Australia

6th Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, Sydney

Trans-Tasman Government and public and private sector leaders met in Sydney last week for their annual meeting to assess and advance the New Zealand-Australia relationship.

The sixth Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, held in Sydney from 21-22 August, was attended by 110 attendees including government ministers and senior representatives from business, the public sector, journalism and academia.

Among the key ideas discussed were:

1. How New Zealand and Australia can work together to present a consistent 'face'
2. How to develop shared solutions to problems faced by both Australia and New Zealand
3. How to drive trans-Tasman investment and innovation in areas important to the two countries' future prosperity

Participants also covered a wide range of topics including: the Pacific; regional and global economic and trade issues; taxation; business and corporate regulation; climate change, emissions trading schemes and the environment; defence; science, technology and innovation; and the future of trans-Tasman travel and goods trade.