Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Milos Aligrudic and Committee members Marija Obradovic and Irena Vujovic spoke today, at the National Assembly House, with the delegation of the Australian Parliament, headed by Steve Georganas, Deputy Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.
Committee Chairman Milos Aligrudic informed the Australian colleagues about the recently established parliamentary friendship group between Serbia and Australia, stressing that it is an important factor in the improvement of parliamentary relations between the two countries. Aligrudic stressed the need to foster the excellent relations Serbia enjoys with the Commonwealth countries, pointing out the need to improve the level of cooperation between Serbia and Australia on all levels.
Committee member Marija Obradovic briefed the guests on the National Assembly’s mode of operation listing the anti-corruption efforts, strengthening of the control function of the supreme legislative body and improvement of parliamentary diplomacy as priorities for the upcoming period.
The members of the Australian delegation highlighted the years of excellent relations between the two countries which should, according to the head of the Australian delegation, Steve Georganas, continue to improve in view of the populous Serbian community living in Australia.
The members of the Australian delegation also asked about the current political situation in Serbia and the Kosovo-Metohija issue.
Both delegations agreed that there is room to improve the cooperation between Serbia and Australia, especially in the spheres of culture, education, scientific and technological cooperation, as well as in the sphere of economic cooperation which is currently very low. They also stressed the very important role the Serbian community plays in Australia, which contributes to the active development of modern Australia.
The Australian parliamentary delegation also met with the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional and Legislative Issues, MA Vladimir Cvijan, and Committee members Srdjan Mikovic and Dr Janko Veselinovic.
The officials declared that the two countries enjoy excellent cooperation and that the visit would contribute to the improvement of overall relations, particularly the establishment of more intense interparliamentary cooperation. The officials shared experiences stemming from the work of legislative committees, particularly as regards the legislative process and drafting better quality laws.
Vladimir Cvijan and Srdjan Mikovic briefed the Australian colleagues on the scope of the Committee on Constitutional and Legislative Issues, stressing that the Committee had completed a study on the improvement of the legislative process and is currently drafting an appropriate resolution. They emphasised the Committee’s role in the process of harmonisation of the national with the European legislation. As a member of the parliamentary friendship group with Australia, Janko Veselinovic greeted the guests and stated that it is necessary to continue to strengthen the already favourable relations with Australia, considering that it is home to a considerable number of Serbs.
The members of the Committee on Constitutional and Legislative Issues were particularly interested in the functioning of the Committee on Petitions, established at the Australian Parliament in 2009 as a standing working body. The Committee’s work experience could, they believe, help find a way to deal with the considerable number of petitions and complaints sent to the National Assembly.