Issues as diverse as domestic violence against women, preserving indigenous languages, tackling multiple sclerosis and the Scottish Diaspora will be on the agenda when a cross party delegation of members of the Scottish Parliament arrive in Australia on 12 October 2009.

Led by the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Alex Fergusson MSP, the group will visit cities across Australia from 12  -17 October at the invitation of the Speakers of both Houses of the Australian Parliament . They will visit Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra as part of their tour.

This is the first time since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament that a cross party delegation will visit Australia, and coincides with both the Year of the Scottish Homecoming and the 10th anniversary of Scottish devolution.

In addition to the Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson MSP, members of the delegation include Ted Brocklebank MSP, Ross Finnie MSP, Rhoda Grant MSP and Sandra White MSP.

They will discuss how traditional languages are maintained, especially as this may assist in developing the Scottish Parliament's language policy particularly in relation to Gaelic. At the same time, the delegation will share information about the Scottish Parliament's annual Festival of Politics with their Australian counterparts - an event which has been gathering wide interest internationally. Additionally, all of the MSPs are keen to meet with  Australian  residents of Scottish descent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GROUP PHOTOGRAPH OF MSPs IN THE DEBATING CHAMBER AT HOLYROOD. IN THE FRONT ROW ARE, FROM LEFT,
GREEN PARTY CO-CONVENER ROBIN HARPER MSP, CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER ANNABEL GOLDIE MSP, SNP LEADER
ALEX SALMOND MSP, DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER ALASDAIR MORGAN MSP, PRESIDING OFFICER ALEX FERGUSSON MSP,
DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER TRISH GODMAN MSP, LABOUR PARTY LEADER WENDY ALEXANDER MSP AND LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
PARTY LEADER NICOL STEPHEN MSP.  Image courtesy of The Scottish Parliament

Each member of the delegation has particular interests which they will be investigating while in Australia:

• Ted Brocklebank - Scottish Diaspora and traditional languages.
  
• Ross Finnie - Climate change and its impact in Australia.
  
• Rhoda Grant - Domestic violence against women, and especially Australian policy initiatives and health care in rural areas. 
  
• Sandra White - Multiple Sclerosis and the theory that MS is more prevalent in Australians of Scottish descent.
  

While in  Australia , the delegation will:

1. establish links with the Australian  Federal Parliament and explore how both parliaments might collaborate in the future;
   
2. meet with parliamentarians to learn more from the Australian experiences of minority and coalition government;
   
3. learn how Australia 's state and federal parliaments engage with young people

Notes for Editors

The delegation will be pleased to meet with members of the media to discuss any of the issues that have brought them to  Australia . If you are interested in speaking to any member of the group or would like to arrange an interview, please let Anushka Hatharasinghe or Karen Jameson know by calling (02) 6270 6687 or emailing us at ppa.canberra@fco.gov.uk

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