Released 06/07/2016
The Prime Minister of New Zealand The Right Honourable John Key MP has expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunities that will arise from direct international flights between the capital cities of New Zealand and Australia.
I assured the Prime Minister that the ACT Government and local business would be working very hard with our counterparts in Wellington and in Singapore to maximise the success of these flights and to capitalise on the benefits that will flow to both cities.
There are a number of industries in the ACT that will benefit from direct flights, including innovation and entrepreneurship. These are industries that the Prime Minister wanted to grow in his own nation, and the success of Canberra in these areas could provide an example for our closest counterparts.
Both Wellington and Canberra are at the heart of the tech start-up movement and the connections formed at today’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) and the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) will provide an important framework for collaboration and information sharing between both our agencies and new companies.
I also took the opportunity to inform the Prime Minister about our capabilities in defence, cyber security, space and spatial science, including areas where there are opportunities to grow collaboration between Canberra and Wellington.
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases