MEDIA RELEASE

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND
MINISTER FOR TRADE

TIM FISCHER

24 June 1999

Fischer To Speak At Woolshed Meeting

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister, Tim Fischer, said today he is looking forward to visiting Christchurch as part of a busy round of meetings coinciding with the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting hosted by New Zealand from 28-30 June.

"I am keen to touch base with New Zealand farmers and exporters in the Canterbury area at a special Woolshed Trade Forum in North Canterbury this Sunday, organised by the NZ Federated Farmers," Mr Fischer said.

"This will be a good opportunity to carry the shared Australia-New Zealand trade message on lamb and other issues into the public domain before Lockwood Smith and I are locked away for the APEC meetings".

"I have a special interest in Christchurch, reinforced over the years by the impressive troika of:

• Phillip Burdon - former New Zealand Trade Minister;
• John Knox - successful tourist industry operator; and
• Mike Moore - former New Zealand Prime Minister".

The Woolshed Trade Forum on Sunday, June 27 will bring together the Australian and New Zealand Trade Ministers as well as farm leaders Ian Donges, President of the National Farmers' Federation of Australia, and Malcolm Bailey, President of the New Zealand Federated Farmers.

The Woolshed Meeting will take place on the property of Murray Taggart, 2045 Oxford Rd, Cust, North Canterbury, at 1.30 for 2pm.