Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: It's fantastic to be here on HMS Prince of Wales with my colleague David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, and the extraordinary women behind me – women from three nations in three services, so, from the United Kingdom, from Australia, and from New Zealand, who operate in all three defence services.
I want to say something briefly about this year, which is the 25th anniversary of the UN Security Council's declaration on Women, Peace and Security, a declaration which championed the role of women in security and in peace. We know the importance of women in our armed forces to our security. We thank those behind us and all women who serve in our defence forces for their contribution to our security, to peace in our region and beyond. We know also the importance of having women involved in peace settlements and peace negotiations. We know that gender equality has the greatest correlation with long-lasting peace settlement outcomes. We know that a country's prosperity is driven by gender equality. We also know, so sadly, that women and girls do bear the brunt too often in horrific conflicts around the world. Just recently, we saw Russia identified by the European Court as having committed violations of human rights laws, committing systemic perpetration of sexual violence against women and girls in Ukraine, using sexual violence as a weapon of war. So, we stand against that and we call that out wherever we see it.
So, I'm very grateful that as part of our discussions, the UK and Australia are agreeing to continue to work together to progress the women, peace and security objectives. We'll continue to do that. It matters. And most of all today, I do want to thank the remarkable women behind me and all the women who serve in our defence personnel who help keep us safer. Thanks very much.
David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary: Just to say it's a huge pleasure to be here, one great female Foreign Secretary of our time and to have behind us women across our armed forces and across three nations: Australia, New Zealand, and of course the United Kingdom. And to reflect 25 years since the United Nations came together to recognise the importance of women to our security and our peace. And to see the progress that is being made, particularly the progress in the partnership between the United Kingdom and Australia.
As Penny Wong has just reflected, very sadly, we see the face of women in conflicts around the world. We see the face of sexual violence in conflicts around the world. But we also see the resilience and the strength and the dignity and the grace of women around the world. And it's hugely important, as we grow our defences, particularly increased defence spending, to face the threats, the geopolitical threats that we face, that a strong part of that, a foundation of that, is the women in our armed forces. So, it's a great pleasure to be here. And in a sense, as we gather on this strike carrier, we reflect on the enduring strength of Britain and the United Kingdom and the role it will play in our armed forces.
Journalist: Minister, if I could just briefly get your thoughts on some developments in Gaza overnight. The Prime Minister said this morning it's his belief that Israel is breaching international law in Gaza. Is Australia obliged to now act on that in some fashion? And secondly, just on the aid drops that Israel is now facilitating, is that satisfactory from Israel, and would Australia join the UK, for example, in facilitating further aid drops?
Foreign Minister: First, in relation to the international law point, the Prime Minister made our position clear this morning. It is forbidden to withhold aid from civilians. That is not consistent with international law, but actually as importantly, it's morally the wrong thing to do, it's ethically the wrong thing to do. The Prime Minister has made that clear. We'll continue to contribute what we are able to to the humanitarian effort for Gaza. Obviously, Australia is not the central player. We have contributed about $110 million in aid to the region. We have worked with Jordan to deliver health services and health support. We'll continue to work with our partners, including the United Kingdom, who has been playing such an important and constructive role in relation to this conflict. But the most, the quickest, most effective way to ensure that the children of Gaza are provided with the food that they need is for Israel to allow aid to flow unimpeded and for a ceasefire to be in place and for the hostages to be released.