Zhi Soon
Banks · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Let's be clear: if these companies want to do business in Australia, they must obey Australian laws. It is important to note that the legislation passed by the parliament to institute this ban was the beginning and not the end of this reform. The same is true of the legislation passed yesterday.”
“As the compliance update demonstrates, the need exists, and the legislation passed by this House earlier this week is the consequence of big tech failing to respect Australian law and uphold the standards Australians expect.”
“They are worried about the type of content that is out there online that their children could inadvertently be exposed to. They want to see greater protections for their children online. Keeping Australians safe online, particularly children and young people, is a top priority for this government.”
“Unfortunately, though, in March of this year the eSafety Commissioner published their first compliance update, which contained some unwelcome news. The commissioner had serious concerns about compliance and the practices of some of the platforms in the tech industry.”
“I rise to support this profoundly significant matter of public importance put forward by my friend the member for Newcastle—not least because this is an issue that matters to so many people across our great country but also because it matters to so many parents in my electorate of Banks.”
“A number of locals in the seat of Banks were recognised as part of the King's Birthday Honours, and I want to acknowledge them here. Mark Connell of Oatley was awarded an OAM for services to youth through scouting, and, as an integral part of the 1st Oatley Bay Sea Scouts, he has contributed to the outdoor skills and confidence of countle…”
The complete record
Every one of 303 lines we hold for Zhi Soon, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 7.
“Let's be clear: if these companies want to do business in Australia, they must obey Australian laws. It is important to note that the legislation passed by the parliament to institute this ban was the beginning and not the end of this reform. The same is true of the legislation passed yesterday. Being the first in the world to institute these reforms means we have to create our own road map to success. Taking on tech giants means we have to be responsive. We have to be adaptable. This is exactly what we are doing. When the need to hold big tech accountable and keep our children safe online arises, this government is not afraid to take action—unlike some others. It is inexplicable that those opposite are seeking to delay the important legislation not by days or by hours but by months.”
“As the compliance update demonstrates, the need exists, and the legislation passed by this House earlier this week is the consequence of big tech failing to respect Australian law and uphold the standards Australians expect. The legislation ensures that eSafety has every tool available, with stronger information-gathering powers, so that big tech can't avoid providing the information needed to assess important compliance. Additionally, the bill doubles the maximum civil penalty for noncompliance with minimum-age obligations to $99 million, strengthening deterrence and aligning it with recent changes to other consumer laws. The compliance update shows that big tech is trying to get away with doing the bare minimum and failing to meet their obligations to our communities.”
“Unfortunately, though, in March of this year the eSafety Commissioner published their first compliance update, which contained some unwelcome news. The commissioner had serious concerns about compliance and the practices of some of the platforms in the tech industry. The eSafety Commissioner made it very clear that, while they are actively investigating the compliance of five different platforms, when considering potential enforcement action in response to this noncompliance they required stronger investigation powers. The government made it clear at the outset that we would not hesitate to take further action to ensure the effectiveness of these reforms and to hold big tech to account if we needed to, and this is what we are trying to do.”
“They are worried about the type of content that is out there online that their children could inadvertently be exposed to. They want to see greater protections for their children online. Keeping Australians safe online, particularly children and young people, is a top priority for this government. Our social media ban for under-16s is aimed at delivering the protection our parents want to see and our young people need. It is a world-first initiative and it is lighting the way for other countries, with Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and the United Kingdom among 20 other countries implementing legislation or announcing plans to follow Australia's lead. We have seen progress. Already more than five million social media accounts have been removed, deactivated or restricted.”
“I rise to support this profoundly significant matter of public importance put forward by my friend the member for Newcastle—not least because this is an issue that matters to so many people across our great country but also because it matters to so many parents in my electorate of Banks. It is also pertinent to the many young children we have up in the gallery today. My sister and I are raising our own families in the area where we grew up, but times have changed a lot since then. While each of our children is still a little too young to understand social media fully, they deserve to grow up without the constant, pervasive pull of social media. When I'm speaking to locals in my community, parents share the same concerns with me.”
“We're working in partnership with the state government to ensure our community, our people, have places to live in an affordable and wonderful place like the electorate of Banks.”
