On 3 November 2025, H.E. Ms. Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, joined H.E. the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, Governor of Tasmania, in presiding over the Official Opening ceremony of the Royal Thai Honorary Consulate in Hobart at the Kingborough Community Hub. Both were warmly welcomed by Ms. Wimalin Beattie, Honorary Consul of Thailand in Hobart. The event was attended by 250 participants from state parliament and government, consular corps, private and academic sectors as well as the Thai community in Tasmania.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Arjaree highlighted the historic Royal visit to Tasmania in 1962 by His Late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and Her Late Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, which laid the foundation for enduring Thai-Tasmanian relations. She also emphasized the growing economic ties, noting the positive outcomes of the visit to Thailand earlier this year of the Honourable Jane Howlett, Tasmania’s Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, who led a business delegation to Thailand to promote bilateral economic engagement. The Ambassador praised the unity and active role of the Thai community in Tasmania and thanked the state and local authorities for their continued support for the Thai community.

On this occasion, H.E. the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, The Honourable Jacquie Petrusma MP, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Tasmania, who represented the Premier of Tasmania, and Ms. Sarah Jane Sheehy, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Office in Tasmania, also delivered remarks underscoring the positive Thai-Tasmanian relations across trade, investment, and people-to-people connections. They also acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Thai community in enriching Tasmania’s multiculturalism.