David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Can the minister advise the Senate how Australia is increasing its Defence engagement with its partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific region?

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

I thank Senator Fawcett for his question. The strong cooperation that we have and that we continue to build with our partners and allies across the region is indeed crucial for the safety and security of Australia and for regional stability and security. This morning I spoke with my counterpart in Japan, Minister Onodera, to discuss North Korea's ongoing destabilising behaviour, including, of course, the claimed nuclear test yesterday and the 29 August ballistic missile launch that overflew northern Japan. Australia and Japan have both unequivocally condemned the illegal tests and call further upon all nations to implement the UN sanctions against North Korea. It is vital that Australia works cooperatively with its partners and allies to address the security challenges in the region. We are stronger when we work together. Indeed, in the 2016 Defence white paper we increased funding for international engagement because we recognised the need for our international partnerships to more effectively address common threats. It was never more important than we have seen in recent days and weeks.

As part of this increased engagement, in the last fortnight I visited Singapore, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to share our views on the region and discuss how we can work together to address them. Each of the ministers with whom I met also shared their concerns about not just the destabilising behaviour of North Korea but also the increasing challenges to the rules-based global order and the rising threat of terrorism in our region, well illustrated by the events in the southern Philippines. Australia is strongly committed to engaging broadly and to resisting efforts to undermine the current rules-based order. Only through unity of purpose on these issues will Australia and our partners be able to sustain a system that benefits all nations and builds both regional stability and prosperity.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Fawcett, is there a supplementary question?

David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister advise how else Australia is engaging with our region to improve security cooperation?

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

On Wednesday this week I will travel to the Republic of Korea to meet with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon and my counterpart, Song Young-moo, to discuss the security situation on the Korean peninsula and further strengthening the Australia-Republic of Korea defence relationship. It's fair to say that Australia and the Republic of Korea are close partners that share a long history of security cooperation. Like Australia, the ROK is a US ally, a democracy, a like-minded middle power and one of our key economic partners. While I am in Korea, I will deliver the key note address to the Seoul Defence Dialogue, which is a major regional forum for fostering understanding and cooperation on regional and global security issues. We strongly support South Korea and the United States as they work to address the challenges of North Korea. We are supportive of efforts to forge regional and multilateral solutions to enhance security across the Indo-Pacific and to deal with the threats that North Korea poses to regional security. (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Fawcett, is there a final supplementary question?

David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister advise how Australia is working with its partners in the region to combat the risk of terrorism?

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

Following my visit to North Korea, I am travelling to the Philippines to meet with my counterpart, Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The siege of Marawi city by Daesh-aligned forces poses a threat to Australia's interests and to regional security. As Daesh comes under increasing pressure in Iraq and Syria, Australia will continue to work with our partners and allies across the region to prevent foreign fighters from spreading their toxic extremism in the Indo-Pacific.

The Australian Defence Force's AP-3C Orion aircraft continues to provide surveillance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines as part of Australia's whole-of-government efforts to counterterrorism in the region. This contribution builds on our extensive program of regional counterterrorism capacity building and engagement—an issue on which I also engaged in my visits in the previous fortnight. We continue to review our commitment to the Philippines. We have offered further support, and this will form the basis of my discussions. (Time expired)