Australia will invest $25.6 million over four years to assist young Australian professionals to gain real world experience at international institutions critical to Australia’s interests.

As ASEAN's oldest Dialogue Partner, Australia is a committed supporter of ASEAN centrality. We support an open, inclusive and prosperous region with ASEAN at its heart, consistent with the objectives and principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Australian farmers and businesses will get more opportunities to reach new markets and create more jobs through global trade as Peru becomes the eighth economy to bring the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) into force.

The Liberal and Nationals Government has committed a further $183.65 million to help maintain Australia's sovereign international aviation capability in readiness of international borders reopening.

A successful partnership between the Australian Government, Papua New Guinea’s Department of Health and Australian company Seqirus has been extended by two years to 2023, having helped to save more than 500 lives over the last three years.

The United States-Australia Alliance remains an anchor of stability, and the principals reaffirmed the Indo-Pacific is the focus of the Alliance.  This year as we celebrate our Alliance’s 70th anniversary we proudly reflect on the legacy of peace and prosperity to which our partnership has contributed.

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have agreed to the creation of an enhanced trilateral security partnership – AUKUS.

The Morrison Government is strengthening economic ties with Bangladesh, expanding trade opportunities in this fast-growing economy that will support jobs and business growth in both countries.

Australia’s role as a leading development partner in the Indo-Pacific region has been recognised in the Centre for Global Development’s 2021 Commitment to Development Index.

The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments will deliver a $52.8 million emergency support package to help businesses suffering due to the border restrictions with New South Wales.

The Morrison Government has today announced the first stage of reforms to Australia's labour mobility programs – the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) – which will make the programs easier to access, protect worker welfare, and better meet the workforce needs of regional Australia.

DFAT is seeking expressions of interest from Australian academics to be appointed as Visiting Legal Fellows.

Australia and India are working together to shape a safer and more secure global environment, launching the second round of the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership (AICCTP) grants program.

On 13 September 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Chung Eui-yong, and the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea, Suh Wook, hosted the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and the Australian Minister for Defence, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, in Seoul for the fifth Foreign and Defence Ministers’ 2+2 Meeting between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Australia

India’s Minister of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh, and Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, welcomed Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Minister for Defence, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, to New Delhi for the first India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogu

We, the Foreign Ministers of Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Turkey and Australia – comprising MIKTA – express our deep concern with the unfolding situation in Afghanistan and continue to monitor developments closely. We call for the full restoration of security and civil order and the overall protection of human life and property.

Joint Statement on the Seventh Indonesia-Australia Foreign and Defence Ministers 2+2 Meeting

We, the Foreign Ministers of Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Turkey and Australia – comprising MIKTA – are deeply saddened by the loss of life and damage caused by the forest fires and floods affecting various regions of Turkey and other parts of Europe in July and August 2021.

Australia's military air evacuation in Afghanistan was one of the largest humanitarian airlift operations in our history. Australia evacuated around 4,100 people on 32 flights from Kabul between 18 and 26 August.

Australia is investing in the security and wellbeing of our region by helping our Pacific neighbours identify and prevent money laundering.

Australia is delivering 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Indonesia, as part of our partnership with our close neighbour and strategic partner as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department wishes to clarify the headline and opening paragraph in the Australian Financial Review’s article titled “China’s coercion is a bigger threat than another 9/11: Sinodinos” published on 1 September AEST / 31 August EDT.

The 28th Papua New Guinea–Australia Ministerial Forum was held virtually on 2 September 2021. 

At the inaugural Australia-France Foreign and Defence (2+2) Ministerial Consultations, Ministers reflected on the strength of our strategic partnership, in promoting an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and a rules-based international order that underpins long-term security and prosperity.

We are all committed to ensuring that our citizens, nationals and residents, employees, Afghans who have worked with us and those who are at risk can continue to travel freely to destinations outside Afghanistan.

Singapore and Australia Ministers met virtually for the 12th meeting of the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) on 27 August 2021. 

The Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Australia and Hon’able Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Food and Consumer Affairs and Textiles, India held a video conference on 26 August 2021.

Australia will deliver more than 400,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Vietnam this week, as part of the ongoing commitment to work together with our close friend and strategic partner.

The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, and Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, and the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry, held the fifth Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting on 23 August 2021, amidst the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia has given regulatory approval for a commercial rocket launch to take place later this year from a newly licensed launch facility in South Australia.

We are deeply worried about Afghan women and girls, their rights to education, work and freedom of movement. We call on those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan to guarantee their protection.

Applications are now open for the reformed Export Market Development Grants (EMDG). 

As in any crisis situation, the Australian Government’s priority is to ensure the safety of its citizens. We have over 130 Australians in Afghanistan, working in the UN, NGOs, and elsewhere, and we are working to bring them and their families home.

Given the deteriorating security situation, we support, are working to secure, and call on all parties to respect and facilitate, the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country.

One million additional Pfizer doses will begin arriving in Australia from tonight after a significant agreement was reached with the Republic of Poland.

As we enter the 75th year of India's independence, we continue to build ongoing collaboration between Australia and India under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including through the Australia-India Council (AIC) grants.

The Australian Government remains seriously concerned about Ms Cheng's detention and welfare and has regularly raised these issues at senior levels.

On 12 August, senior officials from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Department of State met by videoconference to progress initiatives agreed by Quad leaders at their inaugural Summit in March and by Foreign Ministers at their third meeting in February.

The Australian Government will reform and modernise Australia’s autonomous sanctions laws to enable the imposition of targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against the perpetrators of egregious acts of international concern.

ASEAN and the ASEAN-led architecture are central to Australia’s positive vision for an inclusive, resilient and open Indo-Pacific.

Today I announce the appointment of Ms Rachael Moore as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Tonga.

Today I announce the appointment of Ms Kerin Ayyalaraju as Australia’s next Ambassador to Denmark. Ms Ayyalaraju will also be accredited to Iceland and Norway.

DFAT will host a webinar on its new Australian Climate Finance Partnership (ACFP) at 1000 AEST Tuesday 10 August 2021. The ACFP aims to accelerate private sector investment in low emission, climate-resilient solutions for the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Fiji’s transport and tourism sectors will receive a boost, with the signing of a $68 million financing package to Fiji Airports that will assist to improve air services and connectivity in the region.

Former Australian Prime Minister the Hon Tony Abbott AC will travel to India to progress our significant economic and trade relationship under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Australia will increase funding to the Global Partnership for Education to respond to the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s education across the Indo-Pacific. This includes a focus on girls.