Official Visit by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott - Jun 2015

"The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Tony Abbott, made his first official visit to Singapore, from 28-29 June 2015 at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. An official welcome ceremony was held for Prime Minister Abbott at the Istana on 29 June. The two Prime Ministers also signed the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and marked the occasion with a gift exchange of trees. Prime Minister Abbott presented PM with a Wollemi Pine and PM reciprocated with a Tembusu Tree. Both Prime Ministers also held a joint press conference.

On 28 June, the two Prime Ministers visited Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and participated in a special BBQ event to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic and Australia. They also planted a Gelam tree (aka Paper Bark Tree) in the park. The tree is native to both Singapore and North Queensland.

(MCI Photos by Kenji Soon, LH Goh and Terence Tan)"