“It was great to see the representatives of so many organisations who contribute to the welfare of our community in many different ways. Thank you also to the Canton Noodle House for their incredible hospitality and, of course, their wonderful food. Finally, on 5 June, we turned the first sod on a new development in Padstow, funded by the Housing Australia Future Fund. The block has been vacant for some time, but it will soon be 113 homes, with parking, for local families, bringing the total number of social and affordable homes delivered in my electorate of Banks by this government to 214. This project is the latest demonstration of this government's commitment to deliver more homes for Australians through the Housing Australia Future Fund.”
“Lastly, the former premier of New South Wales, Morris Iemma, was made an AO in recognition of his career in public service as well as his contributions to community sport and the not-for-profit sector more broadly. Congratulations to all the wonderful recipients. Perhaps more importantly though, thank you for your service to our communities and our country. On 19 June, we marked the Dragon Boat Festival, an important occasion in the calendar for many Chinese Australians, including my own family. It was my pleasure to bring together local community leaders from across the electorate of Banks for an afternoon tea at the iconic Canton Noodle House in Riverwood alongside Georges River councillor Elaina Anzellotti and the member for East Hills, Kylie Wilkinson.”
“A number of locals in the seat of Banks were recognised as part of the King's Birthday Honours, and I want to acknowledge them here. Mark Connell of Oatley was awarded an OAM for services to youth through scouting, and, as an integral part of the 1st Oatley Bay Sea Scouts, he has contributed to the outdoor skills and confidence of countless young people in our community. Major Craig Fairweather was awarded an OAM in the Military Division for his outstanding contributions to military engineering for the Australian Army. Kathy Powzun of Mortdale was awarded a Public Service Medal for services to education. Justice Murray Aldridge was awarded an OAM not just for his contribution to our legal system as a barrister and a King's Counsel but also for services to conservation and orchid growing.”
“It is cheaper, smarter and safer to invest in stabilising our region now than to deal with the consequences of instability later. This budget delivers that investment to support peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening Australia's partnerships and protecting Australians at home.”
“The $25.3 million allocated in the budget will allow us to expand on the opportunities created by India's rapid economic growth. By enhancing commercial links with India, including through the Australia-India CEO Forum, we will create new opportunities to diversify our trade flows and build secure and open supply chains for our exporters and businesses, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. When it comes to the difference between those opposite and this government, the contrast is clear. While the Liberals lectured the Pacific and left a vacuum for others to fill, this government is stepping up to the challenge. The investments we make in our region help stop people smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal fishing and the spread of disease and help address climate change.”
“Alongside the budget's $33.2 million in funding to institutionalise the Jakarta treaty, we are working to increase the prevalence of Indonesian language and country expertise within our own nation and creating new leadership dialogues to foster connections and understanding between the next generation of Indonesian and Australian leaders. Australia and Indonesia share deep trust and an unbreakable bond as neighbours, partners and friends, and we are building the future of the Australia-Indonesia partnership during this time of instability and uncertainty. Additionally, Australia's partnership with India continues to build on the unprecedented progress that we have made across the strategic, economic and people-to-people relationship.”
“Through the Pacific Islands Forum, we are backing responses to energy supply disruptions and inflation that are Pacific led, such as regional energy distribution hubs in Fiji, deepening our relationships by making sure our neighbours are equal partners. There is no country more important to Australia's national security than Indonesia. The Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security—or, more simply, the Jakarta treaty—signed in February 2026, represents a major step in the bilateral relationship between our nations, and the most significant one in decades.”
“A stronger, safer and sovereign Pacific is good for our region and good for Australia, and this Labor government is investing in rebuilding relationships and restoring trust and friendship in the Pacific so that Australia can once again be the partner of choice. There is no better demonstration than the deepening of our relationships with Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga with landmark agreements that strengthen our economic integration, climate resilience and regional security cooperation. And we welcomed the new prime minister of the Solomon Islands to parliament today as part of a high-level delegation agreeing to negotiate a new comprehensive treaty.”
“In my first speech to the House, I talked about my time as an Australian diplomat and how alliances work in practice. In an increasingly uncertain world, our diplomatic relations have never been more important. The budget handed down by the Treasurer three weeks ago will continue to invest in strengthening Australia's relationships, our region, our resilience and ensuring we remain secure and influential. The uncertain international environment that we are operating in is an important context for foreign affairs and trade. Countries across the Indo-Pacific are confronting a triple shock of major global aid cuts, trade disruptions and energy insecurity as a result of conflict. Each of these challenges risk increasing instability in our immediate region, and undermining years of hard earned diplomatic gains.”
