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

A foundation of regional stability is dependable and reliable security frameworks. It's the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the ANZUS treaty. The US has been a stabilising influence in the Pacific since 1945. The US-Australia alliance is our most important strategic defence relationship. It's central to our security and strategic arrangements. It's an alliance that is underpinned by the deepest levels of cooperation between our two nations, and it's been strengthened by consecutive governments over the past 75 years. It has historically recognised that an armed attack on Australia or the United States would be dangerous to both countries, and it obliges each country to consult if the security of the parties is threatened and to act to meet common danger in the event of an armed attack in the Pacific. We are committed to strengthening regional security frameworks to ensure that stability and prosperity is maintained. (Time expired)