Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips has led an Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Malaysia as part of the 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and a bilateral visit to Cambodia.
As a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) and chair of the Trade Sub-committee, Mrs Phillips said leading the delegation was a fantastic opportunity to engage with colleagues from other countries and build parliamentary relationships with our neighbours in the Asia–Pacific region.
The first leg of the visit had a strong focus on strengthening the economic and social ties between Australia and Cambodia and included visits to educational, health, agricultural and humanitarian programs.
Since helping to bring peace to Cambodia in the early 1990s, Australia has provided more than $2 billion in development assistance.
“The visit to Cambodia was a real eye-opener. At times it was very confronting, but, at the same time, it was inspiring to see the great work being done on the ground by volunteers and organisations supported by Australian investment,” Mrs Phillips said.
The delegation visited an Australian Centre for Education (ACE) campus which opened in 1992 and plays a pivotal role in promoting and providing English-language training in Cambodia.
They also toured Cam Agro a small spice production facility supported by the Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED) program that promotes a resilient and sustainable economy.
“One of the highlights was touring the Central Fabrication Unit (CFU) that produces and supplies high quality prosthesis and orthosis, followed by a visit to the National Paediatric Hospital Prosthetic and Orthotics rehabilitation unit where we met with patients and staff,” Mrs Phillips said.
“It was really heart-warming to meet the children and their families whose lives have been changed because of the aid Australia provides.”
Mrs Phillips said the delegation met the A21 Human Trafficking advocates who are raising awareness of the millions of men, women, and children who are currently trapped in slavery across the world.
“That was absolutely heart-breaking, but the team is doing such important work to try and eradicate human trafficking, modern-day slavery and child sexual exploitation,” she said.
“The volunteers at the A21 Child Advocacy Centre are also providing amazing support and aftercare for victims, as well as training to help them gain meaningful work in areas like hospitality.”
The delegation had an opportunity to meet with a group of young Cambodian research fellows and alumni who have studied in Australia on scholarships.
Since 1994, more than 1,100 Cambodians have studied in Australia through the AAS program, many of whom now hold senior roles across government, the private sector and civil society.
Australian higher education is highly regarded in Cambodia and has helped build national leadership capacity and create a pipeline of professionals contributing to the country’s development.
Mrs Phillips met with Cambodian National Assembly President Samdech Khuon Sudary at the National Assembly Palace in Phnom Penh to mark 73 years of diplomatic relations.
Samdech Sudary acknowledged Australia’s recent show of solidarity during the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand in July, which displaced many civilians and reiterated Cambodia’s firm commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, and ASEAN values of good neighbourliness and peaceful coexistence.
During the second leg of the delegation, Mrs Phillips addressed the 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, and sat on the AIPAW international women’s leadership panel where she spoke about gender equality, disability and social inclusion, Australia’s climate change initiatives and the role of women in the Australian Government.
“This year’s assembly theme was ‘Parliament at the Forefront for Inclusive Growth and a Sustainable ASEAN’, and we share the view that inclusive growth is vital to ASEAN’s long-term resilience and prosperity,” Mrs Phillips said.
“Whether it is economic integration, connectivity, or sustainable development, we see ASEAN’s initiatives as beneficial for the whole region.
“We support AIPA’s commitment to legislation that improves education, healthcare, gender equality and infrastructure, and Australia will continue to engage as a constructive observer by sharing our parliamentary experiences, supporting capacity-building and backing inclusive growth across Southeast Asia.
“We wholeheartedly support ASEAN’s focus on areas like green growth, digital transformation, and narrowing development gaps.”
Since 2005, Australia has committed more than $560 million to regional programs in ASEAN that promote inclusive economic growth and support regional resilience.
“This delegation was really important to cement Australia’s long-standing and ongoing partnership with Cambodia and to strengthen opportunities for investment, productivity and trade in Southeast Asia,” she added.
Mrs Phillips travelled with parliamentary colleagues, Steve Georganas MP and Senator Maria Kovacic.
Photo: Fiona Phillips with Cambodian National Assembly President Samdech Khuon Sudary at the National Assembly Palace in Phnom Penh.
Photo: The delegation visited the Cambodian Central Fabrication Unit (CFU) that produces and supplies high quality prosthesis and orthosis.
Photo: The Australian Parliamentary Delegation at the 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Malaysia.
Photo: Fiona Phillips MP with Steve Georganas MP and Senator Maria Kovacic at the KL World Trade Centre.