“It is saying that income from labour and income from assets should be taxed fairly, and it is saying to first home buyers and young Australians across our country, as well as renters, that their aspiration to own their own home is still worth having and that we will support you in that ambition.”
“It corrects some of the imbalances in our housing market while protecting people who have made major decisions under the existing rules. Most importantly, it fronts up to the challenge that our changing and ageing demography presents us. Since the budget, I have received feedback from members of the community in my electorate of Banks, and I've endeavoured to speak directly to as many of these constituents as possible. Like any reforming policy, these changes have garnered considerable debate. This legislation is about recalibrating investment and supporting aspiration.”
“In the process, first home buyers have had to go up against investors who know the strength of their hand, because the concessional tax treatment will help them to outbid others. The idea that government should go on ignoring the reality of this situation to preserve a status quo that is unproductive for our economy and unfair to the vast majority of Australians is what this government is confronting. Already, since the budget, the news that existing properties won't be eligible for negative gearing has had an impact. An auction for a unit in Mortdale in my great electorate of Banks is one example. It was bought by a first home buyer at an auction in which every bidder would be an owner-occupier. This is being seen all across our country. In conclusion, this legislation confronts a generational change and a challenge.”
“In 1970, the median age of a first home buyer was around 25 years old. Today, it is around 35, and one in five first-home-buyer loans are now going to those aged over 40. First home buyers today are working hard and having to save for longer than ever. This is a challenge that many young people currently view as futile. As much as they want to own their own home, they feel like they will always be playing catch up to a market that is stacked against them. The status quo in our housing market is broken. The policy mistakes made by the coalition 25 years ago were intended to encourage activity but instead turned existing housing stock into a speculative commodity, the price of which has been consistently driven upwards.”
“The task of serious tax reform that rebalances the tax burden away from income earnt from wages and labour towards wealth and assets is one that any government was going to have to confront sooner or later or otherwise risk eroding the budget so significantly in the long term that services Australians rightly expect would not be delivered. This government is working to deliver that rebalancing, making sure our economy is in the interest of more Australians, businesses and future generations, instead of leaving it to the next generation to fix in the name of political expediency. It does this while delivering targeted tax cuts and cost-of-living relief to 13.3 million hardworking Australian taxpayers. Secondly, I want to reflect on the housing market and environment that first home buyers are currently having to operate in.”
“Finally, the ABS also noted that the percentage of people outside the traditional working age range of 15 to 64 would increase to 58 per cent, a growth of more than 10 per cent. When looking at our tax system and government spending, this is incredibly important context. A growing proportion of our population have finished their working lives and are therefore no longer paying income tax, as they should and as they've earnt. Meanwhile, the demand for government services, in the form of aged care, aged pensions, Medicare and the PBS and other health services, will grow.”
“When you combine the existing tax cuts delivered or legislated with those detailed in this bill, the average Australian worker will be paying up to $2,816 less in tax in the 2027-28 financial year, as compared to 2023-24. As many reviews and much analysis have shown, Australia is in need of tax reform. Australia has an ageing population. That much has been clear for some time. In 2018, the Bureau of Statistics published a projection that the population aged over 85 would double to more than a million over the following 25 years. I'm noting, of course, that we are eight years into that timeframe now. That same projection stated that, over the same time period, the number of people aged 65 and over would also nearly double to 6.7 million people by 2042.”
“The instant deduction will allow taxpayers with income from work to deduct $1,000 from their taxable income rather than claim individual expenses. The Tax Office estimates this change will save individuals $380 million in compliance costs each year, making tax time both simpler and cheaper, with the average worker receiving an additional $205 back in their pocket. This government has already delivered tax cuts to every single taxpayer by bringing down rates and raising income thresholds. Another tax cut will commence in just 29 days and again on 1 July next year. As the Treasurer said last week when the bills were introduced, under this government, taxes have been cut five different times in three different ways.”
“The current tax settings have locked a generation out of homeownership, and these reforms will mean an additional 75,000 first home buyers entering the property market over the next decade and direct investment into new housing supply. Schedule 3 of the bill legislates the $250 working Australians tax offset, reducing the tax bill of every Australian who derives their income from work, benefiting 13.3 million taxpayers. This is another tax cut delivered by this government. It is a permanent measure and a structural improvement to the tax system, which recognises that for most Australians, especially young people, their income is derived from work. Finally, schedule 4 of the bill legislates the government's $1,000 instant tax deduction, implementing Labor's 2025 election commitment.”
