This week in Australian foreign affairs: New Zealand PM Luxon in Australia; Marles announces new agreements with AUKUS; Adelaide to host the Australia-China High Level Dialogue; recipients of the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program announced, and more.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on 12 August that Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon will visit Australia from 15–16 August to attend the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting. “The leaders will discuss modernising our economic relationship, strengthening our Alliance and broader security partnership, and supporting our Pacific partners,” the statement reads. This will be Luxon’s third trip to Australia as prime minister.

On 12 August, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles announced in a media statement that Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) reached another significant AUKUS milestone. The AUKUS partners signed an agreement that will “enable the UK and the US to transfer submarine-specific material and equipment for Australia’s future nuclear‑powered submarines.” According to the statement “[i]t will also allow the continued communication and exchange of information related to nuclear-powered submarines among AUKUS partners.” AUKUS submarines will be built at Osborne in South Australia, “using sealed, welded power units that will not require refuelling over the life cycle of the submarine.” The agreement will replace the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information Agreement, which entered into force in 2022.

In a media release on 16 August, Marles also announced that Australia, the UK, and the US have “finalised the establishment of an export licence-free environment, unlocking billions of dollars of investment and cutting red tape for Australian industry and our AUKUS partners.” From September onwards, AUKUS partners will operate in an export licence-free environment, significantly boosting defence trade and innovation. The “new licence-free environment removes barriers to trade and collaboration and reduces costs to local businesses, supporting industry, higher education and research sectors in all three nations.” Key changes to export control mechanisms will enable: “Licence-free trade for over 70 per cent of defence exports from the US to Australia that are subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Licence-free trade for over 80 per cent of defence trade from the US to Australia that are subject to Export Administration Regulations. The elimination of around 900 export permits required under the previous export controls from Australia to the US and UK valued at $5 billion per year. The removal of approximately 200 export permits required for defence exports from the UK to Australia valued at over $129 million per year.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong announced on 15 August that Australia will host the Australia-China High Level Dialogue this week, bringing together representatives from industry, government, academia, media, and the arts. The Dialogue will be co-hosted by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and the Chinese People’s Institute for Foreign Affairs. The dialogue will be co-chaired by former trade minister Dr Craig Emerson, as head of the Australian delegation. Joining Emerson is Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ms Jan Adams AO PSM, Australia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Mr Scott Dewar, and former minister for foreign affairs Julie Bishop. China’s delegation will be led by Mr Wang Chao, President of the Chinese People’s Institute for Foreign Affairs (CPIFA). This will be the eighth time Australia and China meet for the high level dialogue.

On 11 August, Wong announced the recipients of the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program for 2023-24, which promotes Australia’s vibrant creative sector and First Nations experience and expertise internationally.  The program aims to “deepen bilateral partnerships, strengthen Australia’s reputation as a modern, diverse nation, and build people to people links internationally.” There were 11 successful grantees, and include: “A Pacific Tour of Burrbgaja Yalirra 2 by dance company Marrugeku to build connections through workshops and tell histories of migration, relocation, cultural adaption and survival; Ngulmiya Nundhirribala will perform and collaborate with leading Indonesian musicians in Jakarta, Ubud and Makassar; Australian filmmakers will be able to show their work in Germany, Denmark and Iceland, at the Down Under Film Festival; Outdoor screen projections of urban ecological futures by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology will feature in Hong Kong; and Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands artists and educators DEM MOB spoke and performed at the 2024 International Indigenous Summit in Toronto, Canada in June.” According to the statement, 229 applications were received, the highest number of applications in the program’s history.

Australia and New Zealand agreed to invest a combined AUD$42.6 million (NZD47.5 million) in the Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program to assist Pacific and Timor-Leste partners prepare for and respond to disasters. The announcement on 9 August by Wong and New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Winston Peters will support “14 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to store and manage disaster relief supplies required in the first 48 hours after a humanitarian emergency, which is the critical window to save lives.” The program seeks to strengthen local resilience, build regional expertise and supply chains, and empower community-driven preparedness and response actions.

On 13 August, Minister for Trade and Tourism, and Special Minister of State Don Farrell released a statement announcing grant guidelines for the Round 4 of the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program, along with new free export readiness training. “The EMDG program helps Australian businesses grow, market and promote their top-quality goods and services to the world, and has supported exporters for almost 50 years.” Larger grants between $20,000 to $80,000 will be made available for eligible Australian businesses from to support their export goals.

Dr Adam Bartley is the managing editor for AIIA’s Australian Outlook and weekly columnist for The Week in Australian Foreign Affairs. He is a former Fulbright Scholar and resident fellow at the Elliot School for International Affairs, the George Washington University. Adam also has positions as post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation RMIT University  and as program manager of the AI Trilateral Experts Group. He can be found on Twitter here.

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