Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you to Senator Dolega. Earlier today, I joined the Prime Minister and colleagues in welcoming the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Her visit marks a defining moment in the bilateral relationship between Australia and the European Union.

In addition to the landmark free trade agreement Minister Farrell has outlined—and congratulations to Minister Farrell on his outstanding negotiations—I can indicate we have also announced the signing of a new security and defence partnership, and I want to thank my good friend European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas for our work together on this agreement. Through this partnership, Australia and the European Union will work to build our capacity and resilience to manage complex security threats and deepen cooperation to combat online radicalisation and to counter terrorism financing. We will also establish a new space security dialogue. This partnership underlines our shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and to keeping people safe. It underlines our support for global peace and security, including reaffirming our steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal full-scale invasion. Alongside the free trade agreement and the strategic defence partnership—which do matter to the country, Senator McKenzie—we are also commencing negotiations on association to Horizon Europe for 2027. Critical technologies are an economic asset and a strategic asset in the modern world, and these new agreements reflect Australia's commitment to work with the European Union and other partners to make this country more secure, to grow Australia's prosperity and to deliver for Australians in a less predictable world.