“Most importantly though, the legislation keeps in place the complete exemption for the family home as well as the existing four small-business concessions, which the vast majority of small businesses are eligible for, allowing them to pay reduced or no capital gains tax if and when they choose to sell. Schedule 2 of the bill legislates changes to negative gearing arrangements, limiting it to new builds. Again, importantly, residential properties held before 12 May 2026, including those under contract but not yet settled, will still be allowed to be negatively geared in the future. This ensures that investors that made investment decisions that affect their future based on the existing rules will not be penalised.”
“I want to start by going through the bill in detail and clarifying some of the points that people in my electorate have asked me about since the budget. Schedule 1 of the bill legislates the changes to capital gains tax arrangements so that the system operates as it was originally intended and directs investment in the market to where it is most productive for our economy and our society. Importantly, the proposed changes are prospective, not retrospective. Any capital gains earnt before 1 July next year will still attract the 50 per cent discount, with the CGT changes only applied on gains accrued after that date.”
“As the Treasurer said last week, this legislation, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 and the Income Tax Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026, is part of the most ambitious tax reform package in a quarter of a century. It delivers on three key objectives: firstly, that we cut the taxes for every Australian worker even further; secondly, that we make it easier for people to buy their first home; and, thirdly, that it better aligns the tax treatment of income derived from labour and income derived from assets. Changes like these are important in ensuring that we support the opportunity of homeownership for every single Australian but also make the reform we need to set Australia up for the future.”
“Importantly, Sagarmatha day has grown from a recognition of a mountaineering milestone into a celebration of Nepali culture and achievement, as well as an opportunity to highlight important global issues. The theme for the FeNCAA event this year is 'Melting Ice, Rising Responsibility', highlighting the impact of climate change on the Himalayan environment. I look forward to joining the Nepalese community both from my electorate and from across Sydney at celebrations over the next few days, and I cannot wait to join celebrations in future years at the new space in Riverwood thanks to Labor's delivery.”
“This government is about delivery, and we are delivering for communities all across the country, including multicultural communities. As the Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Nepal and the representative of an electorate that is home to a growing Nepali Australian community, I am pleased to report that, with the support of federal funding, the Nepalese community will have a place in the heart of my electorate in Riverwood to celebrate Australia's Nepalese culture and share it with the broader community through programs and events. This includes sharing auspicious days like the one coming up tomorrow. The 29 May is Sagarmatha Day, celebrating the anniversary of the first summit of the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest, by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, in 1953.”
“We have allocated $33.2 million to initiatives needed to implement the Jakarta treaty with Indonesia, and we are enhancing our engagement with our Pacific neighbours with a $187.8 million package over four years through a range of initiatives. A strong Pacific is good for Australia and good for our regional neighbourhood. As global development landscape is shaken by major global aid cuts, trade disruptions and energy insecurity, Australia's role becomes ever more important. This government's budget is focused on making the lives of everyday Australians better, and there is plenty more beyond the big headlines that is working towards this goal and deserves recognition. I look forward to implementing them and ensuring these implementations help many more Australians, including in my electorate.”
“The latest budget delivered by this government has provided $30.1 million over the next three years for round 10 of the Stronger Communities program, and I look forward to seeing how that funding benefits organisations in my community and across the country. Lastly, this government is investing in our regional security and trading relationships. We are making a considered effort to build a more diversified range of relationships with international partners so we can face global challenges with more resilience and more choice. The budget allocates funding that strengthens these strategic relationships and implements our agreements. We are boosting our relationship with India, with a $25.3 million investment of funding over four years.”
“The funding provided to organisations in my community made some great projects possible. The Oatley Bay Sea Scouts received $10,000 for renovations of their boat shed, to improve safety and accessibility at their facility. The Picnic Point Public School P&C received $2½ thousand to fund the installation of a war memorial on the school's grounds, which was part of the school's Anzac Day commemorations just a few weeks ago. The Chinese Australian Services group received $8,000 to replace and renew flooring at their Peakhurst activity centre, providing a better space for their community support initiatives mainly focused on older Australians. All together, that's $110,000 of funding provided to organisations across my electorate, benefiting a total of 16 great organisations.”
