The Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties is holding a public hearing on May 20, 2024, as part of its inquiry into the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Fiji on Cooperation in the Field of Defence and the Status of Visiting Forces.
The Committee Chair, Josh Wilson MP, said the agreement “would recognise Fiji as a key strategic defence partner of Australia, build on the longstanding defence and broader bilateral relationship between our two countries, and further our shared vision for security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
“The agreement would enable more frequent and sophisticated defence cooperation between Australia and Fiji,” he added. “This includes working together on maritime security issues, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, co-deployments and the training of military personnel. The agreement would provide a comprehensive, reciprocal and legally binding framework for the status of visiting forces and civilians and information sharing between the two countries.”
The Committee will hear from officials from the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Human Rights Watch, with the May 20 session starting at 3.15pm (AEDT).
