Shanks Katrina: General Debate 
Shanks Katrina: General Debate 
[Volume:670;Page:16830] 
KATRINA SHANKS (National) 
: 
 Firstly I offer my condolences on the loss of the New Zealand soldier Private Kirifi Mila. My thoughts and prayers are with the soldier’s family and friends today and for the next weeks which will be hard for them. 
I would like to respond quickly to the Wellington Central member of Parliament Grant Robertson who earlier in this debate said that National did nothing for growth and to get New Zealand ahead. When filming of  
The Hobbit 
 in Wellington was at risk we did not hear a word from that member. He was silent on what was happening with  
The Hobbit 
. If he is really serious about getting some industry into Wellington he has to stand up and back what is happening within Wellington and  
The Hobbit  
is absolutely crucial to Wellington and to keeping Peter Jackson in Wellington. 
Today we saw a part of history. Today the forty-ninth Parliament of New Zealand had the privilege to witness the first address by any foreign leader in our House of Representatives. Today New Zealanders from around the country were able to watch live as the Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Julia Gillard spoke in this very debating chamber. Australia and New Zealand were together in our debating chamber; we are two nations whose histories are innately entwined and today we became two nations whose futures together are boundless. Today history was made and the National-led Government’s vision for an even closer friendship relationship and union with Australia was born. The ongoing development of a trans-Tasman single economic market and a seamless operating environment for Australian and New Zealand businesses are the ends that our Government is working towards and today that was the vision Prime Minister Gillard committed to. The relationship between New Zealand and Australia has always been one of great importance to us. 
In her speech the Prime Minister said that Australia and New Zealand were island nations that nobody owed a living; if we gained any advantage in the world it would be because we fought for it and earned it. Today as our Prime Minister signed the Investment Protocol to the Australia and New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement the National-led Government achieved a milestone fundamental to that fight. Enhanced economic relations between our two nations are fundamental to National’s goal of a single economic market for our nations. For over 30 years New Zealand and Australia have pursued greater economic integration and partnership. We believe that a strong economic relationship between our two countries will benefit both of us. Julia Gillard talked in her speech about the cross-pollination of ideas and innovations between our nations and in particular between our countries’ business sectors. She said that we would be able to share the wealth of knowledge in businesses. We would be able to learn and we would be great. As we worked towards the common goal of a single economic market our economies would be able to complement each other with our strengths and pull each other up from our weaknesses. 
At the end of last year I attended the HER Wellington Businesswoman of the Year Awards. There were fresh ideas innovation and recipients who through their hard work and passion were leading the way in their fields. The winner of the supreme award Camilla Welch owner and general manager of a label-making and printing business in Petone was selected for her personal drive and business sense. She proved that business excellence and environmental friendliness can be mutually rewarding. Tourism agriculture film—New Zealand has the knowledge to lead the world in many fields. But as John Powell once wrote the only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing. The easier we make it for companies to operate in both New Zealand and Australia the more we will learn and the greater the opportunities for business will be. Refreshing ideas innovation and expertise underpin long-term business growth in New Zealand and underpin a strong economy for our country. 
Like most New Zealanders I have experienced firsthand how the unique relationship between our nations allows Kiwis and Aussies to lead successful lives in each other’s countries. For the past 25 years my sister has lived and worked in Australia. At any other time in history taking my family to visit her or for her to visit me could have been a completely different story. But today it has never been easier. We visit each other continually back and forth across the Ditch. Australia is our closest ally and the idea that people can move work and live across the Ditch is often taken for granted by New Zealanders. People in many countries cannot do this with the ease we ourselves do it. For business and investors to enjoy such a seamless transition is a goal of our Government. As Prime Minister Gillard stood in front of our colleagues today she said that New Zealand might be a small nation but we were one with a bold vision of its place in this world.