expo 88, representing the Australian
Government, and the Commissioners-General for each pavilion
for their vital contribution. And let me say that as
Chairman of the Expo Authority, Llew Edwards has from the
outset been a superb chief executive of a massive and
enormously successful undertaking.
It seems incredible that only a fey months before Expo
opened it was being written off as an impending
embarrassment, even a disaster. Today we all recognise that
in every respect it has been a brilliant success.
Commercially, world Expo 88 has been a resounding winner.
The huge influx of tourists has been one manifestation of
this. But, even more enduringly, it is estimated that as a
direct result of contacts made under the Busiqess Visitors
Program, trade contracts worth some $ 350 million have been
signed. This is very good news for the Australian and
Queensland economies.
31.22 Wo ex Au cc I Cc, erl B t. r A rh
World Expo 88 will long be remembered as one of the best
examples of what can be achieved through those great
Australian qualities of hard work, long term vision and
co-operation among all the sections of our society.
I pay tribute to all those many people from the
Commonwealth, State and foreign Governments and from private
enterprise who hAve worked in close co-operation to make
Expo 88 the success it has been.
I am proud the Federal Government was a supporter of this
major Bicentennial event from start to finish.
One of the important and pleasing features of the
Bicentenary is that it has given us* the opportunity to show
the world what great attributes Australia has to offer, and
to reaffirm and strengthen our links with the nations of our
region and of the wider global community.
As well as being a celebration in its own right and a
recognition of human achievement and initiative, Expo 88
has, through the participation of our international friends,
provided a timely reminder of our common heritage as
citizens of the world.
So, to those who leave Expo tonight,' letime say that your
time here has left us with fond memories of your friendship.
We have enjoyed your company and hope you take with you many
happy memories of Australia. And to the citizens of
Brisbane and Queensland who will tomorrow begin the first
day of the rest of their lives without Expo, I offer you my
thanks for the unstinting hospitality and warm welcome you
have extended to the world.
I an pleased to say that Australia will be present when the
Expo curtain is raised again in Seville, Spain, in 1992 when
we will renew the friendships which have been established so
firmly at World Expo 88 in Brisbane. ,3 123