News, speeches and media

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.

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, 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.

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.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, has announced appointments of five highly qualified individuals to lead Australian posts in Alofi, Funafuti, Ottawa, Paris and Rome.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is calling for expressions of interest for membership of the inaugural pilot First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group.  

Today marks six years since the violence against Rohingya communities in Rakhine which resulted in mass displacement.

On 21 August, Australian officials held annual consular consultations with Chinese officials in Beijing.

Australia welcomes the final report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Japan’s proposed release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.