Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and one of the strongest performing economies in the world.
In response to a request from the Government of Tonga, a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A aircraft arrived in Tonga today with essential supplies to support our friend and neighbour in its recovery efforts following the volcanic eruption and tsunami on 15 January.
Australia has today agreed a Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership with the United Kingdom that will help shape a positive technology environment and maintain an internet that is open, free, peaceful and secure.
Access to safe, clean water for drinking and washing is critical to staying healthy. When people don’t have access to safe drinking water, the risk of preventable illness like diarrhoea increases. Without safe water to wash in, there is a much higher chance of infection. Proper sanitation greatly improves health outcomes.
The Shurmo Education and Livelihood Development (SELD) project in Ethiopia has been supported through our Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) partnership with International Needs Australia (INA) for many years.
Tonga has agreed to Australia’s offer of a surveillance flight, to assess the damage caused by the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano and the subsequent tsunami.
China has requested the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel to hear China's claims regarding Australia's anti-dumping and countervailing measures on stainless steel sinks, railway wheels and wind towers.
Viet Nam and Australia held their 17th Annual Human Rights Dialogue on 8 December 2021 by videoconference. The discussion was productive, frank and covered an extensive range of issues.
Australia implements UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2615 of 22 December establishing a humanitarian exemption to the UNSC sanctions regime in relation to the Taliban.
Today the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) comes into force, giving Australian farmers and businesses access to the world's largest free trade agreement.
We deplore the decisions by two Russian courts to forcibly close International Memorial and the Memorial Human Rights Center. For more than three decades, Memorial has fulfilled a unique role in documenting historical crimes and recovering for posterity the memory of the tens of millions of victims of political repression in the country.
Australia will provide $5 million in emergency relief to help the people of the Philippines recover from the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Rai, known locally as Typhoon Odette.
Australian exporters are playing a key role in creating jobs and boosting Australia's economic recovery and will now benefit from an additional $80 million in funding for the Morrison Government's Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program.
Hon’ble Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Food and Consumer Affairs and Textiles, India and Hon’ble Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Australia held a video conference on 21 December 2021 to expedite the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations.
The Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) came into force on 21 December 2021, following the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Act 2021 commencing on 8 December 2021.
The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, noting the outcome of the Legislative Council elections in Hong Kong, express their grave concern over the erosion of democratic elements of the Special Administrative Region's electoral system.
Ms Amanda Gorely will serve as Australia’s next Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. Ms Gorely will also be Australia’s Ambassador for Disarmament.
Australia acknowledges the peaceful conduct of New Caledonia’s third referendum on independence under the Noumea Accord, and the enduring importance of self-determination to New Caledonians.
Australia today signed a landmark free trade agreement with the United Kingdom that will make Australian exports to the UK cheaper, create new opportunities for workers, young people and businesses and further strengthen the special relationship between our two countries.
The Australian Government welcomes the decision of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on India’s price support for sugarcane and export subsidies for sugar.
Minister Payne and Minister Seselja announces an $85 million financial package to bolster Fiji’s economic recovery. This is an investment in Fiji’s future and reflects Australia and Fiji’s shared commitment to economic resilience, health security and stability in our region.
2019 New Colombo Plan scholar Luke Macaronas was motivated to apply for his NCP scholarship to expand his learning and explore different arts practices across the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia, Japan, and the United States are committed to working in partnership with the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, and Nauru to improve internet connectivity to these three Pacific nations by providing funding to build a new undersea cable.
The Government is backing Australia to become a world leader in the processing and export of critical minerals, laying the groundwork for new jobs in rural and regional Australia.
Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs will visit Greece, Belgium and Austria this week to advance our relationships with our close partners, discuss shared values, and further common interests including the prosperity and security of the Indo-Pacific region.
We, Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, are profoundly concerned by recent reports of the Ethiopian government’s detention of large numbers of Ethiopian citizens on the basis of their ethnicity and without charge.
We are deeply concerned by reports of summary killings and enforced disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces as documented by Human Rights Watch and others.
New rules agreed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) will reduce red tape and regulatory costs for Australian services exporters, making it easier for Australian businesses to export to the world
Minister Payne will visit Palau on December 2 to 4 to advance our two countries’ strong and growing relationship, and our shared support for an open, resilient and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
Australia has a strong history of promoting and protecting human rights globally, supporting the international rules-based order, and acting in the interests of international peace and security.
Australians can continue to access half-price airfares this summer under the Government’s cheap flights initiative, boosting airlines and tourism operators while accelerating Australia’s economic recovery.
On the basis of medical advice provided by the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, Professor Paul Kelly, the National Security Committee has taken the necessary and temporary decision to pause the next step to safely reopen Australia to international skilled and student cohorts, as well as humanitarian, working holiday maker and provisional family visa holders from 1 December until 15 December.
It is not correct to say that the Government is blocking or overriding a climate change MOU. The Foreign Relations Act 2020 automatically invalidates arrangements if states or territories do not correctly notify the Commonwealth of them. This is what happened in this instance. The states are welcome to reapply correctly, in line with the Act, as they do for many other arrangements.
Australia and Papua New Guinea are concerned about the violent turn that protests have taken in Honiara and jointly emphasise the importance of resolving tensions peacefully.
We reiterate our grave concern over reports of ongoing human rights violations and abuses by the Myanmar Security Forces across the country, including credible reports of sexual violence and torture, especially in Chin State, Sagaing Region and Magwe Region.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan will travel to Geneva, Switzerland to lead Australia’s delegation to the 12th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC12).
We have been watching the ongoing protests in Honiara with concern. We continue to call for calm, for an end to any further violence and emphasise the importance of resolving tensions peacefully.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan has praised all the businesses involved in the Australian Export Awards for their contribution to supporting jobs, the economy and local communities.
Australian exporters are looking to target new markets, including the US, the UK, India and Indonesia – where Australia already has, or is working towards, free trade agreements, according to Australia’s 2021 International Business Survey published today.
Climate challenges are impacting small-scale farmers in the Mekong Delta, with flooding, saltwater intrusion and dry spells destroying vital crops in one of Asia’s largest food bowls.
Faizah lives in a remote community in Central Sulawesi. Faced with frequent flash floods and slow-onset droughts, farmers in her village are living on less than $20 AUD per week.
Minister Payne and Minister Seselja announces the next stage of reforms to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, providing a single, streamlined program that will benefit employers, workers, and our Pacific family.
The Australian Government is very concerned by incidents last week where China’s coast guard blocked and used water cannons against Philippine vessels seeking to resupply Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
Australia continues to take further steps to safely reopen to the world, with additional changes to our international border arrangements coming into effect on 1 December.
The Australian Government is proud to join the international United Kingdom-led statement condemning the use of sexual violence and rape as weapons of war.
On 15 November 2021 the Russian Defence Ministry conducted a destructive test of an anti-satellite weapon. This test created over 1500 pieces of long-lived debris in space that now threaten numerous satellites and the International Space Station.
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