From the Alps to the Valley

The President of the Council of States in the Swiss Parliament, Mr Hannes Germann, has visited Australia to boost parliamentary ties.

The visit proved a valuable opportunity for Mr Germann to discuss the bilateral relationship with several federal parliamentarians in Sydney and Brisbane. Highlights included meeting with President of the Senate Stephen Parry, Chair of the Australia-Switzerland Parliamentary Group and Deputy Speaker Bruce Scott, and Mr John Alexander OAM. Discussions focused on the strong relationship Australia and Switzerland have forged in multilateral fora and through people-to-people links.

While in Sydney, Mr Germann also toured the NSW Parliament and met with several NSW representatives, including Legislative Council President Don Harwin, Assistant Speaker Andrew Fraser, and Usher of the Black Rod Susan Want. Visits to the University of Technology Sydney and the Sydney Opera House allowed Mr Germann to taste the latest developments in Australia’s education and cultural spheres.

A brief visit to Brisbane saw Mr Germann meet with members of the Queensland Parliament, including Deputy Speaker Mark Robinson.

As a longstanding friend on the international stage, the visit was an opportunity for Mr Germann and Australian representatives to discuss topics spanning the strong bilateral relationship, including economic development and foreign policy.