Foreign Office minister sees changes since his backpacking days

Jeremy Browne, FCO Minister of State, spent three days in Australia visiting Sydney and Brisbane. He commented that the country had changed since his last visit as a 19 year old backpacker in the 80s, but the welcome was just as warm.

He noted that Australia is now the world’s 13th largest economy, a member of the G20 and well and truly at the top table. One of his reasons for going to Brisbane, Australia’s fastest growing metropolis, was to see the extraordinary resource boom in Queensland, and the opportunities it provides for British companies like BG and Rio Tinto, whom he met.

The Minister celebrated International Paralympics Day on 8 September by visiting the Sporting Wheelies Club in Brisbane and meeting several paralympians who hope to be competing in London next year. I met a weightlifter, a shooter and an equestrian and really enjoyed chatting with them. Just hearing how others talk about London 2012 gives you a buzz of pride. He also took part in Visit Britain’s 3-D pavement art tourism advertising campaign on the harbour side in Sydney.  And he met a number of Australian and British companies who, building on experience gained from Sydney 2000, have been working on the London Olympics.

Mr Browne met political and business leaders in both cities, and set out the UK’s perspective on the Asia Pacific region and reinvigorated links with Australia, themes which he developed in a speech at Sydney University. At a reception at our Consulate General in Sydney he met a range of young professionals from the worlds of business, the professions and the arts. And as a dedicated Somerset and England cricket fan, he couldn’t resist the odd temptation to mention the Ashes.