“This is a program that has been delivering for my community, with $9.5 million in federal funding making nine projects across the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area possible, including the new and upgraded Lambeth Reserve pirate ship playground in Picnic Point and the great whale playground at Deepwater Park in Milperra. The budget handed down two weeks ago by this government provided another $781.5 million for further rounds of both the Thriving Suburbs and the Growing Regions programs, enabling us to continue to deliver vital community infrastructure all across the country. Another great initiative that has been continued is the Stronger Communities program. It has supported projects that strengthen and benefit our local communities. Round 9 was funded as part of the Labor government's 2024-25 budget.”
“Little more than a fortnight ago, the Treasurer stood at the dispatch box and delivered the federal budget. While there has been plenty of commentary about the big-ticket items in the budget—delivering more tax cuts, strengthening Medicare and giving first home buyers a fair go in the market—I want to use this opportunity to recognise some of the programs funded in the budget that haven't got a lot of recognition but will make a big difference for communities like mine in the great electorate of Banks. In a previous budget, the Labor government committed $350 million over three years for the Thriving Suburbs program to deliver community infrastructure projects across Australia's urban, suburban and peri urban communities that support liveability, local amenity and social cohesion.”
“And I very much look forward to the opening of another one of these projects, the whale playground at the Deepwater Park Play Space in Milperra, very soon. In particular, I look forward to bringing my little girl, Dorothy, as well as my nieces Eleanor and Abigail to make sure they can enjoy the excellent amenities that our local area is providing with the support of the federal government.”
“Finally, in late April, it was my pleasure to join the minister for infrastructure, Catherine King, and the mayor of the Canterbury-Bankstown Council, Bilal El-Hayek, for the opening of the new Lambeth Reserve Playground. When I speak to families in my electorate of Banks, quality outdoor spaces and playgrounds are the most common things I hear about, and the delivery of such facilities like this is so important to communities across the country. I'm pleased to say the pirate playground in Lambeth Reserve is a smash hit amongst families across the area, and they look forward to further playgrounds coming up. This pirate ship playground was made possible by federal government funding through the Thriving Suburbs Program, contributing $9.5 million to a series of projects across the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA in conjunction with the council.”
“On 1 May, I was able to drop in to the St George Men's Shed at Carss Park and catch up during their monthly barbecue. Organisations like the St George Men's Shed provide an excellent avenue for men from the community to come together, talk, and put their skills to great causes. The St George Men's Shed is in a particularly beautiful location next to Carss Bush Park, overlooking the sporting fields across to the Georges River. It was great to speak with members about what they've been up to and the types of support they need. Thank you to all the members for having me, especially to the president, Phil, and the secretary, Bernie, for organising my visit.”
“It is my pleasure to rise and acknowledge some of the community organisations and events that I have been able to attend and support over the last few weeks in my electorate of Banks. The students at Lugarno Public School, Picnic Point High School and Panania Public School each held services to mark Anzac Day, which I had the privilege of attending, while many more schools were represented at RSL ceremonies across the community, across the electorate, on the day. Anzac commemorations are one of the most solemn occasions on our national calendar, and the students and schools treated the commemorations with the deep reverence and reflection that the day and ceremonies commanded. It is always heartening to see local students participating in one of our most important national traditions.”
“I've spoken to many of my constituents about the budget directly at train stations, while doorknocking and on the phone in response to correspondence since the budget, and I'll keep doing so, because this is a transformational budget. It is a budget that fixes the system that even the shadow treasurer has admitted in the past is broken and stacked against first home buyers. This budget is supporting aspiration. It is making sure that first home owners are given every chance to succeed.”
“We're building on our record investment in Medicare, keeping our promise to make medicines cheaper, delivering record hospital funding and making urgent care clinics that so many of us are benefiting from across this country a permanent part of our healthcare system. We are also investing in public schools, with an extra $20 billion over the next 10 years to deliver on our Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, and our reforms to help students catch up and keep up at every school in this country. We've heard a lot about aspiration and broken promises from those opposite. This rings incredibly hollow from a party that made a whole raft of promises about budget management and surpluses and reducing debt, but then broke all of them.”
“In fact, those opposite have been talking about what is in the budget papers in just about every single MPI and member statement since the budget while omitting key components. They never seem to mention the 65,000 new homes supported under the new Local Infrastructure Fund. They also never seem to mention the $47 billion going into the Homes for Australia Plan. And they don't mention the 660,000 homes built since this Labor government came in, nor the fact that commencements are up 26 per cent compared to this time last year. It could not be much clearer: this is a government that is committed to building more homes for Australians and getting on with the job of rectifying the shocking absence of investment by the former Liberal government. There is plenty more in this budget.”
