This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese attends Abe’s funeral, AUKUS leaders reflect on the one-year anniversary of the partnership, Albanese hosts Marape in Brisbane, Wong addresses UNGA and meets with Wang Yi in the margins, and more.

On 27 September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in Tokyo. He noted that Abe “was very well respected” and that “the Quad Leaders’ dialogue would not have occurred without his leadership.” Albanese further stated that “the relationship between Australia and Japan is so important and that importance is underlined by the fact that I am here as the sitting Prime Minister, even though our Parliament is sitting.” Former Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbott, and John Howard also attended the funeral with Albanese.

Albanese, alongside United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss and United States President Joe Biden issued a joint media statement on 24 September to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership. In their statement, the leaders noted that “the need for this partnership is as clear as it was a year ago” and that they “stand together to support an international order that respects human rights, the rule of law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes free from coercion.” They also acknowledged the “significant progress” made towards Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, as well as “trilateral cooperation on advanced capability initiatives”, including electronic warfare capabilities, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies.

On 25 September, Albanese hosted Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape in Australia for a Guest of Government visit. The leaders attended the Prime Minister’s XIII Rugby League Matches that evening. Albanese noted that “Australia’s relationship with Papua New Guinea is special and unique; we hold common history, values, and an enduring bond as neighbours, partners and friends.” He further stated that “we will continue to work closely with Papua New Guinea to deepen cooperation across all areas including sports, economic recovery, infrastructure, security and climate resilience.” On the same day, Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy announced $2.275 million in funding to be delivered through the PacificAus Sports program to support Papua New Guinea’s Rugby Football League.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 23 September. In her speech, she announced that Australia is seeking a seat on the UN Security Council for 2029-2030, along with “reform of the Security Council, with greater permanent representation for Africa, Latin America, and Asia, including India and Japan.” Wong reflected on her identity as an Australian born overseas, the importance of First Nations perspectives in Australian foreign policy, and Dr Herbert Evatt’s role in shaping the UN Charter. She noted that Australia is increasing its contribution to development assistance by “over a billion dollars” and is “designing a new development policy” over the coming months, “outlining how we will play our part in a world in an era of crisis.”

Wong and her Quad counterparts released a joint readout on 24 September following their meeting in New York on the sidelines of the 77^th United Nations General Assembly. The Foreign Ministers noted that they had “reaffirmed [their] conviction that international law, peace and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific”, and had reaffirmed their “unwavering support for ASEAN unity and centrality.” They also underscored the Quad’s “unwavering support for the UN Charter” and for “a UN that solves the consequential challenges of our time and safeguards our shared and interconnected resources.” Moreover, they committed to meeting in person for the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi in 2023.

On 23 September, Wong met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the margins of the 77^th session of the United Nations General Assembly. In a ministerial statement following the meeting, Wong noted that discussion had “reaffirmed the Australian Government’s view that it is in the interests of both sides to continue on the path of stabilising the relationship.” She noted that she had “expressed Australia’s views on a range of bilateral, trade, consular and human rights issues, as well as international and regional security” and that Australia “will seek to cooperate in areas of mutual benefit” and “remain[s] open to dialogue and engagement with China.”

Wong, alongside Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy, announced on 23 September that Australia will contribute $266 million over three years to the seventh replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Wong and Conroy noted that the new commitment is a “ten per cent increase on Australia’s previous contribution” and that the “record investment” will “support the Global Fund’s efforts to end HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria by 2030, including in the Indo-Pacific region.”

On 23 September, Wong issued a statement noting that Australia will double its contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the 2022-23 financial year, from $10 to $20 million Australian dollars. She noted that “until there is a just and sustainable solution to the refugee situation, UNRWA is the only organisation that has the mandate and central role to provide relief and social services to Palestinian refugees in the region.” Wong reaffirmed Australia’s support of “a two-state solution, in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist, in peace and security, within internationally recognised borders.”

Wong, alongside Minister for Finance and Minister for Women Katy Gallagher, issued a joint statement on 27 September condemning the “deadly and disproportionate use of force against protesters in Iran, following the tragic death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini.” Wong and Gallagher noted they had raised concerns “into the circumstances surrounding [Amini’s] death in custody with the Iranian Embassy in Canberra” and that Australia “supports calls led by the Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for a prompt, impartial investigation into Ms Amini’s death by an independent body.” They reaffirmed their concerns about Iran’s “significant discrimination against women” and “human rights violations”, as well as Australia’s “commit[ment] to promoting gender equality and women’s human rights, empowerment and ending violence against women and girls worldwide.”

On 23 September, Conroy and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts announced that Australia will provide $15 million in emergency assistance in response to the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa and Yemen. They noted that the region “is on the brink of widespread famine” and that the assistance will deliver food, water, and other essential support through the World Food Programme and the Emergency Action Alliance. Watts noted that “Australia wants to expand our engagement with African and Middle Eastern countries, including working with Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen to overcome the enormous food insecurity challenges they are grappling with.”

Conroy issued a statement alongside Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek on 28 September noting that Australia will assist twelve Pacific Island nations to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as required under the Montreal Protocol. Plibersek stated that “this is a significant opportunity to not only help our neighbours to better manage their environments, but also to increase the engagement of Australian businesses in our region and to share Australian expertise.” Conroy noted that “the Albanese Government is proud to be working with the Pacific family to respond to this important environmental challenge for all of us.”

On 28 September, Minister for Trade Don Farrell met with his Spanish counterpart, Maria Reyes Maroto Illera, “to advance the Australian-Spanish economic, trade and investment relationship.” The Foreign Ministers affirmed their commitment to concluding negotiations “on a high-quality and comprehensive trade agreement between Australia and the European Union as quickly as possible” and discussed their “shared interests in responding to economic coercion and acknowledged the importance of working with trusted partners to preserve the integrity of the multicultural system.”

Isabella Keith is a weekly columnist for Australian Outlook. She is also an undergraduate student at the Australian National University studying Law and Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Isabella’s research interests include international law and comparative constitutional law.

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