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

I thank Senator Fawcett for his question. The strong cooperation that we have and that we continue to build with our partners and allies across the region is indeed crucial for the safety and security of Australia and for regional stability and security. This morning I spoke with my counterpart in Japan, Minister Onodera, to discuss North Korea's ongoing destabilising behaviour, including, of course, the claimed nuclear test yesterday and the 29 August ballistic missile launch that overflew northern Japan. Australia and Japan have both unequivocally condemned the illegal tests and call further upon all nations to implement the UN sanctions against North Korea. It is vital that Australia works cooperatively with its partners and allies to address the security challenges in the region. We are stronger when we work together. Indeed, in the 2016 Defence white paper we increased funding for international engagement because we recognised the need for our international partnerships to more effectively address common threats. It was never more important than we have seen in recent days and weeks.

As part of this increased engagement, in the last fortnight I visited Singapore, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to share our views on the region and discuss how we can work together to address them. Each of the ministers with whom I met also shared their concerns about not just the destabilising behaviour of North Korea but also the increasing challenges to the rules-based global order and the rising threat of terrorism in our region, well illustrated by the events in the southern Philippines. Australia is strongly committed to engaging broadly and to resisting efforts to undermine the current rules-based order. Only through unity of purpose on these issues will Australia and our partners be able to sustain a system that benefits all nations and builds both regional stability and prosperity.