Australia Day Reception 2019
24 January 2019
Australia House, London
HE the Hon George Brandis QC, Australian High Commissioner
Your Excellencies, members of the diplomatic corps, many of who have honoured us with their presence here at Australian House this evening.
The Honourable Steven Ciobo MP, Minister for Defence Industry and member of the Australian Cabinet, the Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Westminster.
Lords, Ladies and members of Parliament. The Agent-Generals for Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
General Mark Carleton-Smith, Chief of the General Staff, and many other distinguished guests.
Welcome to Australia House, welcome to this celebration of Australia's National Day.
231 years ago on a Saturday, Captain Arthur Phillip found the settlement on the shores of Port Jackson nearby where the Sydney Opera House stands today. It was the foundation of modern Australia, but of course not the origins of the Australian people.
It began as a penal colony of 1030 people; 736 of them convicts, the rest sea mariners accompanied by 27 wives and 37 children.
From those origins, it would develop the most successful and prosperous nation the world has known. Today, it is the world’s 12th largest economy, with one of the highest per capita incomes of the world.
A beacon of hope and aspiration for people of other lands. A land described by one of its most eminent historians last year, David Kemp, in the first volume of his history of Australia, as “a land of dreams”.
Tonight, we reflect upon and celebrate the Australian achievement. We also reflect upon the Australian story, the good and the bad. We reflect on more than just the founding of modern Australia on the 26th of January 1788.
We also reflect upon and celebrate the fact that Australia hosts the world's longest continuing culture. The indigenous culture of Australia, whose peoples occupied the Australian landmass for some 60,000 years.
We celebrate the fact that modern Australia, in the years since the Second World War has been so enriched by immigration from every corner of the world, so that today, Australia is one of the world's most successful multicultural nations.
Here in London, we celebrate our historic ties with what earlier generations called the mother country, but we now acknowledge as an equal strategic partner. Whose values of freedom, democracy, the preservation of the rule of law, we share and for which we have fought shoulder-to-shoulder through our world's great conflicts of the 20th century; and which we continue to fight with shoulder-to-shoulder today in places like Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Australia Day is also a time to celebrate the Australian unity with the United Kingdom. Especially in this great city called London, in which the Australian community has made such an impact over many generations.
As recently as Monday, the Australian Trade Minister, Simon Birmingham and I have met with Liam Fox, and Liam Fox said to us; "I sometimes wonder if there's anyone left in Australia, because wherever I go in London, I see nothing but Australians."
Well that is a great vote of confidence by Australians in the United Kingdom and, of course, we have always been made to feel most welcome here.
Part of tonight is also celebrating the contribution of the Australian community in the United Kingdom and part of that, in turn, is the opportunity to share with you something we can all enjoy, some of the best that Australia produces.
Tonight, we have generously provided food and wine by a number of sponsors who have supported our function.
Let me begin by thanking our platinum sponsor, which has not provided any food or wine, the ANZ Bank; and our other principal corporate sponsors, Lendlease, Tourism Australia and Tower Transit.
We also are enjoying the in-kind support of Meat and Livestock Australia, Hiramasa Kingfish, Little Creatures Beer, T2 and Wine Australia. They will be serving you tonight from various tasting stalls around the Exhibition Hall. Spirits and wine provided by Australian Vintage Wines, First Creek and Silkman Wines, Manly Spirits, Payten & Jones Wines, Starward Whiskey, The Story Wines, Tim Smith Wines, and Yalumba.
Now if you think there is a theme going on here, it is after all a party.
It is an occasion to celebrate Australian achievements, to reflect on Australia’s past, to think about Australia’s future, to enjoy the society, particularly of our British friends and hosts in this wonderful country, to celebrate the Australian community in London.
Whichever way you choose to, have a good night and celebrate Australia Day.
Please have a good time tonight. Have a good night tonight.