The second Australia and Germany 2+2 Security Policy Consultations between Foreign and Defence Ministries addressed key security and regional challenges faced by both countries.

COVID-19 has brought into sharp focus the value of our Pacific labour mobility initiatives, the Seasonal Workers Programme (SWP) and Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS), which provide direct and tangible economic benefits to both our Pacific family and Australian farmers and industries.

Australia has played a key role in reinvigorating the global AIDS response, helping achieve a new global commitment on the way forward.

On World Oceans Day 2021, people everywhere celebrate and take action to protect this shared resource. Emma Locker, 2020 New Colombo Plan scholar spoke to us about her experiences with Pacific communities and sustainable Ocean management.

For 2020 New Colombo Plan Scholar Molly Glendenning, a love for travel and keen interest in global news and current affairs started early.

The Australian Government will ask the World Trade Organization to establish a dispute settlement panel to resolve concerns about anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed on Australian barley by China.

In light of the imminent international military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Australia will as an interim measure revert to the model of visiting accreditation for our diplomatic representation to Afghanistan, which we used from the opening of diplomatic relations in 1969 until 2006.

Funding support continues to reach travel agents to support their business operations thanks to the Government. Our Government has committed $258 million in direct support to travel agents through the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program.

Australia strongly condemns the Belarusian Government’s forced military interception of a commercial flight, and subsequent arrest of Belarusian opposition blogger and passenger, Roman Protasevich.

The Australian Government has been notified by Chinese authorities that Australian citizen, Dr Yang Hengjun (Dr Yang Jun), will face trial on 27 May 2021.

To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of diplomatic ties between Australia and the Philippines this year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has recorded a video message for Philippine-Australia Friendship Day on May 22.

Australia is working in partnership with our neighbours to minimise the impacts of COVID-19 on our region. We will support Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka in their response to increasing COVID-19 cases.

The Contribution of Indigenous Australia to our Diplomacy, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Frances Adamson, Charles Darwin University, 20 May 2021

Foreign Minister Payne congratulates Dr Robert Floyd on his election to lead the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) as its Executive Secretary.

Australia is supporting its Pacific and Timor-Leste partners as we work together to recover as a region from the health, economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women and the Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, pays tribute to the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Frances Adamson, who will end her term on 25 June 2021.

A new 10-year Partnership Arrangement with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) was signed today, reaffirming Australia’s commitment to practical programs supporting climate change resilience and adaptation, and protecting the vital ocean ecosystems of the Pacific.

Australia is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

Flights facilitated by the Australian Government to return Australians from India have resumed, with a plane departing Sydney today set to pick up passengers in New Delhi before arriving back in Darwin tomorrow.

The Morrison Government is providing an additional $65.5 million to help Australian businesses grow internationally.

The Australian Government is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank and unequivocally calls on all leaders to take immediate steps to halt violence, maintain restraint, and restore calm.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan discussed the global tourism recovery with other G20 tourism ministers at a virtual forum last night.

Australian travel agents, inbound tour operators and tour wholesalers can now apply to access an additional $130 million in support from the Australian Government.

An expert panel will provide advice to government and the tourism industry to help drive the economic recovery of the tourism industry and ensure its long-term success.

Peak bodies, business associations, industry organisations and other relevant stakeholders with an interest in enhancing trade and investment between Australia and Vietnam are invited to apply for funding under the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Grant Pilot Program.

The Australian Government is cutting more red tape to make it easier to do business, with the release of simpler rules to access export grants.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan joined his Indian and Japanese counterparts to launch a new initiative designed to boost supply chain resilience in our region.

The Australian Government has agreed a number of new measures to protect Australians from the increased risk of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, while also providing significant new support to assist the Indian Government in their humanitarian response.

Today, the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women brought together Pacific decision-makers, development partners, research institutions and civil society organisations to discuss the challenges to gender equality in the region, including the impacts of COVID-19 on women and girls.

DFAT joined the national conversation around women in workplaces in April, hosting a cross-sector panel discussion on how to encourage more women and girls to pursue technology-based careers.

New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, met in Wellington today for biannual Australia-New Zealand Foreign Minister Consultations.

The Government has secured an important victory for Australian wine makers, after reaching an agreement that will ensure Australian wines can access the Canadian market on a level playing field.

Australia’s Foreign Arrangements Scheme has been in operation since 10 December 2020. The Scheme requires states and territories, local governments and Australian public universities to notify the Minister for Foreign Affairs of existing and proposed foreign arrangements. I have so far been notified of over 1,000 arrangements.