Work to manufacture and lay the East Micronesia Cable (EMC) is officially underway. The EMC Management Committee members have signed the undersea cable contract with NEC Corporation following a competitive tender. 

The agreement is a gold standard trade deal that delivers benefits for all Australians – including manufacturers, workers, farmers, tradies, innovators, families, and students.

The Australian Government will provide an additional $29 million to humanitarian partners to respond to the growing food security crisis and to assist vulnerable people in the Middle East and Africa.

Trade Minister Don Farrell joined Ministers from the 13 other Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) countries to welcome the substantial conclusion of a first-of-its-kind agreement to better address modern supply chain challenges.

Today marks two year since Australian citizen, Dr Yang Jun, faced a closed trial in Beijing.

Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Honourable Don Farrell and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met for the second annual ministerial meeting of the Australia-U.S. Strategic Commercial Dialogue.

Today we announce the inaugural Advisory Board for the Centre for Australia-India Relations, that will drive greater collaboration between our countries from its new Western Sydney base.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP will travel to Papua New Guinea this week to represent Australia at the United States-Pacific Island Dialogue, to be co-hosted by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister the Hon James Marape MP and US Secretary of State the Hon Antony J. Blinken.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong today announced financial sanctions and an export ban, targeting sectors of economic and strategic significance to Russia.

At the invitation of Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, Senator the Honorable Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, undertook an official visit to the Philippines on 16-18 May 2023.

Minister for Trade and Tourism the Senator the Hon Don Farrell will travel to Beijing to meet with China’s Minister of Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, to progress the resolution of outstanding trade impediments.

The Australian Government's approach in the Budget will make Australia more influential in the world, by investing in all elements of our statecraft including diplomatic power, trade and development.

The Australian Government is delivering a transformational package of support to the Pacific to respond to Pacific priorities and ensure our shared interests in a peaceful, prosperous and resilient region.

Australia is extremely concerned by the conflict in Sudan which has resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries since fighting began on 15 April 2023. We continue to call on all parties to agree to a permanent ceasefire, enable safe humanitarian access, make progress on negotiations and work towards civilian-led democratic governance in Sudan.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Trade and Tourism will host their Singaporean counterparts today for the 13th Singapore–Australia Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in Canberra.

The Australian Government condemns the violence across Sudan that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of innocent people.

Australia and Vietnam held the 18th Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue on 24 April 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Australia’s delegation was led by Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for Human Rights, Ms Bronte Moules, and included staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Embassy in Vietnam, and Australian Human Rights Commission.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is undertaking public consultation on proposed amendments to the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (Cth). Submissions close on 19 May 2023 (5pm AEST).

Mr Ian Biggs will be Australia’s next Ambassador to Austria; Ms Karen Bray Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Republic of Kiribati; Mr Allaster Cox Australia’s next High Commissioner to Singapore; and Dr Greg French Australia’s next Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Joint communiqué between Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism, and His Excellency Dr Nguyen Chi Dung, Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment.

The Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism will visit Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Australian Government will provide an additional $8 million (VT 655 million) to support the Vanuatu Government with its ongoing response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin.

Commonwealth, State and Territory Trade and Investment Ministers met in Townsville, Queensland, on 12 April 2023 for the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment. 

The Australian Government was deeply concerned to learn of the harsh sentences handed down to human rights lawyers and activists, Mr Xu Zhiyong and Mr Ding Jiaxi, on 10 April 2023.

Australia is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon.

The Australian Government welcomes the substantial conclusion of negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

DFAT has undertaken a legislative review of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (Regulations), ahead of their original sunsetting (automatic expiry) on 1 April 2024.

These Guiding Principles are intended to prevent the misuse of surveillance technologies by governments and those acting on their behalf in three main areas of concern.

The Declaration of Principles to Combat Transnational Repression calls upon democratic governments to acknowledge and commit to addressing the increasingly prevalent phenomenon of transnational repression, whereby states reach across borders to harm, intimidate, and silence journalists, activists, dissidents, and diaspora communities.

Commercial spyware has been misused across the world by authoritarian regimes and in democracies. The misuse of these tools presents significant and growing risks to our national security, including to the safety and security of our government personnel, information, and information systems.

Expressing concern that some state and non-state actors are increasingly misusing surveillance tools and other technologies in ways that can lead to serious violations or abuses of human rights, including acts to censor political opposition and track dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders, other members of civil society, or individuals belonging to vulnerable groups.

The expression of civil rights and free speech without fear is a cornerstone value that we share. Authoritarian governments are increasingly using cyber means to target these groups, both within their countries and across international borders, including in acts of transnational repression to censor political opposition and track dissidents.

We therefore commit to enhancing beneficial ownership transparency, to make it more difficult for corrupt actors to conceal their identities, assets, and criminal activities through the misuse of opaque corporate structures and legal persons.

Australia is seriously concerned about the further narrowing of political space in Myanmar resulting from the imposition and requirements of the new Political Party Registration Law.

40 years ago today, Australia signed the Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Agreement with our closest partner and ally, New Zealand.

Assistant Minister for Trade, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres will travel to China this week for the Bo’ao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023.

The Australian Government welcomes the announcement that Royal Assent has been given to legislation to bring the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement into effect in the UK.

The Australian Government’s official travel and cultural advice service, Smartraveller, released its latest advertising campaign.

The Australian Government welcomes the appointment of Tim Thomas as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Australia-India Relations.

The Australian Government will provide an additional $4.35 million to support the Government of Vanuatu’s response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin.

Representatives from Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Japan, Kiribati, Nauru and the United States of America met today to push forward the delivery of the East Micronesia Cable project.

As we move closer towards the 25th anniversary of the adoption of Resolution 1325, we are reminded of how far we have come as a global community, but, at the same time, how far we have yet to go.