Strengthening WA-German Ties at Parliament House
The Parliamentary Friends of Germany group reconvened at the courtyard of Parliament House on the 15th October 2024. Attended by some 80 members and friends of WAGBA, the venue was abuzz with excitement as the attendees enjoyed a networking session with the members of the parliament in a casual setting, while being served with refreshments and delectable finger foods.
The Parliamentary Friends Assembly is a format which originated from the “West Australian-German Enduring Friendship” initiative which was spearheaded by the former Honorary Consul of Germany Torsten Ketelsen OAM in 2019, and was formed with the intention of providing opportunities for Members of Parliament to establish and strengthen relationships with the wide German community in Western Australia, as well as advocating for active engagement with the West Australian-German Business community, and fostering friendly social and cultural ties between Western Australia and Germany.
This year’s event was attended by WAGBA members, friends and supporters including the Hon Roger Cook MLA - Premier of Western Australia, the Hon Tjorn Sibma MLC, the Hon. Sabine Winton MLA, the Hon. Michelle Roberts, former Ministers the Hon. Mike Nahan and the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan, many other Ministers and Parliamentarians, as well as the former Honorary Consuls of Germany to Western Australia Bill Hassell AM and Torsten Ketelsen OAM.
In their speeches, the Premier and the Hon Sabine Winton referred to their connections to Germany, from the many shared values and history between Western Australia and Germany, to cultural opportunities and to compelling business synergies. In the current political landscape, “global connections are ever more important”, emphasised Premier Cook in his speech, and that there is an “important role Europe plays in meeting these challenges”. Connections will play a vital role as WA seeks to become a global powerhouse in renewable energy, and it is through harnessing international capital and intellectual capital that these goals can be achieved.
WAGBA would like to express its gratitude to Parliament House, particularly the Hon Sabine Winton and the Hon. Tjorn Sibma for hosting the meeting as always, as well as to all esteemed guests, dignitaries, the WAGBA committee and many WAGBA members for their contribution to this successful event. We look forward to meeting you at the next one!
