Abbott on his way to London for the Australia-UK-Israel Leadership Dialogue
Leader of the Federal Opposition Tony Abbott will head for London tonight to participate in the Australia-UK-Israel Dialogue.
Tony Abbott
The organisation is spearheaded by Melbourne businessman Albert Dadon.
Tony Abbott said: “This evening I will travel to London to participate in the second meeting of the Australia-UK-Israel Leadership Dialogue.
The Dialogue is an important forum for discussing the full range of issues confronting the Middle East, including prospects for an Israel-Palestinian settlement, Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the “Arab Spring”.
The Dialogue will be attended by a number of Coalition and Labor members of parliament. I look forward to re-stating the Coalition’s firm commitment to Israel and its security.
While in the United Kingdom, I will deliver an address at Queen’s College, Oxford.
During the visit, I will also meet with the Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, the Rt Hon. William Hague MP, the Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King GBE FBA, the Mayor of London, Mr Boris Johnson, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for education and childcare, Ms Elizabeth Truss MP.
The Hon Julie Bishop MHR will be Acting Leader of the Opposition for the duration of the visit.
I wish Julie Bishop would be among the group travelling to the UK – to counteract the no doubt quite Israel-unfriendly view point, that Bob Carr will bring to the table.