News, speeches and media

Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs announces the new appointments of Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consuls-General, who will advance Australia's interests abroad.

Australia will provide an additional $21.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the Middle East, including in response to the urgent and ongoing humanitarian needs resulting from the Hamas-Israel conflict.

This week the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, will travel to Jordan, Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the United Arab Emirates, to support international diplomatic efforts towards a durable peace in the Middle East.

Australia congratulates Dr Lai Ching-te on his victory in the Taiwan elections held on 13 January.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, has announced the Australia-Korea Foundation grant recipients for 2023-24. These grants strengthen collaboration between Australia and the Republic of Korea by advancing our shared political, economic, and social interests.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, has announced the Australia-Japan Foundation grant recipients for 2023-24. The Foundation advances Australia's foreign and trade policy interests with Japan by supporting partnerships in areas of shared interest and increasing Australian engagement with Japan.

Australia notes the results of the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on 7 January.

On the second anniversary of the closure of Stand News and arrest of its staff, whose prosecution remains ongoing, the members of the Media Freedom Coalition issued the following statement on media freedom in Hong Kong.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has established the Office for First Nations International Engagement to implement the Australian Government's commitment to embed First Nations perspectives into Australia's foreign policy.

Following the final negotiating round of 2023, at the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland, Members of the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce (JSI) have reached substantial conclusion of a number of global digital trade rules, covering three broad areas of (a) digital trade facilitation; (b) open digital environment; and (c) business and consumer trust. This marks a significant milestone in the JSI, which commenced negotiations in January 2019.