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Seeing Queensland “open for business” again, with Kevin Rudd

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd invited the diplomatic corps

to visit his home state of Queensland to see how well it is recovering from the

terrible January floods. I went with some 70 High Commissioners, Ambassadors and

other diplomats.

Having been up in Brisbane with William Hague shortly

after the floods, it was good to return three months on and see the city looking

fully back to normal. The world’s attention has subsequently moved on to other

natural disasters in Christchurch and Japan. But I’m sure we can all remember

the dramatic images on our TV scenes of floods covering an area the size of

France and Germany combined. Many Queenslanders had their lives disrupted, and

sadly for a small number who lost loved ones life will never be the same

again.

But

now the big focus is on getting back to business. Local officials, including the

impressive, straight talking disaster coordinator, General Mick Slater, briefed

us on how successfully key infrastructure like roads, rail and power, has been

restored. The emergency services and the vast volunteer army of helpers have

clearly done a fantastic job. Now the remarkable growth story of Queensland,

with its massive natural resources, agriculture and growing high tech clusters,

is set to resume. British companies like BG are major investors

there.

Queensland is also keen to get the international and

domestic tourists back. Some of its most popular destinations, like the Gold

Coast, were not even touched by the floods in the first place, and now there is

certainly no reason not to visit. I hope that our visit and the attendant media

coverage, has helped to get across the message that Queensland is very much

“open for business” again. I’m sure I’ll be heading back for a holiday in due

course.

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