MEDIA RELEASE: 18 November 2008
Australian Governor-General’s first State Visit to Singapore
The Australian Governor-General HE Ms Quentin Bryce AC, and HE Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, arrived in Singapore on 16 November for the Governor-General's first State Visit to Singapore.
Ms Bryce was sworn in as Australia’s 25th Governor-General on 5 September 2008. The Governor-General is the Queen's representative in Australia and performs many important constitutional, ceremonial and community duties. Ms Bryce is the first woman to take up the office, and brings more than 40 years of experience in reform, community building and leadership to the role.
During the two-day visit, the Governor-General has called on HE President SR Nathan and Mrs Nathan and met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
Their Excellencies also visited several Singapore landmarks, including the Singapore City Gallery at the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the Housing Development Board and the home of a Singapore family in Toa Payoh Estate, and the National Orchid Garden for an Orchid Naming Ceremony in the Governor-General’s honour.
A highlight of the Governor-General’s first State Visit to Singapore was a tour of Changi Chapel and Museum, where the Governor-General laid a wreath on behalf of the Government and people of Australia.
The Governor-General also visited the Army Medical Services Headquarters at Nee Soon Camp. The visit to the Singapore Armed Forces' Medical and Combat Engineers’ Headquarters underscored the strong historical defence ties between Australia and Singapore. Australia and Singapore have cooperated closely in international operations in recent years, including in East Timor and in Indonesia and Thailand in the aftermath of the devastating 2004 tsunami.
The Governor-General welcomed Singapore’s decision to deploy, in two three-month rotations, a contingent of medical and nursing officers to Oruzgan, south-west of Kabul, Afghanistan, in support of Australian and coalition forces. The first deployment commenced on 17 November 2008.
“Australia greatly appreciates the support for the Australian Defence Force that Singapore has demonstrated by its decision to deploy forces to Afghanistan. Australia remains committed to continuing our close and effective defence ties with Singapore,” says the Governor-General.
Singapore hosted the Governor-General’s visit just three months after Australia’s Prime Minister, The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP, visited in August this year; reflecting the close bilateral relationship between Australia and Singapore.