National Security Senator CICCONE (Victoria) (14:22): My positive question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last month, the minister joined the Prime Minister as he led Australia's delegation to the United Nations, where Australia launched its bid for a seat at the UN Security Council for the year 2029-30. The Albanese Labor government has also showed global leadership when it comes to AI and digital security and safety, bringing together world leaders to shape the future of this technology. Minister, how does the government's approach to international engagement make Australia safer and more secure in an increasingly contested world? Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:22): And we congratulate the Speaker too—absolutely. He did a great job. Thanks to Senator Ciccone, who understands very well, from the work that he does in chairing the senate committee, the circumstances that we live in. In a time of global uncertainty, it is a fact that Australia's peace and security rely on working with others, playing our part to shape the kind of world Australians want to see. We take the world as it is and seek to shape it for the better, and we do this best by working with international partners. That is the approach we took at the UN last month, and it's why the Prime Minister launched our campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council for 2029-30—to give Australians a stronger say in the decisions that affect us and our region. Our priority is to work to prevent conflict, uphold the rules to protect us all and promote peaceful, resilient digital futures. Australia is an active and ambitious middle power, and we've seen Australian leadership on digital safety and on AI regulation being adopted around the world. Prime Minister Albanese introduced our world-leading under-16 social media ban and led the way again with the digital-duty-of-care announcement. At the United Nations, the Prime Minister joined with more than 20 world leaders to support control over frontier AI models. I was pleased to co-chair the inaugural meeting of signatories of the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel with the Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan. One year after its launch, in honour of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, we achieved historic support from more than two-thirds of the United Nations, and 132 countries are now signed on to support our efforts to drive safer conditions for aid workers. Australia listens with respect, partners as equals and protects what matters most. The PRESIDENT: Senator Ciccone, first supplementary? Senator CICCONE (Victoria) (14:24): Thank you, Minister, for that positive answer. The Albanese government has been working to give Australia a stronger say in decisions that affect Australians. Central to this work has been securing Australia's place in our region, particularly the Pacific. What work has the government been doing at the United Nations and in regional forums to strengthen ties with our Pacific neighbours and friends and elevate our shared concerns? Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:25): A stronger and safer sovereign Pacific is good for Australia and for our region. At the UN, the Prime Minister and I met with our counterparts from Solomon Islands as we continue our work to elevate our relationship through a comprehensive treaty. I also joined the meeting between the UN Secretary-General and leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, the central body for strengthening Pacific relationships, trust and regionalism. The Albanese government believes in listening, respecting and acting on Pacific priorities in the Pacific Way, and this approach has delivered new alliances with Papua New Guinea and Fiji and breakthrough agreements with Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Naoero. We will continue to work to strengthen our relationships with the Pacific because Australian security is underpinned by the security, stability and prosperity of the Pacific. The PRESIDENT: Senator Ciccone, second supplementary? Senator CICCONE (Victoria) (14:26): Australians benefit not only from a peaceful, stable and prosperous region but also from a world that is governed by rules and not by power and force alone. At the UN, the PM met with Ukraine's president and the leaders signed a bilateral security agreement and announced new military support for Ukraine. Minister, why is it so crucial that the government show real support for Ukraine against Russia's illegal and unjustified invasion? Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:26): It was an honour to meet President Zelenskyy alongside the Prime Minister, and we made new announcements which bring Australia's support to Ukraine to almost $1.9 billion, $1.6 billion of which is military assistance. President Zelenskyy has thanked Australia for our military support. Australia stands with Ukraine not only because we support the people of Ukraine but also because we cannot accept a permanent member of the Security Council breaching the United Nations Charter, and that is what Russia did when it invaded Ukraine. Russia's war against Ukraine and its cooperation with North Korea make our world and our region less secure. I want to say it was disappointing to see the new Greens leader channelling, frankly, President Putin and sounding like Senator Roberts, saying: … we don't support military aid to the Ukraine. Well, Labor will continue to provide support to Ukraine in support of a just and lasting peace. (Time expired)