15 September 2015
The Hon Stuart Robert MP
Federal Member for Fadden
Commonwealth Government of Australia
Ms Lisa Wright
Assistant Secretary
Public Diplomacy Division
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Dear Mr Robert, Ms Wright:
AUSTRALIA AT EXPO 2017 ASTANA KAZAKHSTAN
Firstly let me congratulate your offices on our new Prime Minister the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull MP.
I write to you on this occasion with regards to Australian representation at the next World Exposition in Astana Kazakhstan in 2017.
As you may know, this year's World Expo is in Milan Italy and unfortunately in the Abbott Government's first budget, no funding was allocated for an Australian Pavilion at Milan - the first time in nearly 50 years that Australia has not been represented at a Universal Exposition.
I had written to DFAT, and the Prime Minister's Office 18 months from the commencement of Milan 2015 to express my concern of no announcement of a Pavilion and furthermore to the Senate Standing Committee into Defence Foreign Affairs & Trade as to why a private enterprise model Pavilion could not be investigated, but both to no avail.
Although this is disappointing, it need not be a precedent for lack of an Australia Pavilion at future World Expositions such as that at Astana 2017 and Dubai 2020 - the next Universal Exposition after Milan, and I write to your offices at this early junction to ascertain the Government's position on a Pavilion for Australia at Astana 2017 and Dubai 2020.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
John R McGregor
Celebrate 88!
celebrate@celebrate88.com
Tel 04384 89135
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