Joint Communique

These formal talks represent the inaugural Australia- United
Kingdom Ministerial dialogue, which was agreed by Prime Ministers
Blair and Howard in March 2006.

International Security

Ministers acknowledged the need for a comprehensive and
coordinated approach to dealing with threats to international
security. They recognised the impact of contemporary threats
such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
and their delivery systems, and the consequences of state fragility
and failure, as well as threats such as the security implications
of climate change. The United Kingdom and Australia will
continue to work closely in meeting these security challenges, and
agreed to increase levels of cooperation in the political and
military arenas.

Counter-Terrorism

Ministers renewed their commitment to wide-ranging cooperation
to counter the threat posed by international terrorism. They
agreed that this would be a generation-long struggle.
Ministers emphasised the importance of countering violent
extremism, including through reiteration of the shared values of
tolerance and pluralism that underpin democratic societies.
Ministers agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in researching and
developing policies to counter radicalisation and terrorist
recruitment both in their own societies and globally. They
particularly welcomed the efforts of Muslim countries and
communities in countering extremist ideology.

Ministers reiterated their joint commitment to support practical
counter- terrorism initiatives, including through support for the
Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC), which helps
to enhance the expertise of South East Asian law enforcement
agencies in combating terrorism. They agreed to pursue other
forms of cooperation and to look for other ways to work together to
combat terrorism globally.

Counter-Proliferation

Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to practical action to
disrupt illicit trade in weapons of mass destruction, their
components and their means of delivery. They agreed to work
together to further enhance the effectiveness of the Proliferation
Security Initiative (PSI) and to seek opportunities to develop
capabilities with PSI participants in the Asia-Pacific
region. They also noted that the recently established Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) may provide
opportunities to expand existing cooperation.

Following the DPRK's nuclear test on 9 October, Ministers
declared their determination to promote comprehensive
implementation of UNSC Resolution 1718.

Australia and the United Kingdom discussed Iran's refusal to
comply with UNSC Resolution 1696. Ministers agreed that the
international community needed to send an even firmer message to
Iran reflecting the concern of the international community with
aspects of Iran's nuclear program. They noted that if
Iran's nuclear program was entirely for peaceful purposes, as
it claimed, Iran would abide by UNSC Resolution 1696.

Australia and the United Kingdom expressed their support for the
development of missile defences which have the potential to
dissuade countries from acquiring ballistic missiles.

Ministers remain committed to working together on practically
focused outcomes to help address the threat posed to civil aviation
by the illicit proliferation of Man-Portable Air Defence Systems
(MANPADS). They agreed to seek ways to build capacity to
address this threat in the Asia-Pacific region, for example,
through airport MANPADS Vulnerability Assessments and joint efforts
to strengthen international export controls and stockpile
management practices for these weapons.

Ministers welcomed agreement to the start of a United Nations
process to take forward work towards an Arms Trade Treaty.
They agreed to continue to work together, and with other
supporters, to turn this positive beginning into a treaty that will
make a real difference to the lives of those impacted by the
irresponsible arms trade.

Iraq

Australia and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their commitment to
assisting the Iraqi Government to work towards stability and
prosperity in Iraq. They called on the international
community to continue to support Iraq's reconstruction and
rehabilitation and commended the International Compact as a way to
assist Iraq with its reform program. Ministers reiterated
their condemnation of those violent elements within Iraq which seek
to deny the majority of Iraqis the right to govern themselves
through a democratic political process. They reaffirmed their
commitment to the training and development of Iraqi Security Forces
to enable them to enforce law and order around the country, and
they welcomed progress in transferring provinces to Provincial
Iraqi Control.

Afghanistan

Ministers emphasised the vital importance of sustained
international engagement in bringing lasting security,
reconstruction and development to Afghanistan. The United
Kingdom welcomed Australia's participation in NATO's International
Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan, noting the serious
security challenge in the southern provinces, and the international
community's determination to ensure that Afghan Government
authority is upheld across the country. Ministers recognised
the central role of counter-narcotics efforts in stabilising
Afghanistan, underpinned by the Afghan Government's National
Drug Control Strategy. The United Kingdom welcomed Australian
consideration of ways of working with UK counterparts to build the
capacity of the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan.

Energy Security and Climate Change

Recognising the linkages between climate change, energy security
and economic growth, the United Kingdom and Australia agreed on the
need to enhance work on the security implications of climate change
and on ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They agreed
that this required effective domestic and international policy
frameworks which support well-functioning energy markets and
investment in low emissions technologies. Given rapidly
growing world energy demand and the increasing use of coal
globally, rapid advances in the development and deployment of clean
coal technology will be essential for effective climate change
mitigation. Australia and the United Kingdom are therefore committed
to work together on efforts to accelerate the development and
application of such technologies, including large scale
demonstration of carbon capture and storage.

They also agreed to exchange views on market based mechanisms,
such as emissions trading, and on the economic impacts of climate
change.

To this end they welcomed the forthcoming UK-Australia Energy
Dialogue, which will take place in Canberra in February
2007.

Regional Cooperation

Ministers acknowledged the strategic and economic significance
of East Asia and the increasingly active role being played by East
Asian countries in global affairs. They agreed that the Five
Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) remained an important element of
regional security architecture and an example of the commitment of
the United Kingdom and Australia to security in the Asia-Pacific
region. The also acknowledged the role of the ASEAN Regional
Forum, in which the United Kingdom participates as a member of the
European Union.

Instability in the Pacific

The two countries expressed concern about continued instability
in the South Pacific, noting the recent civil unrest in Tonga and
continuing concerns about governance in the Solomon Islands. The
United Kingdom and Australia strongly condemned the Fiji military's
unconstitutional removal of Prime Minister Qarase and supported the
decision by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to
suspend Fiji from the Councils of the Commonwealth. The two
countries called on the military to return the country immediately
to the elected civilian government and to withdraw completely from
politics. They agreed to continue to work together to help
PacificIslandcountries build stability, democratic governance and
economic reforms for the benefit of their people. They agreed to
encourage other countries in the region and elsewhere to support
the same objectives.

Intelligence relationship

Australia and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their close
cooperation in all facets of intelligence and security. Ministers
emphasised the mutual value of this relationship.

Military relationship

Ministers welcomed the close and enduring bonds shared by their
respective armed forces and restated their commitment to exploring
ways to enhance military interoperability and cooperation. In
this respect, Ministers welcomed the recent agreement reached by
Australia and the United Kingdom under the Memorandum of
Understanding on Military Capability Harmonisation and Equipment
Cooperation (AUMICE).

Ministers agreed that the next Australia- United
Kingdom Ministerial Dialogue would take place in Australia in the
first half of 2008.