Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bilyk for her question and acknowledge her ongoing interest in foreign policy. I know she and others share the desire of mine and many others in this chamber to strengthen Australia's relationship in our region.

Japan is a special friend of Australia. They are our special strategic partner, and we are natural partners. There are many aspects to our partnership. Obviously trade, investment, defence and security ties bind us, but we also have a deep affinity between our peoples and, importantly, shared values which go to democracy, the defence of human rights, free trade and a rules based international order. There is already a very strong relationship with Japan. I would, in a moment of bipartisanship, recognise that both sides of politics—governments of both political persuasions—over the years have invested in the Australia-Japan relationship, and I acknowledge the work of Senator Payne in the period that she was foreign minister in that regard.

The government is working to make that relationship stronger. It was my privilege, and my first overseas trip as foreign minister, to attend the Quad Leaders' Summit. In the first five months of the government, the Prime Minister has met Prime Minister Kishida four times and I have met the foreign minister, Mr Hayashi, four times, as well as many other ministerial engagements. Importantly, over the weekend, at the annual Australia-Japan Leaders' Meeting in Perth, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister of Japan, Prime Minister Kishida, signed a renewed joint declaration on security cooperation. This is a declaration to chart a path for defence and security cooperation between Australia and Japan for the next decade.

Our strategic environment is changing, and our partnership has to evolve. (Time expired)