Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong. We're seeing a global landscape defined by increasing economic and geostrategic instability. How is the Albanese Labor government deepening our relationship with the European Union to secure Australia's interests now and into the future?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to 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.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Dolega, first supplementary?

Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Minister, for that comprehensive answer. What is the significance of the three announcements today, and why is it important to partner with the EU across both economic and security domains?

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

Thank you to Senator Dolega for that question. It's a very important point, and that's why the three initiatives announced today—the free trade agreement, the security and defence partnership, and our intention to join Horizon Europe, the world's largest research and innovation fund—are each individually important but, more importantly, as a package, they are greater than the sum of their parts. There is a multiplier effect, because deeper trade, research, and innovation integration and closer security ties turbocharge our relationship with Europe. Driving this cooperation in emerging and critical technologies will also enable greater productivity and innovation and strengthen Australia's national security. As I said earlier, critical technologies are both an economic and a strategic asset. This is what we are doing to secure Australia's place in the world today and into the future.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Dolega, second supplementary?

Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's never been more important to work together with traditional and new partners to safeguard against future uncertainty. How does Australia's partnering more closely with the EU and middle powers help deliver on our national interest?

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

Since we came to office, we have been working to make Australia more secure in a world that is much less predictable, and at the heart of that effort is strengthening and diversifying our relationships—what I've described as 'amplified middle-power diplomacy'. In these uncertain times, we work to shape a world where no country dominates and no country is dominated. We are pursuing new alignments to better secure our collective security and prosperity, as we have seen this month with Europe and with Canada. Our deepening partnership with the European Union across economics, security, defence, research and innovation demonstrates to Australians, to our region and to the world that, when we can all work together, we all benefit. The coalition might be focused on internal matters about who they should be swapping preferences with and how they outflank One Nation, but Labor and this government are delivering for Australians in a less predictable world.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I advise the chamber that Senator Lambie has given her question to Senator Payman.