皆様、こんにちは。オーストラリア大使館へようこそ。
Good afternoon and welcome to Australia Day in Spring.
I acknowledge:
Minister Kono Taro
Minister Ito Shintaro
Minister Moriyama Masahito
Minister Jimi Hanako
To the many other distinguished members of the Diet and the Japanese Government present – a warm welcome.
Welcome also to the many business leaders here from Japan and Australia.
Greetings to my colleagues from the diplomatic corps, especially my colleagues from the Pacific.
I express particular appreciation to our sponsors for their support.
We could not celebrate as we do without your contributions.
As you came through our forecourt, you had the opportunity to view the panels of the Australia Pavilion for the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025.
Inspired by the gum blossom, our pavilion will showcase Australia through the theme, ‘Chasing the Sun’.
This reflects Australia’s ambition to be a renewable energy superpower.
To be an open, diverse, optimistic society with cutting edge capabilities in medical and other sciences.
To be a welcoming host of students, visitors, and migrants from all over the world and a provider of energy, food and other products that sustain our closest partners like Japan.
The Osaka Kansai Expo will bring Australia, and the world to Japan.
Like our reluctant cherry blossoms, sentiment about the Expo has been subdued but will soon burst into colour and into life.
Just as we feel anticipation in our hearts before the Sakura bloom, we want to help create the same excitement for the Ōsaka Expo.
We are confident the Expo will show what Australia knows to be true: an innovative, active, and ambitious Japan is shaping our future.
And Australia will be a partner in that story, just as we are working every day with Japan on our shared security and economic interests.
If Japan succeeds, then so does Australia.
And we know the reverse is also true.
I thank all of those here who invest in that shared success.
One final note: as you enjoy the Australian produce today, you will also notice we are also using some products from Ishikawa.
This is a gesture of support for people affected by the earthquake earlier this year.
I thank you again for joining us, in our soon-to-be blooming garden.
Dozo o-tanoshimi – kudasai!