Official Ceremony for Australia Day, 'Expo 2020 Dubai', United Arab Emirates

Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Commissioners-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

Good afternoon, everyone. Linda and I are delighted to be at Expo 2020 Dubai to celebrate Australia’s National Day.

I want to congratulate the Government of the U-A-E on Expo 2020. It is a magnificent spectacle.

To deliver a truly global event that links innovation, technology, art and culture against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic is a credit to all involved.

I think it speaks to traits common to both the Emirati and Australian character that, confronted with challenges, we push on. We’re determined, innovative and creative and we get things done.

I also want to congratulate the U-A-E on its recent 50th anniversary. Emiratis should feel an incredible sense of pride in what they have achieved in the last 50 years.

The U-A-E has firmly established itself as a global hub for trade, tourism and investment. 

The U-A-E is a trailblazer when it comes to science, technology and innovation. Indeed, the U-A-E and Australia both share a strong belief in the power of technological solutions in addressing our climate challenges, creating significant opportunities for closer co-operation. Australia looks forward to supporting the U-A-E’s hosting of the world climate change conference, COP28, in 2023.

Like Australia, the U-A-E’s ambition and focus reaches into the far flung corners of outer space. In 2020, the U-A-E successfully launched the ‘Hope Probe’, bound for Mars, making them the first Arab state to do so. It is a significant achievement and, noting Australia’s own burgeoning space sector, one I’m eager to learn more about.

And, of course, the U-A-E has delivered the first World Expo in the Middle East’s history, providing a platform for 192 nations to work together to help build economic and cultural ties.

Australia values its close friendship with the U-A-E. We are deeply grateful for the U-A-E’s generosity and assistance in supporting Australia’s evacuation of more than four thousand people during the Afghanistan crisis.

We will never forget the support of the U-A-E Government during the 2019-20 bushfires in Australia. That generosity in our hour of need reflects the strength of a bond that spans multiple sectors and close people-to-people links.

The U-A-E is our largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East. In addition, we cooperate closely on defence, education, aviation, law enforcement, consular issues and security.

The impact of the pandemic is such that it is sometimes easy to forget that there are also other challenges facing the global community. None of us need be blind to those challenges but nor should we ignore that we live in a time of enormous potential and opportunity.

That is what this Expo, and indeed the partnership between Australia and the U-A-E, is about. Showcased here is the ingenuity, creativity and capacity for technological advancement, underpinned by an appreciation of history and culture that will shape our future.

The theme for Expo 2020, ‘Connecting minds, creating the future’, speaks to this opportunity. It reminds us that we, the current generation, are responsible for creating the future for generations to come. Our collective successes and failures will be felt by all.

And it points to the considerable opportunities of the future and what is possible when we are open, connected and optimistic.

In 2019, I visited the U-A-E and unveiled the design vision for the Australian Pavilion. To stand here today and see it in all its splendour is extremely satisfying.

Our theme, ‘Blue Sky Dreaming’, wonderfully captures the aspirations and achievements of Australians and reflects the optimism I spoke of earlier.

The Pavilion showcases Australian artists, the richness of our cultural heritage, and the many wonderful experiences our country has to offer. It also showcases our industry, our innovation and our world-leading research capacity and is an opportunity for Australian industry and exporters with new markets.

This year’s Expo marks just over 140 years since the Melbourne International Exhibition – the first Expo in the Southern Hemisphere. As a country and people, we’ve changed considerably in those 140 years. This year’s Expo is our opportunity to tell Australia’s story to the world.

It is a story that reaches as far back as humankind itself, as we celebrate our proud Indigenous heritage, the world’s oldest continuing culture. A story of modern Australia that has borne witness to waves of migration, development, reconciliation and adaptation, as we’ve grown and evolved as a country, an economy, and a truly diverse and multicultural community.

I am proud to say that the bond between Australia and the U-A-E is stronger than ever.

Thank you, all – the Australian/U-A-E community – for being integral to the success of this story of friendship and shared prosperity.

[Ends]