Today we are pleased to announce the appointments of the inaugural Director and Associate Director to the Pacific Fusion Centre.

Hon’ble Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Food and Consumer Affairs and Textiles, India and Hon’ble Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Australia held a video conference on 21 December 2021 to expedite the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations.

The Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) came into force on 21 December 2021, following the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Act 2021 commencing on 8 December 2021.

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, noting the outcome of the Legislative Council elections in Hong Kong, express their grave concern over the erosion of democratic elements of the Special Administrative Region's electoral system.

Australia acknowledges the peaceful conduct of New Caledonia’s third referendum on independence under the Noumea Accord, and the enduring importance of self-determination to New Caledonians.

Australia today signed a landmark free trade agreement with the United Kingdom that will make Australian exports to the UK cheaper, create new opportunities for workers, young people and businesses and further strengthen the special relationship between our two countries.

The Australian Government welcomes the decision of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on India’s price support for sugarcane and export subsidies for sugar.

Minister Payne and Minister Seselja announces an $85 million financial package to bolster Fiji’s economic recovery. This is an investment in Fiji’s future and reflects Australia and Fiji’s shared commitment to economic resilience, health security and stability in our region.

Australia, Japan, and the United States are committed to working in partnership with the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, and Nauru to improve internet connectivity to these three Pacific nations by providing funding to build a new undersea cable.

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs will visit the United Kingdom to attend the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting in Liverpool.

The Government is backing Australia to become a world leader in the processing and export of critical minerals, laying the groundwork for new jobs in rural and regional Australia.

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs will visit Greece, Belgium and Austria this week to advance our relationships with our close partners, discuss shared values, and further common interests including the prosperity and security of the Indo-Pacific region.

We, Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, are profoundly concerned by recent reports of the Ethiopian government’s detention of large numbers of Ethiopian citizens on the basis of their ethnicity and without charge.

We are deeply concerned by reports of summary killings and enforced disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces as documented by Human Rights Watch and others.

New rules agreed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) will reduce red tape and regulatory costs for Australian services exporters, making it easier for Australian businesses to export to the world

Minister Payne will visit Palau on December 2 to 4 to advance our two countries’ strong and growing relationship, and our shared support for an open, resilient and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

Australia has a strong history of promoting and protecting human rights globally, supporting the international rules-based order, and acting in the interests of international peace and security.

Mr Peter Cai has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

Australians can continue to access half-price airfares this summer under the Government’s cheap flights initiative, boosting airlines and tourism operators while accelerating Australia’s economic recovery.

On the basis of medical advice provided by the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, Professor Paul Kelly, the National Security Committee has taken the necessary and temporary decision to pause the next step to safely reopen Australia to international skilled and student cohorts, as well as humanitarian, working holiday maker and provisional family visa holders from 1 December until 15 December.

It is not correct to say that the Government is blocking or overriding a climate change MOU. The Foreign Relations Act 2020 automatically invalidates arrangements if states or territories do not correctly notify the Commonwealth of them. This is what happened in this instance. The states are welcome to reapply correctly, in line with the Act, as they do for many other arrangements.

Australia and Papua New Guinea are concerned about the violent turn that protests have taken in Honiara and jointly emphasise the importance of resolving tensions peacefully.

We reiterate our grave concern over reports of ongoing human rights violations and abuses by the Myanmar Security Forces across the country, including credible reports of sexual violence and torture, especially in Chin State, Sagaing Region and Magwe Region.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan will travel to Geneva, Switzerland to lead Australia’s delegation to the 12th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC12).

We have been watching the ongoing protests in Honiara with concern. We continue to call for calm, for an end to any further violence and emphasise the importance of resolving tensions peacefully.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan has praised all the businesses involved in the Australian Export Awards for their contribution to supporting jobs, the economy and local communities.

Australian exporters are looking to target new markets, including the US, the UK, India and Indonesia – where Australia already has, or is working towards, free trade agreements, according to Australia’s 2021 International Business Survey published today.

Minister Payne and Minister Seselja announces the next stage of reforms to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, providing a single, streamlined program that will benefit employers, workers, and our Pacific family.

The Australian Government is very concerned by incidents last week where China’s coast guard blocked and used water cannons against Philippine vessels seeking to resupply Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

Australia continues to take further steps to safely reopen to the world, with additional changes to our international border arrangements coming into effect on 1 December.

The Australian Government is proud to join the international United Kingdom-led statement condemning the use of sexual violence and rape as weapons of war.

On 15 November 2021 the Russian Defence Ministry conducted a destructive test of an anti-satellite weapon. This test created over 1500 pieces of long-lived debris in space that now threaten numerous satellites and the International Space Station.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment Dan Tehan met today in Singapore during the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. They discussed a range of topics, including promoting the green economy and next steps on building resilient supply chains in the Indo-Pacific.

Meeting to discuss opportunities to expand economic cooperation among like-minded partners in the Indo- Pacific region in an open and inclusive manner, and the need to strengthen economic ties, improve connectivity, address climate change challenges, and support post-pandemic economic recovery.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan will travel to Singapore to strengthen Australia’s trading and tourism relationships and promote investment in Australia.

Australia is strengthening our technology partnership with India through the establishment of a new Consulate-General in Bengaluru and a Centre of Excellence for Critical and Emerging Technology Policy, also to be based in India.

As part of Australia’s ongoing commitment to build strong people-to-people and institutional links with Indonesia, Minister Payne is pleased to announce that 13 recipients will share in $460,000 through the 2021-22 Australia-Indonesia Institute grants program.

The first Pacific workers under the Government’s new Pacific Pathways Plan (PPP) have arrived in Australia to fill critical workforce gaps immediately without the need for quarantine.

Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp redevelopment is nearing completion and will be operational in early 2022.

Australia welcomes the finalisation of the Paris Rulebook at COP26 in Glasgow. 

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Aotearoa New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Local Government and Associate Minister for Māori Development, Hon Nanaia Mahuta, have today held the biannual Australia-New Zealand Foreign Minister Consultations.

Australia will share a further 7.5 million COVID-19 doses with our good friend and partner Indonesia as we deepen our cooperation on fostering a shared regional recovery from the pandemic.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan has congratulated the 89 businesses announced today as finalists in this year’s Australian Export Awards.

Australia is increasing support to our partners Vietnam in their COVID-19 response by sharing an additional 2.7 million vaccine doses, continuing the Government’s investment in our regional health security.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women of Australia, Senator the Hon. Marise Payne, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, the Hon. Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, co‑chaired the 4th Malaysia-Australia Annual Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.