Earlier this week I wrote to the Prime Minister to outline the priority issues the Opposition believes the Prime Minister must progress in his meeting with the President of the United States.
In setting out these clear measures of success for this meeting we also offered our support for him to advance the national interest. We wish the Prime Minister every success in his first formal meeting with the President. When it comes to the Prime Minister stepping into the Oval Office, there is only Team Australia. But this must be more than a photo opportunity, Australians are relying on the PM to deliver.
This meeting occurs at a pivotal moment for our alliance. Australia needs the Prime Minister to successfully secure assurances on AUKUS, tariffs, international partnerships and national security. The Prime Minister should not seek to avoid tough conversations on these issues, and it is important he stands up for our national interest.
It must be acknowledged that this meeting could have, and should have, occurred sooner. At no point since our alliance with the US was formed has there been such a prolonged delay in the meeting of an Australian Prime Minister and an incoming US President.
We have expressed our expectation that the meeting result in concrete outcomes in the following areas:
- The AUKUS Pact - Pillar I
- The AUKUS Pact - Pillar II
- Trade and Tariffs
- The Quad Strategic Partnership
- Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance
The AUKUS Pact - Pillar I
Australians want an assurance on the AUKUS Review. The Prime Minister must demonstrate how Australia will keep its AUKUS commitments, including through real, rather than rhetorical, commitments to higher defence spending. The Coalition has been clear in our support for increasing defence funding to three percent of GDP, as well as the acceleration of the Henderson Defence Precinct. If raised by the US, the Coalition believes Australia should be open to expanding the AUKUS pact where it is in our national interest, particularly in relation to Australia obtaining an enduring nuclear submarine capability. We stand ready to engage constructively on such developments.
The AUKUS Pact - Pillar II
Australia should work to gain real commitments to Pillar II. Pillar II requires rapid commercialisation and acquisition of target technologies – artificial intelligence, hypersonics, cyber and more – to deliver deployable advanced capabilities. There are important economic dividends that can be realised for Australia and our partners through Pillar II, but research from the Australian Industry Group indicates that industry leaders are losing faith in Pillar II’s credibility. The primary driver of industry scepticism is that the Albanese Government has failed to show meaningful progress in delivery and that Pillar II has not been provided designated funding and resourcing to achieve its stated aims. This must change.
Trade and Tariffs
The government must secure a pathway for a deal on tariffs so Australian businesses can trade and invest in the US with renewed confidence. A deal is also required to protect Australia from future tariff increases on our medical manufacturing, film, steel, agriculture and resources sectors. In particular, a reduction of the steel and aluminium tariffs, from 50 per cent to 25 per cent, in line with what the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer was able to secure, must be achieved. The EU, Japan, Indonesia, and others have already secured tariff deals and Australia should be among them.
The Coalition has affirmed its support for the rules-based multilateral trading system including in the World Trade Organisation and has offered the Prime Minister our commitment to working in a bipartisan spirit to uphold the global trade rules that promote stability, opportunity, and shared prosperity.
The Quad Strategic Partnership
The Coalition expects the Prime Minister to raise the status of the Quad with the President to secure certainty about the timing and agenda of the next Quad Leaders’ Meeting. The Quad provides the basis for essential critical technology development and joint security activities, including in the cyber domain, that are key to securing the Indo-Pacific. The Prime Minister must elevate his diplomacy with the leaders of Japan, India, and the United States to keep this vital partnership going. A failure for the Australian Government to advocate for a leaders’ meeting to be held would send a poor signal about the unity and focus of the grouping. We cannot allow the Quad to fail.
Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance
The production of Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance must become an urgent priority matched with urgent action. Prime Minister Scott Morrison committed to establishing a guided weapons and explosive ordnance (GWEO) enterprise. Yet almost four years into the Albanese Government tangible progress has not been achieved. The Prime Minister must demonstrate his government is making swift progress to establish Australia as an additional and reliable GWEO supplier for our allies and partners. The government’s public announcement in relation to GWEO on 14 October is too little, too late. It exposes your government’s inaction over the course of the past three years, costing Australia important export opportunities in the process.
If the Prime Minister is able to return from Washington with tangible progress in these key areas he will receive our congratulations. Should he fall short, we will hold the government to account for failing to rise to the requirements of Australia’s national interests.
This meeting must be about more than getting in the room, now we must see the Prime Minister deliver for Australians.