The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum welcomes today’s bilateral discussions between the Prime Ministers of
Australia and New Zealand, the Hon Scott Morrison MP and Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, and the signing of the Australia and
Aotearoa New Zealand Indigenous Collaboration Arrangement.
Australian Forum Co-Chair Ann Sherry AO said "In recent months we’ve endured the Australian bushfires and floods, the
Whakaari White Island disaster, the Covid-19 outbreak and now a deteriorating global economic outlook. In these
challenging times the close relationship between Australia and New Zealand is vitally important and it is great to see
the commitment of both Prime Ministers to maintaining and advancing that relationship".
New Zealand Co-Chair Greg Lowe welcomed the continued focus of both Prime Ministers on the Single Economic Market
agenda. "We celebrated 15 years of the SEM agenda at our September 2019 Forum and it’s great to see that agenda
continuing to grow and expand. I’m particularly pleased to see the addition of the circular economy and waste management
to the SEM Agenda. Issues around sustainability are of great interest to the ANZLF, including our ANZLF Emerging Leaders
who also happen to be meeting in Sydney today."
A stand-out feature of today’s meetings is the signing of the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Indigenous
Collaboration Arrangement by the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP and the Minister for
Māori Development, the Hon Nanaia Mahuta.
The Australian Co-Chair of the ANZLF Indigenous Business Sector Group, Dr Donna Odegaard AM, said "I am delighted that
this Indigenous Collaboration Arrangement has been agreed with the goal of promoting economic, social and cultural
advancement between our two countries. It creates an important umbrella for a range of cooperative endeavours to advance
the interests of Māori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We see the opportunities for collaboration,
partnership and growth."
Aotearoa New Zealand Co-chair of the Indigenous Business Sector Group Traci Houpapa MNZM also welcomed the signing and
said "This is an important day for both countries. This is exactly the kind of collaborative bilateral arrangement that
the ANZLF’s Indigenous Business Sector Group discussed at our very first meeting in March 2018. It is great to see this
coming together and we look forward to working with both governments to advance the goals of the Indigenous
Collaboration Arrangement."
About the ANZLF:
The ANZLF brings together business and government leaders to help Australia and New Zealand prosper. The centrepiece for
the ANZLF is a trans-Tasman conference, bringing together leaders from business and government with the aim of further
developing the bilateral trade and economic relationship. The ANZLF is steered by the Australian and New Zealand
Co-Chairs, Ann Sherry AO (Chair of Carnival Australia) and Greg Lowe (Group Chief Executive at Beca). The Co-Chairs are
supported by the ANZLF Policy Group comprising business leaders on both sides of the Tasman who oversee five
business-led Sector Groups focussed on Innovation, Tourism, Health Technology, Infrastructure and Indigenous Business,
while working closely with the Australian and New Zealand governments.