Visit to the United States

I will visit the United States from 8 to 15 October to attend the annual Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) in Boston with Minster for Defence, the Honourable Senator Marise Payne. I will also visit Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and the United States. My visit is an opportunity to meet senior political and business leaders to discuss ways to further strengthen our strategic and economic ties. Our Alliance with the United Sates is at the heart of our foreign and security policy.

I look forward to meeting with Secretary Kerry and Secretary Carter for AUSMIN consultations in Boston. I will hold meetings with leading foreign policy and national security experts. I will also pay my respects to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.

In Washington, I will meet senior members of the Obama Administration. I will underline Australia's commitment to ongoing cooperation in responding to regional and global challenges, including combatting Da'esh in Iraq and Syria. I will host a reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, and deliver a speech at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

My visit to Los Angeles will be an opportunity to promote our film and fashion industries – Australia's creative economy – in one of the world's largest markets. I will open the Australian Fashion Showcase at Los Angeles Fashion Week as part of the G'Day USA 2015-16 program.

Innovation is a key area of our collaboration with the United States. In San Francisco, I will meet Australian and United States entrepreneurs and business leaders in Silicon Valley, including in the digital economy and global finance. I will deliver a speech at the Asia Foundation on Australia's innovative approaches to economic and development policy in the Indo-Pacific region.