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

Again, I thank Senator Fawcett for that very important aspect of this question. Australia's alliance with the United States is clearly our most important defence relationship, and it remains central to our strategic and security arrangements. Australia has benefited from more than 70 years of peace and stability in our region, underpinned by the strong US role in the region. What the Force Posture Initiatives do is to strengthen the ability of Australia and the United States to work together in the interests of continuing regional peace and stability, and also afford new opportunities for engagement with regional partners, many of which are involved in increasingly modernising their own militaries. The initiatives will expand our cooperation, increase opportunities for combined training and exercises, and deepen the interoperability of our armed forces. They also position both nations to respond to contingencies in the region, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. They are a tangible demonstration of Australia's support for the US rebalance to the Indo-Pacific— (Time expired)