Official visit of the Secretary-General to Australia (Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, 3-8 August 2008)

During his official visit to Australia, the Secretary-General of the OECD, Angel Gurría attended the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Structural Reform and met with government officials and business representatives to discuss a range of key policy issues:

• Mr. Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister

• Mr. Stephen Smith, Minister for Foreign Affairs

• Mr. Tony Burke, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
• Mr. Simon Crean, Minister for Trade

• Mr. Brendan O’Connor, Minister for Employment

• Mr. Wayne Swan, Member of Parliament, Treasurer

• Mr. Lindsay Tanner, Minister for Finance and Deregulation

• Mr. Peter Costello, MP

• Mr. Morris Iemma, MP, Premier of New South Wales

• Mr. John Lenders, Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), Treasurer of Victoria

• Ms. Sharon Burrow, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and members of ACTU

• Ms. Melinda Cilento, Deputy Chief Executive, Business Council of Australia (BCA) and members of the BCA

• Ms. Jane Halton, Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing

• Mr. Michael L’Estrange, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

• Mr. Paul Tighe, First Assistant Secretary, Trade Development Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

• Mr. Gary Banks, Productivity Commissioner

• Mr. Peter Anderson, CEO, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• Prof. Marie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales and Chancellor of the University of Sydney

• Prof. Allan Fels, Dean of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government

• Prof. Fred Hilmer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of New South Wales

• Members of the Lowy Institute

In addition to his bilateral meetings, Angel Gurría gave a keynote speech on "The Political Economy of Reform: Implementing Policies for Change" (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation - APEC).

Useful links:

• OECD work on Australia: http://www.oecd.org/australia