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

Further to my previous response: as Daesh is defeated in Iraq and Syria, the terrorist threat in our region is growing because terrorist fighters seek to return to the Indo-Pacific. So we recognise that effective cooperation is vital to defeat that threat. The ADF has an extensive program of counterterrorism engagement and capacity-building activities with our regional partners, including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

We are also a strong contributor, through Defence, to the regional frameworks in our region that foster cooperation on counterterrorism and other shared challenges. Australia will continue to work closely with our regional partners and allies to help to counter the terrorist threat. Indeed, in the next week, I look forward to the opportunity to visit Singapore, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to consult with my counterparts and to focus on those key regional relationships.