International relations

As part of the Albanese Government's commitment to standing by those who helped Australia, today we announce Dr Vivienne Thom AM will lead an Independent Review into the Afghan Locally Engaged Employee (LEE) program.

As part of the Albanese Government's commitment to supporting the humanitarian response in Myanmar and Bangladesh, Australia will provide $135 million in2022-23 to assist with the delivery of life-saving food, water and shelter through partner organisations.

An additional 3 million doses of foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine doses supplied by the Australian Government have arrived in Indonesia.

Minister Wong, Minister Bowen and Minister Conroy announce the appointment of Ms Kristin Tilley as Australia’s Ambassador for Climate Change.

We [Canada, Australia, and New Zealand] thank the Council for today’s meeting, and Professor Rehman, Dr Ebadi, and Ms Boniadi for their insightful briefings. We remain deeply concerned with the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.

Today The Hon Tim Watts MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs launched DFAT’s Consular State of Play 2021-22. This publication is a snapshot of consular services provided to Australians overseas during the past financial year.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong will travel to Cook Islands, Niue and French Polynesia, to further strengthen Australia’s deep ties with our Pacific partners, and demonstrate the Government’s commitment to the Pacific as a whole.

Australia will provide $43.55 million over five years to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). This funding will support the Initiative’s Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026.

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s economic recovery and climate resilience with a $72 million financing package, which is Australia’s first sovereign loan to Fiji.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP will travel to Papua New Guinea to deepen the relationship between our nations. This builds on the high tempo of ministerial engagements since elections in both our countries.