Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong and Treasurer, the Hon Jim Chalmers MP, have announced the appointment of the Hon Stephen Jones as Australia’s next Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, has announced appointments of five career diplomats to lead Australia’s posts in Copenhagen, Manila, Riyadh, Colombo and Ankara.

In accordance with section 15 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 (Cth) (the Act), the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has previously listed, by legislative instrument, certain persons and entities. These persons and entities are hereby given notice that these listings are being considered as to whether they will continue to have effect.

The situation in the region is constantly changing. A ceasefire is currently in place.

In the face of increasing contestation and the rollback of hard-won progress, we reaffirm our commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has by legislative instrument designated persons and entities for targeted financial sanctions and declared persons for travel bans (together, 'listed') in accordance with item 6A of regulation 6 (the Russia Criteria) of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (the Regulations).

Australia and China held the 8th bilateral High Level Talks on the Pacific on 25 June 2025.

On 19 May, AUSTRAC released ‘the second public consultation on new AML/CTF Rules’. Among the proposed changes include the requirement for reporting entities regulated by AUSTRAC to develop, maintain and comply with policies to ensure that they do not contravene targeted financial sanctions obligations, including asset freezing, in the provision of their designated services.

The Australian Government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and dependents and suspended operations at our Embassy in Tehran, based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has by legislative instrument designated 60 vessels as sanctioned vessels for Russia (‘listed’) in accordance with regulation 8 of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (the Regulations).

Australia and China held bilateral Senior Officials’ Talks in Canberra on 13 June.

In accordance with regulation 6A(4) of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has designated two individuals for targeted financial sanctions and declared them for travel bans.

The Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) has released 10 new guidance and advisory notes to assist the regulated community understand their sanctions obligations.

Alongside the OECD 2025 Ministerial Council Meeting held in Paris, Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Honourable Don Farrell and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, met on 3 June 2025, for the second meeting of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee.

Cairns Group Ministers and Senior Officials gathered on 2 June 2025 in Paris, where they reaffirmed their commitment to agriculture trade reform, sustainability of agri-food systems, and long-term global food security.

The report, which focuses primarily on unlawful DPRK-Russia military cooperation including arms transfers and Russia’s training of DPRK troops, consolidates information provided by MSMT participating states on violations and evasions of sanction measures stipulated in relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). The report also contains information provided by open source intelligence organizations.

We share Czechia’s deep concern about the increased scale and severity of malicious cyber activity by state-affiliated actors. 

The Australian Government is appalled at the sham trial and 13-year sentence given to Australian man Oscar Jenkins. As a full serving member of the regular Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war.

Joint media release of Australia, Canada and New Zealand on the occasion of the APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting, 11-12 May, Education Ministers Meeting, 13-14 May, and Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting, 15-16 May 2025 in Jeju, Republic of Korea.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council in Montreal has found Russia is responsible under international law for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on 17 July 2014.

As part of continuing improvements to PAX, the Australian Sanctions Office will be introducing a new application form for a sanctions permit. Due to technical limitations, information in applications that were submitted on the existing form cannot be carried across to the new form format. 

Today, the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Upgrade enters into force between Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos PDR, and Brunei Darussalam. 

Australian exporters and businesses are invited to attend a briefing on the US tariff changes tomorrow, Wednesday 9 April, at 11:00am AEST.

We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the peoples of Myanmar and Thailand following the earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is analysing the impacts of the tariffs on Australia and global trading partners announced today by United States President Donald Trump.

China’s military and coast guard exercises around Taiwan during 1-2 April were deeply concerning. Australia strongly opposes actions that increase the risk of accident, miscalculation and escalation.

The Australian Government is concerned by recent developments that destabilise Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national institutions and inflame ethnic tensions.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Singapore Department of Statistics (DOS) have produced a short article on their collaborative efforts on developing a set of common indicators to measure the green economy. This important collaboration is being advanced under the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement (GEA).

The MoU, which is an update of a previous MoU signed in 2001, includes a practical plan that outlines collaboration activities, including bilateral education visits and best practice inspection resources.

The Governments of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States held the inaugural meeting of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team Steering Committee.

On the anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s death, which followed years of persecution by the Kremlin, we again extend our condolences to his family

The Australian Government has commenced a comprehensive review of Australia's free trade agreements (FTAs) in Southeast Asia to identify opportunities to upgrade and ensure they continue to deliver for Australian businesses and investors.

Today marks four years since the Myanmar military regime overthrew the democratically elected government in Myanmar, creating one of the largest crises in the Indo-Pacific. 

Australia expresses its strong support for the European Union’s decision to impose cyber sanctions on three individuals linked to the Russian Armed Forces for their role in malicious cyber activity targeting Estonia.

Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have released a joint statement following Belarus’ sham presidential elections on 26 January 2025.

The G7 RRM notes recent statements by the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada exposing the ongoing covert activities of Russian state media outlet RT (formerly Russia Today) and the Social Design Agency (SDA). These statements reveal that the Kremlin has funded and directed covert efforts by these entities to subvert societies using global disinformation and influence campaigns.

The Australian Government is concerned by this week’s political developments in Venezuela, including with regard to the Presidential inauguration on 10 January 2025.

We are deeply concerned by the worsening human rights and humanitarian crisis across Myanmar.  This crisis is exacerbated by the escalation of violence, as well as intercommunal tension. The regime’s ongoing and violent repression of the people of Myanmar is unacceptable.

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, and the Hon Jeremiah Manele MP, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, released a Joint Statement announcing that Australia would provide a package of support to grow the size and capability of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

Australia will assume Chair of the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network (APSN) for 2025-2026, as announced at APSN’s 15th Annual General Meeting on 6 November in Krabi, Thailand.

The unimaginable hardship and horror the Syrian people have endured as a result of chemical weapons is front of mind for us today. We, the States Parties of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), need to ensure such devastation does not occur again.

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia and the Hon James Marape MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, have announced the entry into force of the Agreement Between the Government of Australia and The Government of Papua New Guinea on a Framework for Closer Security Relations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of Nauru, His Excellency David Waiau Ranibok Adeang MP, today signed the Nauru-Australia Treaty in Canberra. The Treaty builds on the deep foundations of Australia and Nauru’s bilateral relationship, and will help secure Nauru’s long-term economic resilience and security.

Australia and New Zealand are deeply concerned about the rise in Russian and DPRK 'shadow fleet activity' and its risks to the environment, maritime safety, international trade and security, and maritime law. Collective action is needed to address this risk.

The Australian Government has launched a new International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy to drive meaningful improvements for people with disability through Australia’s international engagement, including international development and humanitarian programs.

Australia will commit $56.8 million to a new program to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights in Southeast Asia, including working towards eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.

The 2023-24 Consular State of Play data has been published, showing the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has provided consular assistance and crisis support to more than 15,000 cases over 12 months.

On 12 November, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade launched the report ;Trading Nation: How Trade and Investment Contribute to Australian Prosperity'.

Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have finalised the elevation of our trade relationship with the signing of our Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Minister for Trade Senator the Hon Don Farrell joined the Minister for Foreign Trade, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Canberra to formalise the agreement.