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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.

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.