State visit to Australia

Topic: Report

3 November 2017

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to Australia from 3 to 5 November. The Federal President, together with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, opened the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Perth on 3 November. The visit to Australia was also to focus on the country’s viewpoint on and contribution to the future international order and to solving global issues.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at at press conference with the Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, on the occasion of his state visit to Australia

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to Australia from 3 to 5 November.

In Australia, the Federal President, together with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, opened the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Perth on 3 November. This reflected the clear increase in partners’ interest in Germany and the European Union, also given the discussions on Brexit.

The visit to Australia was also to focus on the country’s viewpoint on and contribution to the future international order and to solving global issues. Other focal points included the security policy problems in the region as well as an exchange of views on experience with migration and integration. The Federal President also paid tribute to the very close and friendly relations between Germany and Australia which are especially evident at the level of the citizens (Work and Travel).

Afterwards, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to New Zealand from 5 to 8 November. It was 16 years since a German Head of State visited Australia and New Zealand. The last to do so was Federal President Johannes Rau in 2001.

Prior to visiting Australia, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to Singapore from 1 to 3 November.

Overview of the programme:

Friday, 3 November 2017

  • In the afternoon

    Arrival in Perth, Australie

  • Government House
    Afternoon tea hosted by Ms Kerry Sanderson, Governor of Western Australia
  • Kings Park
    Meet the pupils from the Goethe Society Perth, a member of the Schools: Partners for the Future network
  • delegation’s hotel
    Talks with Mr Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia, afterwards joint press conference
  • Speech at a dinner hosted by the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce to mark its 40th anniversary

Saturday, 4 November 2017

  • delegation’s hotel
    Talks with Mr Mark McGowan, Premier of Western Australia
  • Speech at the opening of the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference
  • In the evening
    Arrival in Sydney
  • Admirality House
    Welcome with military honours by General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Lady Lynne Cosgrove, followed by talks
  • Dinner hosted by the Governor-General and Lady Lynne Cosgrove

Sunday, 5 November 2017

  • Government House
    Talks with General David John Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of New South Wales
  • Sydney Opera House
    Tour of the Opera House
  • Harbour tour accompanied by members of the Australia Germany Advisory Group and German and Australian young people
  • Barangaroo, Tower 1
    Welcome ceremony by representatives of the aborigines and presentation of a sustainability concept by the managing director of the Barangaroo urban development company, followed by talks on Future Cities and the planting of a tree in Barangaroo Reserve
  • In the afternoon
    Flight to Wellington, New Zealand