State leaders praise high-powered US delegation

Premiers and chief ministers could travel overseas together more regularly.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington. Picture: AAP

Premiers and chief ministers might travel overseas together more regularly following the success of an unprecedented delegation to the US.

The leaders of Australia’s four most populous states — NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia — were joined by the ACT and Northern Territory chief ministers in Washington at the weekend in a type of mobile Council of Australian Governments meeting focusing on trade, tourism and investment.

The National Governors Association conference gave them rare access to US governors, some of whom are considered potential presidential candidates, and top American and Australian chief executives, prompting several state leaders to consider another international trip.

ACT chief minister Andrew Barr, who is also chairman of the Council for the Australian Federation, said state leaders should pursue more delegations like the one to the US and suggested Japan could be the next destination. All Australian states and territories are members of the COAF.

“We’ve got a focus on Japan too this year so I think each state and territory will have a roadshow through Japan. There’s a question of whether it’s a year in focus or you do it as everyone together,” Mr Barr said.

“The collective effort here is of great benefit, particularly for smaller jurisdictions.”

As leaders spent Saturday networking with governors, speaking to American and Australian businesses interested in investing in their respective states, and signing new “sister-state” agreements, all declared the visit had been beneficial.

“I hadn’t thought about it before I came, but getting every premier that’s available and the Prime Minister and some of the most senior people in business all to go to the one location at the one time is a big effort firstly, but secondly it’s a strong demonstration,” West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said.

“We can do a similar thing with China and Japan — that would be worthwhile with both those countries. And any country that’s emerging, so perhaps Indonesia.

“You could only do it, say, once a year or once every two years but I’d certainly be willing to participate.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also said a Japan delegation had “merit” and congratulated Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey — whom she said had personally visited each premier to lobby them to visit Washington — for pulling off the trip.

“It’s the first time it’s happened. I thought it was a brilliant initiative,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

South Australia and Tasmania were the only states not to send a representative to the US because they are fighting elections at home.

Australian states signed a memorandum of understanding with the US governors on Saturday that will allow them to exchange policy ideas and best practices in areas of common interest.

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian suggested they establish “buddy states”, noting that Kentucky, North Dakota and North Carolina had already expressed an interest in her state.