Steve Bracks: Bridging the Gap

 

Despite his busy schedule, Bracks took some time to speak with Today’s Outlook in a candid interview, sharing with us the purpose of his visit, its outcome, his future plans and the way his Lebanese heritage has influenced him. 

 

Premier Bracks, what do you hope to accomplish during your visit to Lebanon?

I’m here to try to advance trade and investment between Victoria and Lebanon. There are many Lebanese migrants in Victoria; over 14,000 of them were born here in Lebanon and there are thousands more who are of Lebanese descent. With that said, I think that it’s only natural to develop good opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries, so my hope is to improve these economic relations. 

 

Are you pleased with the outcome of your visit?

Yes, I think that my visit was successful and had a positive outcome with some companies here.  For instance, Swisse Pharmaceuticals, a company based in Victoria and owned by the Australian-Lebanese Saba family, and Pharmaline, a Lebanese pharmaceutical company, signed a joint venture agreement during my visit.  The two companies will work together to provide consumers in the Middle East and Africa with world-class pharmaceutical products. 

 

How would you describe the bilateral relations between our two countries?

Australia has a long and close relationship with Lebanon, based on the deep community links and family connections between the two countries. There are more than 300,000 people of Lebanese origin in Australia, including around 70,000 born here.  This has resulted in a close relationship between our two countries for over 100 years. But on the economic level, there hasn’t been much business activity, and we hope to change that.  We hope to establish better economic relations and advance business links such as evidenced by the partnership announcement we did between Swisse and Pharmaline.

 

How important is the Lebanese market for Australian companies?

The Lebanese market and indeed the whole Middle Eastern market are very important for Australia and Victoria. Currently we have strong links through the trade of meat, dairy products and automobiles in particular. 

 

What are your future plans?

I’m hoping to enhance the relations between Lebanon and Australia and create more links in the future through health and education exchanges, and to ensure that the open doors we have now can be used to their full advantage.  There are many issues facing the Lebanese community in Australia, including high unemployment levels amongst young people. My government wants to do what it can to assist these people in getting work, or in getting into appropriate training programs.  

 

[During his stay, Premier Bracks announced that young Lebanese and Arabs in the Victorian community will be assisted to find work and training through a State Government grant valued at $60,000.  The grant will be used to prepare young Arab job seekers for the job market by offering them training packages to provide pre-apprenticeship training, industry specific training and job orientation programs.]

 

On a more personal note…

 

How did you start out in the world of politics?

Originally, I ran for a by-election three times in Ballarat and lost each time – once in 1985 and twice in 1988. I then entered the Victorian Parliament as the Member for Williamstown following a by-election in 1994 after moving to Melbourne. I was sworn in as Premier of Victoria in October 1999, and was re-elected Premier in November 2002.

 

Do you plan to run for Prime Minister of Australia in the future?

Currently, I am focusing on advancing Victoria and the Victorian economy. I have no plans to run for Prime Minister of Australia as I have a young family based in Victoria.  This is where my family is based and this is where we’re happy.

 

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

I’m particularly happy about creating a balance for the people of Victoria in terms of empowering voters, bringing focus on rural Victoria, and establishing the Regional Infrastructure Fund to concentrate on areas outside of Melbourne. We also helped to restore services, to rebuild the health and education systems and hire more police, teachers and nurses.

 

Has your Lebanese heritage influenced you in any way?

Yes it has. I come from Melbourne, a very multicultural place. There are many Lebanese there and I think that this has been a positive experience for me and it has given me an important background in understanding opportunities. My grandfather, Philip, was born in Zahlé and migrated to Australia as a child in 1890, with his parents, Saleem and Amelia (my great grandparents). Being the grandson of Lebanese immigrants makes me appreciate the heritage people bring with them to Australia.