David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

May I thank Senator Fawcett for the question and may I congratulate you, Mr President, on your election as President of the Senate. During the recent 2+2 defence and foreign ministers meeting in Japan, foreign minister Bishop and I discussed proposals to enhance our bilateral defence cooperation with our Japanese counterparts. I also discussed this with Minister Onodera at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in May of this year. I am very pleased to inform the Senate that today, as a result of those discussions, Prime Minister Abbott and Japanese Prime Minister Abe will sign an agreement between the government of Australia and the government of Japan concerning the transfer of defence equipment and technology. This is an important milestone in the Australia-Japan defence relationship and an integral part of broader efforts to strengthen our strategic relationship. It has its foundations in the 2007 joint declaration on security cooperation and the 2012 joint statement on cooperating for peace and stability: a common vision and objectives.

The Australian Defence Force has worked well with Japan in difficult environments overseas during recent years. We have been together in Cambodia, East Timor and Iraq, and of course we are currently both engaged in South Sudan. This agreement will pave the way for our two nations to work more closely to identify potential areas of future research interest and mutual benefit in the fields of defence science, technology and equipment. Japan has been an important contributor to peace and stability in our region for many decades. His Excellency Shinzo Abe's address to a joint sitting of parliament today is a historic moment for both of our nations. The Australian government warmly welcomes this further strengthening of our very important defence relationship with Japan.