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

This is a very important aspect of this challenge. As Daesh continues to be defeated in the Middle East, we see that foreign fighters will continue to return to our region. We're committed to working with our regional partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific to prevent that Daesh-inspired terrorism from gaining a foothold here. So, since June, Australia's been providing our Orion surveillance support to the Philippines following the seizure of Marawi by Daesh-aligned terrorists. I do welcome the announcement this week by my counterpart in the Philippines, Secretary of National Defense Lorenzana, that the city of Marawi is liberated, and I look forward to meeting him in the Philippines next week for the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus.

It's been a very difficult fight over the past five months and very challenging for the Philippines armed forces. The terrorists' actions have disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of civilians and destroyed a once thriving town. Our support to the Philippines represents Australia's commitment to working with our regional partners to address these terrorism challenges. (Time expired)