A Speech
by The Duke of Cambridge at Parliament House, Canberra
24th April 2014
Prime Minister, Mr President,
Madam Speaker, Chief Justice, Leader of the Opposition, Ministers and Members
of Parliament, members of the Diplomatic Corps, distinguished guests, ladies
and gentlemen – thank you for your truly warm welcome.
When Catherine and I arrived in
Sydney last week, I said how much we had been looking forward to this
visit. Drawing on my own experience, I
told Catherine that it would be wonderful, and so it has been. Anticipation has become deep admiration.
There is so much to admire about
Australia. Catherine and I acknowledge
the timeless values of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They have been the custodians of this ancient
and majestic continent for thousands of years.
The Traditional Owners’ stories, and the magnificent and moving rock art
at Uluru, which we saw for ourselves, are a priceless inheritance. They tell us not just about the past but
provide a precious vision for the future.
Catherine and I had the privilege
earlier this week of visiting Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, which is committed –
through conservation – to just such custodianship. And I know, too, how important Australian
support has been for the global consortium, United for Wildlife, which is
fighting the scourge of the illegal trade in wildlife, and poaching, something
very close to my heart.
Australia has a quality of life
and a level of excellence that makes it a magnet: an enormously attractive place to live,
trade, invest, and indeed just visit.
The arts and sciences flourish;
Australian sporting success is legendary; agriculture – from the traditional to the
technologically most advanced – is hugely successful. This is a country that is in the front rank
internationally.
We have both seen all this for
ourselves. Australia may be known as
“the Lucky Country”, but often the harder you work, the luckier you get. Australians make their own luck. The distinct Aussie formula that has
fashioned such a dynamic society is the source of admiration and envy around
the world.
What Australia has achieved goes
much wider than Australia itself. The
last thirty years have seen the rise of the Asia-Pacific region. In a short time, it has become an economic
power house with huge consequences for the whole world order. The Asia-Pacific region is now a key actor –
sometimes the key actor – in confronting many of the global challenges of the
twenty first century. It is enormously important – and reassuring – that
Australia is at the heart not just of its own success but of the wider regional
story, too. Australia is a champion of
justice and economic and political freedoms.
Australia plays an invaluable role in building an open and peaceful
Asia-Pacific for the benefit of all.
Over the years, Australians have
fought bravely for freedom in numerous conflicts. As those who were involved pass on,
succeeding generations must remember and keep vivid the sacrifice they
made. Catherine and I look forward to
paying tribute to them at tomorrow’s ANZAC Day commemoration; and – with my
brother Harry – to taking part in next year’s Gallipoli centenary.
Reluctantly, Catherine, George
and I leave Australia tomorrow. Thank
you for the warmth and generosity that has been shown to us during our visit. We go away with wonderful memories, and George
goes away with his cuddly wombat, which he has taken to chewing so
lovingly. We greatly look forward to
coming back. And when we do return, it
will be to marvel again at all that Australia is, and will yet become. |
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