Foreign Secretary William Hague, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and a team of senior officials and military were in Perth for the annual Australia-UK Ministerial meeting, AUKMIN, last week.
They had wide-ranging discussions, including Asia, Indian Ocean and Defence reform, as well as talking about the UN Security Council, which Australia has just joined for the next two years. The two Defence Ministers signed a Defence Treaty, and the communique sets out a number of areas for additional cooperation. We are working more closely together than ever, sharing diplomatic cables, and exploring the scope for co-locating some of our overseas offices. The UK will be hosting visiting Australian diplomats in some 12 African embassies, during their time on the UNSC, where Africa comprises two thirds of the workload.
William Hague also spent a day in Sydney, where he delivered a speech to the Menzies Research Centre setting out his vision of the reinvigorated relationship between the two countries. PM Julia Gillard hosted a dinner at Kirribilli House, with its splendid backdrop of Sydney Harbour.
Prosperity was another important theme. In a speech to the Australian British Chamber of Commerce, the Foreign Secretary described our booming trade and investment relationship. Our exports to Australia topped £10 billion for the first time last year. Meanwhile, the FCO Permanent Secretary, Simon Fraser, met businesses from the resources sector in Queensland and WA. Whilst in WA, the Foreign Secretary opened our Perth Consulate’s new office; we have recently strengthened our trade team there.
William Hague also formally launched the British Council’s GREAT Britain Arts 13 Festival at the Sydney Theatre Company’s impressive Wharf Theatre, to an audience from across Australia’s cultural spectrum. Leo Sayer, who now lives in Australia, was there, which had me humming “When I need you” for the rest of the afternoon.
During the visit the Foreign Secretary was in very regular contact with London and elsewhere dealing with the breaking Algerian hostage crisis, due to which he had to leave Australia a little earlier than intended. It was a reminder to us of the extraordinary range of pressing issues that he has to deal with on a daily basis.