UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific strengthens regional relations with historic Northern Territory visit
Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will visit Australia 25-29 September to strengthen UK regional ties with Australia's Western and Northern Territories.
- Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan will be first UK Minister in 70 years to visit Australia’s Northern Territory
- Visit will boost UK-Australia regional collaboration on areas including climate change, trade and investment and maritime security
- Discussions to focus on UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the UK-Australia FTA and AUKUS
To strengthen UK-Australia regional ties, UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will arrive in Australia today (25 September) in a historic visit, marking the first time a UK Minister has been to the Northern Territory in 70 years.
Engaging with Australia on trade, investment and maritime security, both at a state and federal level, Minister Trevelyan will reflect on the strong UK-Australia partnership.
This is her third visit to the country in her role as Indo-Pacific Minister, underscoring the UK’s important work with Australia to protect regional stability, increase prosperity, and safeguard shared values.
In Perth, she will meet state level representatives, including Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, and the Governor of Western Australia, Christopher Dawson. Discussions will focus on strengthening UK-Australia collaboration on defence, trade, investment and climate change.
At a roundtable event hosted by the Australian British Chamber of Commerce, the Minister will engage business leaders on how to grow the trade and security benefits of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The event will feature discussion on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and on how the UK is delivering on AUKUS, the landmark defence and security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US.
Minister Trevelyan will then travel to Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory, where she will receive a traditional Salt Water Welcome to Country from the Aboriginal Larrakia People.
UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:
The UK and Australia are dynamic partners and close friends. By boosting our two nations’ regional ties, we can all benefit from the unique culture and expertise of areas like Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Through our trade links in CPTPP and our defence collaboration through AUKUS, we are committed to long-term partnership in the Indo-Pacific.
During the visit, Minister Trevelyan will meet regional defence industry experts, business leaders and state level officials in an extensive four-day programme. This includes meeting the Deputy Chief Minister of the State Parliament for the Northern Territory, reaffirming UK commitments to the region.
With around 60% of global shipping passing through the Indo-Pacific, ensuring maritime security is of critical importance to the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the UK’s economy, and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Minister will tour the Darwin Military Port, used by HMS Spey to conduct joint UK-Australia naval training exercises.
The Royal Navy has deployed HMS Spey, alongside HMS Tamar, to the Indo-Pacific to increase the UK’s long-term presence in the region. Working alongside partners and allies the ships are helping to tackle security challenges, conducting defence engagement, delivering training to partner nations and providing aid during natural disasters.
Minister Trevelyan will also visit of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. Here she will see contemporary art from Aboriginal communities following the recently announced return of First Nations art to Darwin.
Following her engagements in Australia, the Minister will travel to Indonesia and Timor-Leste as part of a wider trip to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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