We, President Biden and Prime Minister Albanese, inaugurated a new era of US-Australia strategic cooperation during the Prime Minister's Official Visit and State Dinner in Washington, DC, today.
Our nations are inseparably linked by our common democratic values and the three pillars of our alliance: defence, economic, and climate and clean energy cooperation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Microsoft will make an additional $5 billion investment in Australia, helping our nation become a world-leading digital economy by significantly investing in skills and training to help equip a new generation of Australians for the jobs and opportunities of the future.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I'm very proud to be here in the United States, here as Prime Minister, but my first visit to Washington DC as Prime Minister of Australia. The United States, of course, our closest ally, our principal strategic partner and our largest two-way investment partner. Our nations are united by the common values that we hold, our deep history together and our shared vision for a world which is prosperous, which is secure, and which provides a quality of life in a peaceful way around the world.
The Albanese Government has announced a $2 billion expansion in critical minerals financing, which will solidify Australia's position as a world leading provider, help the transition to net zero, boost the economy and support more jobs and opportunities for Australians.
Critical minerals, including rare earths, are the building-blocks for a clean energy future, and are essential to achieving Australia's energy transition. This significant commitment will double the capacity of the Critical Minerals Facility to finance Australian critical minerals mining and processing projects.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: When I met with President Biden in Hiroshima in May, we signed the Climate, Critical Minerals and Alean Energy Transformation Compact. Yesterday, the Taskforce that was established on critical minerals under that Compact met for the first time with the Minister, Minister King, and Amos Hochstein, who's the Principal Advisor to the President on energy. This follows, as well, the Energy Committee that we established meeting with Minister Bowen just last week with his US counterpart.
The Australian Government, with the support of local defence industry, is providing a further $20 million package of military assistance to Ukraine.
De-mining equipment, portable x-ray machines, a 3D metal printer, and counter drone systems are some of the Australian developed equipment that will contribute to Ukraine’s defence.
The Australian developed equipment is made by four innovative Australian defence industry companies: DroneShield, Micro-X, Minelab and SPEE3D.
MADELEINE KING, MINISTER FOR RESOURCES: Thank you, everyone. I thank the Ambassador for that welcome, and to welcome Ambassador Kennedy. To, of course, our Prime Minister here in our wonderful new Embassy. And also, Secretary Raimondo and Amos Hochstein, the Adviser to the President.
I want to start by doing what we do in Australia, it is customary to acknowledge the traditional owners of land on which we're meeting today, which is the Piscataway and an Anacostan peoples. And I pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.
JAMIE BURNETT, HOST: Prime Minister, good morning to you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, good to be with you. And it's wonderful to be back in Perth, particularly for the Telethon Weekend, where there's such a focus on helping young kids and their families at their time of need. It's an extraordinary commitment that West Australians give to others during this weekend.
As Prime Minister and Federal Labor Leader, I mourn Bill Hayden’s passing and honour his life.
My first thoughts are with Dallas, his beloved wife of 63 years, their children and all those who knew and loved him best.
If Bill Hayden left no other legacy than as a key architect of universal healthcare, he would still stand for all time as a legend of our labour movement and a great contributor to our nation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to the People’s Republic of China from 4 to 7 November.
In Beijing, the Prime Minister will meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. In Shanghai, the Prime Minister has accepted Premier Li’s invitation to attend the China International Import Expo.
The Prime Minister’s visit will build on his productive discussions with President Xi and Premier Li over the last twelve months, as well as increased ministerial engagement over that time.