G20 Summit A Chance For New Zealand To Play 'Active' Role; Queensland Gears Up For Activists
The G20 summit in Brisbane in November will be an opportunity for New Zealand to play an active role. Australia has been preparing for the summit and New Zealand has become a dynamic partner in the forum, NZ Herald reports. Michael Potts, the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, has published an opinion piece in the local paper. He said infrastructure investment will be high on the G20 agenda since it is a crucial factor to boost growth.
Potts reported that leading business leaders and organisations in New Zealand have played significant roles in the B20 Summit in July, which highlighted the benefits of the trade and economic relationship between Australia and New Zealand. Australia's G20 presidency will focus on increasing collective economic growth by over 2 percent by 2018. Potts said the effort will result in $2 trillion to world's gross domestic product and provide millions of new jobs.
The G20 summit is on track to achieve the two-year work plan to reduce cases of tax avoidance. Potts said the plan will help ensure that the international tax system will keep up with technology and dynamic business practices. He mentioned Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey's statement that New Zealand understands the need for economic reform. Potts added that New Zealand's contribution to the G20 summit will be highly welcomed.
Meanwhile, Australian police has promised to take a swift and decisive action against the G20 protesters. In a report by Courier Mail, activists have ramped up protests ahead of the summit in Brisbane. G20 activists have reportedly vented online that peaceful protests have become ineffective and suggest destroying property. Assistant commissioner Katarina Carroll warned that police would arrest anyone who will incite violence or damage property in reference to "Smash G20" posters being circulated online. She said police will be ready to protect the community members of Queensland.
Previous reports of activists calling for "waves of destruction" during the summit. The group behind "Plan B" allegedly plan on destroying ATMs and billboards, causing disruption in G20-related events. According to a spokesperson from the Justice Department, people who will be arrested will have to face the G20 Offender Processing Centre at the Supreme Court.