International relations

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.

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs met virtually with Pacific counterparts for the annual Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers’ meeting. This important discussion, chaired by Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe, focused on how our region is working together in responding to COVID-19 and strengthening our shared economic recovery.

On 21 July, Australia and the Republic of Korea held the seventh Australia-ROK Joint Economic Committee meeting via videolink. This was the first such meeting since both sides agreed to re-energise the forum at the 2019 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers Meeting.

This year, Governments, youth and civil society gathered at the Generation Equality Forum convened by UN Women, France and Mexico to announce concrete commitments for achieving gender equality by 2030 and reaffirming that women’s and girls’ rights are universal.