Mr ADAMSON - 1995-11-22
What is the status of the proposed relocation of the Law Asia secretariat to Darwin?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is interesting to have a question about a matter that is of relevance to the Territory rather than the questions about semantics which we have regularly from the opposition.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HATTON: I am happy to deal with that and I ask the member to ask me questions about it.
Members interjecting.
Mr HATTON: You do not want to come near me.
I am pleased to advise that, following negotiations between the Territory government and the executive committee of the Law Association of Asia and the Pacific, better known as Law Asia, it has been agreed that the Law Asia secretariat will be relocated from Perth to Darwin in February next year. Law Asia was founded in Canberra in 1966. The executive stems from jurists and representatives of legal associations in places such as Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, India and Australia. In its 30 years of existence, Law Asia has made an internationally recognised and significant contribution in the South-East Asian region in developing private and public law in the areas of human rights, and commercial and business law. Law Asia's primary objective is to foster professional and business relations between lawyers, businesses and government representatives in the region.
The potential provided by the location and facilities of Darwin and also the progressive attitudes of Territorians were not lost on the Law Asia executive in deciding to relocate its secretariat to Darwin. In keeping with our focus on the South-East Asian region, the Northern Territory government and the Territory legal profession have become very conscious of the need to develop relationships, both on a business and a personal level, with people in the Asia Pacific region. The Northern Territory is delighted to have been invited to host the secretariat of this significant international body. The relocation represents another building block in the development of Darwin as Australia's gateway to Asia.
I refer members also to the development of the Asian Law Centre at Northern Territory University. The opportunity to develop knowledge in relation to Asian law matters through the NTU, combined with the location of the Law Asia secretariat in Darwin, will add
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significantly to the advantage of Northern Territory lawyers in being able to pick up considerable business law work in Asia. It is an excellent example of putting the infrastructure and facilities in place to sell the professional services of our legal fraternity to the Asian region. The export of intellectual property is as good as the export of goods.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is interesting to have a question about a matter that is of relevance to the Territory rather than the questions about semantics which we have regularly from the opposition.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HATTON: I am happy to deal with that and I ask the member to ask me questions about it.
Members interjecting.
Mr HATTON: You do not want to come near me.
I am pleased to advise that, following negotiations between the Territory government and the executive committee of the Law Association of Asia and the Pacific, better known as Law Asia, it has been agreed that the Law Asia secretariat will be relocated from Perth to Darwin in February next year. Law Asia was founded in Canberra in 1966. The executive stems from jurists and representatives of legal associations in places such as Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, India and Australia. In its 30 years of existence, Law Asia has made an internationally recognised and significant contribution in the South-East Asian region in developing private and public law in the areas of human rights, and commercial and business law. Law Asia's primary objective is to foster professional and business relations between lawyers, businesses and government representatives in the region.
The potential provided by the location and facilities of Darwin and also the progressive attitudes of Territorians were not lost on the Law Asia executive in deciding to relocate its secretariat to Darwin. In keeping with our focus on the South-East Asian region, the Northern Territory government and the Territory legal profession have become very conscious of the need to develop relationships, both on a business and a personal level, with people in the Asia Pacific region. The Northern Territory is delighted to have been invited to host the secretariat of this significant international body. The relocation represents another building block in the development of Darwin as Australia's gateway to Asia.
I refer members also to the development of the Asian Law Centre at Northern Territory University. The opportunity to develop knowledge in relation to Asian law matters through the NTU, combined with the location of the Law Asia secretariat in Darwin, will add
Page 1020
significantly to the advantage of Northern Territory lawyers in being able to pick up considerable business law work in Asia. It is an excellent example of putting the infrastructure and facilities in place to sell the professional services of our legal fraternity to the Asian region. The export of intellectual property is as good as the export of goods.
Page 1021
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016