“The $1,000 instant tax deduction has been delivered as promised and will make tax time simpler and taxes lower for 6.2 million Australian taxpayers from the 2027-28 financial year, enabling more Australians to keep more of what they earn. It is remarkable that, despite the combined benefit for an average Australian earner being up to $2,816 as a result of these changes, those opposite still try and spin that this budget is increasing the tax burden. I guess we will have to wait and see if those opposite will vote against tax cuts for Australians yet again later this week. The author of the MPI would also have you believe that the budget delivers fewer homes—a demonstration that they have failed to read the budget papers in any detail.”
“The 2026-27 budget, delivered by the Treasurer a fortnight ago, was focused on reform and resilience across our economy and our society. There has been plenty of commentary since budget night, and this MPI by the shadow Treasurer today is a perfect example of the commentary that is distorting the reality of the budget handed down by this government. Contrary to what the topic of this MPI would have you believe, this government is delivering a package of tax cuts that will benefit all Australian workers, including in my great electorate of Banks. These measures include income tax cuts for every taxpayer—some of which have been delivered already—with a further cut that will come into effect in just 36 days and another one on 1 July 2027.”
“I want to give special thanks, though, to the teachers who sacrificed their time to come with their students to make sure they learnt about Canberra, parliament and their civic responsibilities. I hope they enjoyed their fantastic opportunity to visit Parliament House and visit the national monuments that we have right here in Canberra and took a great deal of lessons learnt about our cultural and political institutions back home with them to the electorate of Banks.”
“During the last sitting week, I had the opportunity to recognise the Speaker's Parliament in Schools program coming to a school in my electorate of Banks. This week, though, I have the opportunity to recognise the school from my electorate that came to parliament. On Thursday 14 May, it was my pleasure to meet a group of year 9 students from De La Salle College Revesby Heights, who were visiting Canberra as part of an excursion. It was great to speak with them about the work I do in this place and answer some of their questions, including about how we as members in this place work for them and my go-to restaurants in the electorate of Banks. The students I met were thoughtful, intelligent and a real credit to their school and our community. I hope they enjoyed the rest of their time in Canberra.”
“We've announced investments in our defence force, fuel security and sovereign capability in this budget, and we're working closely with our friends and partners to ensure we are better prepared to face the future. (Time expired)”
“The partnership will allow us to build from the strong base and explore even more opportunities with like-minded partners. Australia approaches the challenges we face with more resilience and more choices in how we respond as a result of this government doing the hard work and building meaningful and diversified relationships. We welcome the opportunity to step up our cooperation with the European Union. This partnership is a strong statement of our shared values, a signal of support for international rules and a commitment to peace and security. This government recognises that we cannot approach these fundamental shifts in geopolitics passively. This government has acted with purpose and intent to pursue new alignments and deepen existing ones.”
“Through information sharing and new space security dialogue, working together to combat online radicalisation and terrorism financing, we are delivering tangible benefits for our regional defence and security. Further, this government is committed to strengthening our own defence industry capability. This partnership is a reflection of that commitment, enabling meaningful cooperation between Australia and the European Union across the defence and space industries. Australia and the EU already have strong industrial ties, with many of Europe's major defence manufacturers operating in Australia, working with our own businesses and the Australian Defence Force to develop innovative technologies. Australian manufactured equipment, like the Bushmaster, is already providing critical support to Europe's own security.”
“The rules and norms that have underpinned security and prosperity are coming under intense pressure, and many of the challenges that we face today require joint efforts to overcome them. Our longstanding partnership with the European Union has always been built on the foundation of a shared commitment to peace, security and prosperity. Under this government, this relationship is only getting stronger. The security and defence partnership, along with the free trade agreement and the commencement of the negotiations for association to the Horizon Europe research fund, demonstrates strong momentum in our bilateral relations. This agreement boosts cooperation across a whole range of issues including the space industry, cyber and economic security, counterterrorism and hatred.”
“In a similar fashion, the Australia-European Union security and defence partnership represents a significant step forward in supporting our defence industry and strengthening our national security in a time where these have never been more important. The security and defence partnership is a landmark deal. It is not just a deepening of our relationship with a trusted international partner. In the rapidly changing international geopolitical environment, partnerships like this one and the others we are building across our region and across the world are essential. We live in a time where security is paramount and where uncertain and complex security threats continue to present challenges both in our regions and beyond.”