Aviation nerds’ Luxon and Albanese meet in Sydney
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Newly minted Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with his Australian counterpart in Sydney.
Anthony Albanese said the meeting represented the relationship “not starting but continuing”.
It’s the first official overseas visit for Luxon, who is just 23 days into the job.
Luxon was already friendly with Albanese, having met the Australian Prime Minister when he was Infrastructure and Transport Minister, and Luxon was the chief executive of Air New Zealand.
Albanese said he was “absolutely delighted” to host Luxon and congratulated him on his election win.
He said the two were fellow “aviation nerds”.
“It was a real opportunity to renew our relationship on a one-on-one basis.”
Luxon said the trans-Tasman relationship was close to his heart due to his own connection with Australia, having lived here.
He said he hoped his government would bring a new energy to the trans-Tasman relationship.
He said their bilateral discussions included defence and security and the two countries’ work in the Pacific, including on climate change related issues in that region.
Luxon joked that New Zealanders living in Australia were Australia’s “best migrants”.
Much of the opening remarks of the bilateral meeting ― which was open to media ― were on furthering the already strong relationship between the two countries.
Albanese told Luxon: “We need to streamline any further bumps which are there, and I know that you’re very keen on that in the interests of both of our nations.”
Albanese also thanked Luxon for New Zealand’s indication of support for the response to the Queensland floods.
Luxon said he too was looking forward to discussions to “advance what is in both of our interests, a much more secure, a more stable and more prosperous region”.
Luxon mentioned his interest in discussing security in the region and the two countries’ economic agendas.
The New Zealand Prime Minister thanked Albanese for accommodating the visit at short notice, and Albanese apologised to Luxon for the rainy weather. Earlier, after a traditional smoking Welcome to Country ceremony, Luxon said Australia and New Zealand were not just friends but family. –1news