ALISON BYRNES MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM
SPEECH
Parliamentary Friends of Denmark – Royal Afternoon Tea
Australian Parliament House
Your Majesties, Minister Aagaard, Permanent Secretary Tranholm-Mikkelsen, Permanent Secretary Frelle-Peterson, Mr Speaker, Ambassador Dahl-Madsen, Ms Angie Bell, distinguished guests, colleagues and friends.
Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
On behalf of the Parliamentary Friends of Denmark, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Parliament House this afternoon.
It is a particular honour to welcome Their Majesties The King and Queen of Denmark to the Australian Parliament during this state visit to Australia.
This visit comes at an important time in the relationship between our two nations. Denmark and Australia are close partners, connected by shared democratic values, a commitment to international cooperation, and a belief in building a more sustainable and secure future.
Denmark’s global leadership in renewable energy and sustainable technologies has made it an important partner for Australia as we pursue our own energy shift.
Through the Parliamentary Friends of Denmark, we aim to strengthen the links between our parliaments and peoples, and to ensure that our friendship continues to grow for many years to come.
In 2023 I was privileged to be a part of a broad delegation to Denmark to learn firsthand of the Danish offshore wind experience and meet and learn from the supply chain businesses, clean energy and sustainability organisations and industry leaders.
We actually got to climb one of the Middelgrunden wind turbines located in Copenhagen Harbour! Climbing that wind turbine at sea in the wind and rain was an amazing experience.
We also got to visit Anholt Offshore Wind farm - one of the largest offshore wind projects in the world at the time of construction.
We also met with industry leaders like State of Green, Green Power Denmark and visited steel companies who manufacture wind turbines like the legendary Stiesdal and Welcon and seeing how they work with communities was really informative and helpful.
Denmark is also where I first heard an expression that I love – friend-petitors – which really demonstrates how collaborative and helpful Danish people in industry are. They love to collaborate, they love to share ideas and they help each other in business and industry while still able to maintain a competitive market.
I have sought to foster this in our advanced manufacturing and clean energy sector in the Illawarra with our University of Wollongong and companies like Green Gravity, Sicona, Hysata and Bluescope Steel.
I also had the opportunity to meet Rasmus Frisk from Arki Lab in Copenhagen – Arki Lab has worked on numerous projects here in Australia and are currently working with Chris Lacey and his team at the Multicultural Communities Council of the Illawarra to design our new Regional Multicultural Community Centre in Coniston.
Your Majesties, Australians hold Denmark in very high regard.
Your visit provides a valuable opportunity to deepen the already strong ties between Australia and Denmark and to strengthen the friendship between our people.
I am also honoured to leave you with a gift of some beautiful items from our local small businesses in the Illawarra.
Thank you everyone for joining us today, and please enjoy this afternoon together here at Parliament House.
ENDS
Alison Byrnes MP also provided a gift to Their Majesties of local Illawarra products including: Tidal Lines Illawarra Plum Infused Gin and Liqueur from Headlands Distilling Company, Darkes Cider from Glenbernie Orchard, beer from Seeker Brewing, beer from Five Barrell Brewing, jam and chutney from CWA Keiraville, candles from Greenacres IMAGINE range, and Little Earth Roasters coffee beans.
*Photo attached of Their Majesties King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark with Speaker of the House of Representatives the Hon Milton Dick MP, and Parliamentary Friends of Denmark Co-Chairs Alison Byrnes MP and Angie Bell MP.
MONDAY 16 MARCH 2026
