His Excellency Mr. Dharambeer Gokhool, G.C.S.K., President of the Republic of Mauritius, received members of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation, led by the Hon. Milton Dick, MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, for a courtesy visit at the State House yesterday.
The delegation comprised, among others, Senators Claire Chandler, Dorinda Cox, Deborah O’Neil, Tammy Tyrrell, and the Hon. Mary Doyle, MP, together with Her Excellency Ms. Kate Chamley, High Commissioner of Australia to Mauritius.
Discussions reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Mauritius and Australia, formally established in 1970 and grounded in shared values of democracy, peace, human rights, and mutual respect.
President Gokhool highlighted that these ties date back much further, to the 17th century voyages of Abel Tasman – who stopped in Mauritius in 1642 to repair and resupply before charting Tasmania, New Zealand, and parts of Australia’s northern coastline- and to the early 19th century, when Matthew Flinders, the renowned navigator and cartographer, was held in Mauritius between 1803 and 1810, during which time he maintained enduring friendships and left a lasting imprint on the island’s history.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review ongoing cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, the blue economy, climate change, education, notably the presence of Curtin University in Mauritius; tourism, and science and technology.
The dignitaries further explored new avenues of collaboration, including reducing carbon emissions and advancing the representation of women in public and political life.
President Gokhool welcomed the proposal by Hon. Milton Dick, MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, to establish a Bilateral Parliamentary Friendship Group, which will help consolidate institutional ties, strengthen people-to-people connections, and deepen cooperation across national, regional, and international platforms.
Mauritius looks forward to advancing its enduring partnership with Australia, guided by common values and a shared commitment to building a more sustainable and inclusive future, he affirmed.