The media have been introduced to some of the locals: Larry, the water python, a small croc, a sugar glider, and a bearded dragon, that my colleague, Eddy Meyer, snapped doing a bit of blogging.
Almost as heavily photographed, two representatives of the Russian delegation: Deputy Governor of the Bank of Russia, Sergey Shvetsov, and Deputy Finance Minister, Sergei Storchak.
It now appears certain that President Vladimir Putin will also attend the G20 leaders’ summit in Brisbane this November, despite calls for him to be barred.
Local wildlife visiting G20 finance meeting at Cairns Convention Centre.
Russia's Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak (R) and First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Russia Sergey Shvetsov (L), arrive to hear the opening remarks at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Cairns on September 20, 2014. (AFP)
Treasurer Joe Hockey said, “There is no unilateral decision that can be made by Australia in relation to attendance. It is also important, as a number of other countries said to us, that the door always remain open for communication, in order to address some of the geopolitical tensions involving Russia.”
So the Russian representatives were seated around the table as Mr Hockey welcomed his colleagues to the talks on cracking down on tax evasion and boosting global growth.
And as the delegates from the 20 richest nations negotiated, a plea from World Vision’s Tim Costello, to remember the world’s poor. “This has to be inclusive growth,” he said. “If it's growth that just transfers into profits, not jobs growth, that goes to the top one per cent - what good is that?”
