10th October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is not one of the most well known international regional groupings. But it is of growing significance. The 20 countries who flank the world’s third largest ocean represent more than a quarter of the world’s population, and include African, Arab and Asian nations. Around half the world’s cargo ships and two thirds […]
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9th October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Problems with families and children are often even more complicated when there is a transnational element. Our consular teams regularly hear heart-wrenching stories about child abductions and custody disputes which may result in a child living on the other side of the world from one of its parents. International Social Service (ISS) is an impressive NGO that […]
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7th October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Australians and Brits share a very similar sense of humour. The much loved comedian, musician and self-styled hippy Bill Bailey is well known here from his Black Books sitcom and appearances on many panel shows like QI. He came to lunch at my Residence on Saturday before performing a sell-out show in Canberra as part […]
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2nd October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
I think two Speakers make a stereo system. There was certainly a high fidelity exchange when Australian Parliament Speaker Bronwyn Bishop hosted the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow in Canberra this week. Speaker Bercow is a familiar face around the world from TV coverage of the famous weekly Prime Minister’s Question Time. […]
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30th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
It’s not unusual for the AFL Grand Final to attract a big name musician to entertain the almost 100,000 crowd. But it was the first time they’d had Tom Jones. Together with Ed Sheeran, the veteran star and one of the hottest current British talents wowed the fans before and after the game. The match […]
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24th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
During the last few months, our consular teams in Australia have been doing several things to help British nationals who need to travel urgently, but have been affected by longer processing times at HM Passport Office (HMPO) following a surge in demand for British passports: We have been issuing Emergency Travel Documents, which enable travellers to […]
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23rd September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
British and Australian leaders will no doubt be seeing each other around New York this week, amidst the frenzied activity which comprises the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) Ministerial Week. Tony Abbott, David Cameron, Julie Bishop and Philip Hammond will be there, together with ministerial colleagues and around 130 Heads of State or Government. Inevitably countering extremism and the threat […]
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19th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
With all the trouble spots flaring up around the world at the moment, our annual Strategic Dialogue talks with DFAT could not have been more timely. FCO Director General Sir Julian King was in town together with his Ministry of Defence counterpart Peter Watkins for an intensive series of meetings. They discussed developments in the […]
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11th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
G20 brought another minister to Australia this week. Esther McVey MP, Minister of State for Employment, is in Melbourne attending the G20 Employment Ministers Meeting. As an MP on Merseyside, which has had its share of employment challenges, she is passionate about helping to give people the opportunity to work. Immediately before the meeting she […]
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7th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
When I was a kid our local MP in the beautiful constituency of East Devon was a remote figure, very distant from our lives. Last week his successor stayed at my Residence in Canberra. Hugo Swire, the FCO Minister of State whose responsibilities include Asia, was here for a very busy couple of days. In […]
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