Tim Watts MP

@IanBatchelor11 Nope. There are plenty of significant Ministerial statements that attract significant attendance from across the house as a show of solidarity. It’s a question of priorities.

@TimWattsMP Sounds about normal for the House, no matter who's in government or opposition. Just enough present to stop an ambush and force a division. I also have to break it to you, but Anne's speech hasn't broken into regular TV programming either.

There are just two Liberal MPs in the Chamber as Anne Aly delivers a Ministerial Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

A consular update and video message to Australians in the UAE. Register for direct updates at crisis.dfat.gov.au/crisisportal/s/. For consular assistance please call +61 2 6261 3305 (from the UAE) 1300 555 135 (from Australia) or email us at consular.abudhabi@dfat.gov.au or consular.dubai@austrade.gov.au. Please take care, stay safe and follow official safety advice.

Yesterday was a dark day in our nation's history. But we are stronger than the cowards who did this. We refuse to let them divide us. Australia will never submit to division, violence or hatred - and we will come through this together.

@UniMelb @UQ_News @Sydney_Uni @ourANU @ANUasiapacific

This morning @dfat is appearing in front of the Inquiry into Building Asia Capability in Australia, through the education system and beyond. Later today the Inquiry will hear from a range of Australian universities. Listen here: youtube.com/live/XJp7PEKAE…

Tragically I polished off “Bedtime Stories for Cricket Tragics” in a session this weekend. Felt like a ten year old again obsessing about test cricketers from a century ago. Thankfully there are plenty more stories to come… starting the clock on Vol 2 now @Final_Word_Pod

It’s the last Parliamentary sitting day of the year and the Coalition continues with their Bazball political strategy. They refuse to learn anything from their last loss, they are obsessed with themselves and as Malcolm Turnbull said today, they are “still in reality denial”

Today’s agreement on a new bilateral security treaty between Australia and Indonesia is a historic moment for our countries and our people. It was an honour to join President Prabowo and FM Sugiono in Sydney to mark this new era in our relationship and our shared destiny.

Today I stood alongside my friend Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on HMAS Canberra to make an historic announcement.   The governments of Australia and Indonesia have just substantively concluded negotiations on a new bilateral treaty on our common security.   Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is based on friendship, trust, mutual respect – and a shared commitment to peace and stability in our region.   This treaty is a recognition from both our nations that the best way to secure that peace and stability is by acting together. It signals a new era in the Australia-Indonesia relationship.   The treaty is predominantly based on the landmark security agreement signed by the Keating and Suharto governments 30 years ago.   It will build on the 2006 Lombok Treaty that, among other things, reaffirmed Indonesia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. It also builds on the Defence Cooperation Agreement we signed last year.   This treaty will commit Australia and Indonesia to: ✅ Consult at a Leader and Ministerial level on a regular basis on matters of security ✅ Identify and undertake mutually beneficial security activities ✅ And if either or both country’s security is threatened – to consult and consider what measures may be taken either individually or jointly to deal with those threats

Reports from Sudan of atrocities against civilians and the killing of Red Crescent volunteers are horrific. Aid workers providing life-saving assistance, and the communities they serve, must be protected. Australia condemns this violence. Perpetrators must be held accountable.

@ShashiTharoor You are too kind, sir. Thank you for a very stimulating and wide ranging conversation - and especially for the book list! A true reflection of the growing friendship between Australia and India.

Had an excellent meeting over lunch with @TimWattsMP, former minister and current chair of Australia’s Parliamentary joint subcommittee on foreign affairs. We discussed the entire gamut of major issues affecting our two countries (& did not forget to throw in some observations on the ongoing cricket as well!) Tim is one of the most impressive, widely-read and knowledgeable politicians anywhere, and it was a pleasure to catch up with him. We did so at Melbourne’s “Desi Dhaba”, the favourite hangout of successive visiting Indian cricket teams!

It’s always a pleasure to share a conversation over a meal with the great Shashi Tharoor. It was wonderful to be able to welcome Shashi back to Melbourne and to talk cricket, books and international affairs… I promise that I only mentioned Alyssa Healy once!

Australia and India are joint custodians of the Indian Ocean. We share a region and we share a future. Today I welcomed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss our partnership which helps ensure our region is peaceful, stable and prosperous in a sharper, more competitive world.

A permanent memorial will be established in Australia to pay tribute to the ongoing pain and courage of all those who were affected by the 2005 bombings. foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny…

We remember the 20 innocent people who died – including four Australians – and the more than 100 injured that day. While these tragic attacks occurred 20 years ago, they are not historic events of the past, and their legacy is still being experienced by everyone involved.

Today, on the 20th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks on Jimbaran Beach and Kuta in Bali, survivors, families of victims, community members, and first responders gathered in Newcastle.

Today marks 20 years since the 2005 Bali bombings, & the tragic loss of 20 lives, including four Australians, fifteen Indonesians & one Japanese national. At the Australian Consulate-General in Bali, we honoured the victims, survivors and all whose lives were changed that day.