News

“We express our unwavering support for APEC and are fully committed to helping Thailand, as APEC Chair in 2022, deliver a successful host year. 

On 6 May, Australian and Chinese officials held bilateral virtual talks on the Pacific.

The 13th meeting of the India-Australia Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in person on 4 May, 2022.

The First RCEP Joint Committee (RJC) met virtually on 26-27 April 2022, co-chaired by Indonesia and New Zealand. Australia’s delegation was led by Ms Juliana Nam, Assistant Secretary, FTA Policy and Implementation Branch, Regional Trade Agreements Division.

The Australian Government has imposed targeted financial sanctions on a further 147 individuals in response to Russia’s illegal war, comprising Russian senators and family members of President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov.

Australia is deeply disappointed by the signing of a security cooperation agreement between Solomon Islands and China, announced by the Chinese Government.

The federal election has been announced and will be held on 21 May 2022. If you’ll be overseas on this date, it’s important that you plan ahead to ensure your vote is counted.

Further information on options available to Australians voters overseas is available on the Australian Electoral Commission and Smartraveller websites

Australia will provide $2.5 million to boost food security in Sri Lanka through the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Australian Government and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu have reached an important milestone, signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the long-term operation of the Pacific Fusion Centre in Port Vila.

Australia will partner with the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence to help strengthen NATO's capacity to address hybrid threats and to counter disinformation.