Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

May I thank Senator Fawcett for his question and also take this opportunity to very briefly acknowledge the deep and longstanding interest of our colleague Senator Back, who has today announced his retirement from this place, in matters of defence. Your contribution, Senator Back, will be surely sorely missed.

Thank you, Senator Fawcett. I can indicate that during the recent AUSMIN talks in Sydney last week we of course affirmed that our alliance with the United States is at the core of our defence and security arrangements. We in Australia are of course responsible for our own security and our own prosperity; there is no higher task for government. But we are stronger when we work with our partners and our allies to address these challenges. The strength of our alliance with the United States is based on shared values, including our strong commitment to the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. Indeed, as the Prime Minister said in his statement on national security today, our regional strategic environment is more uncertain than it has been in 75 years.

These commitments and shared values were underscored during the AUSMIN meeting, which was held, as I said, in Sydney last week—the first under the new US administration. It is our premier forum for discussing bilateral foreign affairs, defence and strategic issues. Our recent meeting was very timely, given the dynamic strategic environment in which we find ourselves in this region and more broadly. The meeting with foreign minister, Julie Bishop, US Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis, and US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, again underscored the strength and breadth of our unique relationship as we committed to further developing our interoperability, continuing our close collaboration across a range of key foreign affairs and defence issues.

The Secretary for Defense and I also focused on addressing the rising threat of violent extremism in our region. It is an issue I have raised repeatedly at each counter-Daesh coalition ministers meeting, chaired by the US Secretary of Defense, since I was appointed in this role. (Time expired)