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

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. Can the minister advise the Senate on the recent strengthening of Australia's ties with our ASEAN partners?

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

I thank Senator Fawcett for his question. The Australian government have been very strong in our support of an Indo-Pacific region that is stable, secure and prosperous and in which all states, large and small, are sovereign and resilient. ASEAN is at the heart of this vision, and Australia's relationship with ASEAN is fundamental to promoting it.

On 27 October we took a significant step forward in that relationship when, as part of the first annual ASEAN-Australia Summit, ASEAN leaders agreed to Australia's proposal to enhance relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This is a decision which reflects the strength of our ties as neighbours. Australia is ASEAN's first dialogue partner, and this is the first time that ASEAN's leaders have agreed to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership. Enhancing our relationship to a CSP positions that partnership for the future and helps us address complex and emerging regional challenges together. This is all about substance and deeper cooperation between ASEAN and Australia.

During my recent visit to South-East Asia, I met again with ASEAN ambassadors and the ASEAN secretary-general in Jakarta and had productive discussions on the implementation of the CSP. To support that cooperation, Australia will invest over $150 million into our cooperation with ASEAN, including a new Australia for ASEAN Futures Initiative, supporting projects that address complex challenges, including health security, terrorism and transnational crime, energy security, and promoting the circular economy and healthy oceans. There are also Australia for ASEAN Scholarships, to support those emerging leaders engaging here in Australia, and an Australia for ASEAN Digital Transformation and Futures Skills Initiative, which includes VET scholarships. These are measures which build on the $500 million investment in South-East Asia's recovery, which we announced last year in the context of COVID-19, and our very strong bilateral partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Fawcett, a supplementary question?

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

Minister, could you update the Senate on Australia's diplomatic engagement with South-East Asia and how we're working with them to address shared challenges such as maintaining an open and secure Indo-Pacific region, particularly regarding the crisis in Myanmar?

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

(—) (): I thank Senator Fawcett for his important supplementary question. Earlier this month I visited a number of South-East Asian countries, including Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia, and met with counterparts to further advance our relationships, including our cooperation on the region's important COVID-19 recovery. The range of issues we covered demonstrated the depth and breadth of these partnerships. They included the strategic environment and the situation in Myanmar, cyber, counterterrorism, mental health, maritime security, transitions to low-emissions technologies, trade and investment relationships, and women, peace and security. This was an opportunity to deepen our practical cooperation with Malaysia, to welcome Cambodia's role as ASEAN chair in 2022, to progress the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy and to reaffirm our strong links and commitment to a COVID vaccine partnership with Indonesia. (Time expired)

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Fawcett, a second supplementary question?

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

Minister, could you advise the Senate of Australia's continuing efforts to partner with our region on the COVID-19 recovery?

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

I thank Senator Fawcett again for his supplementary question. Australia has made a commitment to share 60 million COVID-19 vaccines with our Indo-Pacific partners by the end of 2022. That includes 20 million vaccines for Indonesia and 7.8 million for Vietnam. We have also committed $300 million in vaccine support to South-East Asia and a further $100 million to the Quad Vaccine Partnership. Already, we have shared more than 6.2 million doses with ASEAN countries, which includes 4.6 million doses to Indonesia and 1.5 million doses to Vietnam. We've also partnered with Indonesia to provide emergency COVID assistance, including oxygen-related and other medical supplies, support for Indonesia's health response, and community resilience through our work with NGOs, UN agencies, community organisations and provincial governments. We'll continue to partner with South-East Asia as we stand together to strengthen our region's health security through the recovery and beyond.