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The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, will today host Papua New Guinea Defence Minister, the Hon Win Bakri Daki MP, for the Australia-Papua New Guinea Defence Ministers’ Meeting. Australia and Papua New Guinea share a unique defence relationship that is broad and deep, underpinned by the close ties between our people.

This week, we will travel to Papua New Guinea to attend the 30th Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum. As neighbours, friends and equals, the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea is more important than ever. The Ministerial Forum is an opportunity for Ministers from a range of key policy areas to advance our partnership and our shared priorities. This includes our economic relationship, strategic cooperation for security and stability, and development.

SUBJECTS: Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting; Remembrance Day

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, will host the Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Hon Gilberto C Teodoro Jr, for the inaugural Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Canberra on 12 November.  The Australia-Philippines relationship is longstanding, built on cooperation and mutual trust. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C Teodoro Jr held the inaugural Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 12 November 2024 in Canberra, Australia. The principals underscored their commitment to deepening political and strategic cooperation as a key pillar of the Australia‑Philippines Strategic Partnership.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will host their Republic of Korea (ROK) counterparts for the Australia-ROK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Melbourne on 1 May 2024.

1. On 10 December 2019, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, and Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds, hosted the Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kang Kyung-wha, and Minister of National Defense, Jeong Kyeong-doo, in Sydney for the fourth Australia-ROK Foreign and Defence Ministers’ 2+2 Meeting.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, will travel to the United Kingdom on 10 July 2018 to take part in the Defence Industry Dialogue with the United Kingdom. The Dialogue is an important platform to discuss deeper defence industry collaboration and ways in which Australia and the United Kingdom can collectively enhance defence capability. As part of the Dialogue, Minister Pyne will meet with United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP and the United Kingdom Minister for Defence Procurement, Mr Guto Bebb MP.

  The Australian Government will host United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP and Secretary of State for Defence Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon MP in Sydney on Wednesday 26 July and Thursday 27 July 2017 for the 9th annual Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN).

Joint media release:  Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Minister for Women and Equalities the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP and Secretary of State for Defence Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP will visit Australia for Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) on 21 January.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said the Australia-US Alliance continues to go from strength to strength, following a successful visit to the United States. Minister Payne travelled to Honolulu and Washington DC from 18-22 September, where she met with senior members of the Trump Administration, including US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. At their 20 September meeting in Washington DC, Minister Payne and Secretary Mattis discussed global security threats and challenges, as well as priorities for the Alliance.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong will welcome US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to Brisbane for the 33rd Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) next week. The United States is Australia's vital security ally and our closest global partner. AUSMIN is the primary forum at which Australia and the United States set the strategic direction for our Alliance.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, will travel to the United States this week for the 34th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on 6 August in Annapolis, Maryland. They will join their counterparts, US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, and US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III. The United States is Australia’s closest ally and our principal security partner.

  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will travel to Washington DC for the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on 8 December.  They will meet with their counterparts US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  

Joint transcript

*******Check against delivery******* Good evening. Thanks Gerard, for your introduction and your very warm welcome here again to the Sydney Institute. Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respects to their elders past and present. To the very many distinguished guests who are here this evening, it’s wonderful to see such a great roll-up to the Sydney Institute.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today congratulated Prince Alfred College’s ‘Team Triton’ for being chosen to represent Australia at the SUBS in Schools Technology Challenge in London to be launched next month. As participants in Australia’s SUBS in Schools Technology Challenge, Team Triton, designed, manufactured and navigated a remotely-operated under water vehicle (ROV) in the ROV class of the challenge.

This week, we mark the return of the final Australian members deployed under the Solomons International Assistance Force (SIAF), after supporting the successful delivery of the 2023 Pacific Games and 2024 Joint Elections.  The SIAF was established after the Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force responded within 24 hours to Solomon Islands’ call for support in 2021. 

Joint media release Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme & Minister for Government Services, the Hon Stuart Robert MP The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) have released new Cloud Security Guidance to support the secure adoption of cloud services across government and industry.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced a record number of Australian defence industry companies would be showcased at the Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition (DSEI) in London as part of the Centre for Defence Industry Capability’s Team Defence Australia (TDA) delegation. Minister Pyne announced a record 45 businesses would exhibit their products on the TDA stand, with a further five businesses exhibiting independently.

Australia’s role in the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission is evolving in recognition of progress made by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). Around 100 troops from the Train, Advise and Assist Command – Air (TAAC-Air), Command Staff Academy, Sergeant Major’s Academy and national support functions, will return to Australia. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the success of these training efforts was a credit to the high quality and expertise of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

Australia’s F-35A Lightning II capability has taken a step forward with the opening of the Australian and United Kingdom (UK) F-35 Reprogramming Laboratory.Located at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the Reprogramming Laboratory is a joint partnership between Australia and the UK. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said this new capability will enable the F-35 to be a “smart” aircraft.

Joint statement: Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety & Multicultural Affairs, Member for La Trobe, the Hon Jason Wood MP A Melbourne company has won an historic $35 million contract to refurbish and upgrade the Australian Defence Force’s combat helmets. The five-year deal with Aquaterro will create 10 highly skilled, technical jobs at the company in Melbourne’s south-east. It is the first time the tiered combat helmet built by United States company Team Wendy has been refurbished outside the US.

The Albanese Government has unveiled Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft System – ‘AUS 1’ – to be operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). 

Joint media release Florence Parly, Minister of Defence of the French Republic   Today we have reviewed the implementation of the Strategic Partnering Agreement that underpins Australia’s Future Submarine Program. Both of us reaffirmed our full commitment to the program, in particular with respect to schedule and Australian Industry Capability.

Joint Ministerial statement Florence Parly, Minister of Defence of the French Republic   Today we have reviewed the implementation of the Strategic Partnering Agreement that underpins Australia’s Future Submarine Program. Both of us reaffirmed our full commitment to the program, in particular with respect to schedule and Australian Industry Capability.

The closing ceremony for Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 has been held in the Port of Brisbane today, marking the conclusion of Australia’s largest bilateral defence exercise with the United States. Over 1,000 personnel embarked on the USS Wasp to formally close the exercise and farewell those who participated over the past two weeks.  

The Albanese Government continues its steadfast support for Ukraine, with the announcement of Australia’s largest single military assistance package, worth nearly $250 million. At the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, met with Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelenskyy alongside Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) partners, where he reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to standing with Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion. 

Defence maritime capability and industry jobs will be bolstered in Australia’s Top End with a new contract to deliver a strategically important defence maintenance hub. NORSTA North Pty Ltd has been awarded the Regional Maintenance Provider contract for a Regional Maintenance Centre, known as RMC North, located in Darwin. The five-year $150 million contract is expected to create up to 37 direct defence industry jobs. The contract will also support a broader industrial ship repair workforce of approximately 56 people in the region.