Prior to the new Government advising the sitting schedule for the remainder of 2022, I had already accepted an invitation to join other former Prime Ministers from Canada, the UK and New Zealand to address an international event to be held in Tokyo this week. As a consequence I will be unable to attend the first three sitting days of the new Parliament this week.
Both the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition were advised of my intended travel and absence from the Parliament this week.
While in Tokyo, in addition to making an address on the role of the Quad in promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific, I will be holding a series of meetings with Japanese political and business leaders and will have the opportunity to join other former leaders to express my condolences for the passing of Prime Minister Abe following his assassination.
I will return to Australia to be present in the Parliament on August 1, 2022.
