His Majesty the Emperor of Japan’s Birthday Reception and National Day Celebration 2025

Leader of the Opposition, Mr Steven Miles MP; the Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner and Lady Mayoress; Consul-General of Japan, Mr Katsutoshi Ishikawa; Dean and Members of the Consular Corps; Service Chiefs; representing the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, the Honourable Trevor Evans; Councillors; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

I am honoured to join you on this National Day of Celebration for Japan, as we mark His Majesty the Emperor of Japan’s birthday; and I extend my thanks to the Consul-General of Japan in Brisbane, Mr Katsutoshi Ishikawa and Mrs Mayumi Ishikawa for welcoming me to their official residence this evening.

My husband Graeme and I had the delight of meeting the Consul-General and his wife along with his Deputy, Ms Ikuko Hanai in December last year, shortly after he commenced his post, and it is wonderful to have this opportunity to celebrate this special day with Mr Ishikawa for the first time.

As one of the key events in Japan’s calendar, this annual occasion honours His Majesty’s status as head of the oldest continuing monarchy in the world, and pays tribute to the unity and stability he brings to his people.

Indeed, Emperor Naruhito’s New Years greeting delivered from Tokyo’s Imperial Palace in January was a powerful call for unity in the face of ongoing challenges.

In a year marked by natural disasters in Japan, beginning with the devastating Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day of 2024, and followed by typhoons and unrelenting rains, the emperor stressed the need to work together – to care for, and support each other in times of need.

With Graeme and I having just returned from the flood-stricken regions of North Queensland, my observation is that supporting each other in times of hardship is something the people of both Japan and Queensland do extremely well.

It is one of the many shared values that unite us and create deep affinity between our people, alongside our unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights, free trade and a rules-based international order.

Our partnership is fundamental to both countries strategic and economic interests, and it continues to go from strength to strength. Japan is now Queensland’s second largest trading partner, we have more sister cities with Japan than any other nation, and there is a breadth of exciting opportunities ahead in diverse areas.

Our state government’s gold level partnership with World Expo Osaka 2025 is indicative of our deep commitment to furthering our strong relationship and encouraging greater cultural understanding between us.

As we look to the future, I have great confidence the people of Queensland and Japan will continue to work together with a spirit of collaboration and cooperation to address the many and varied challenges that currently face our world.

I look forward to shortly proposing a toast to His Majesty the Emperor, but for now, on behalf of the people of Queensland, I warmly wish him a long and prosperous reign and echo his wishes for the year ahead – may it indeed be “a peaceful and good year”.