This week in Australian foreign affairs: Morrison congratulates Biden, two more COVID-19 vaccines secured for Australia, more flights between New Zealand and Hobart, and more.

On 8 November, Prime Minister Scott Morrison congratulated United States President-elect Joe Biden on his election as the 46^th president of the United States. Morrison also acknowledged and thanked President Donald Trump and stated that “Australia has enjoyed a strong working relationship with the current administration.”

Morrison stated that two more COVID-19 vaccines have been secured for the Australian population under new agreements on 5 November. The new agreements with Novavax and Pfizer will provide 40 million and 10 million doses respectively if the vaccines are proven to be safe and effective. These developments mean that the government has now secured access to four COVID-19 vaccines and over 134 million doses.

On 7 November, Morrison and Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton announced that more than 130 direct flights from New Zealand to Hobart “packed with tourists” are being organised under a new deal struck with Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Hobart’s airport will now take around 30,000 international travellers each year.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for International Development Alex Hawke noted on 9 November that 151 Tongan workers have arrived in Queensland to support horticultural producers under the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme.

Payne announced on 6 November that Australia and Samoa are teaming up to launch a new Regional Sports Hub in the Pacific that “will help foster new generations of sports talent across our region.” The Hub will deliver activities funded by PacificAus Sports from 2020 to 2023, “including supporting training and competition for Pacific athletes, teams and sports administrators.”

On 10 November, Payne congratulated Ms Natasha Scott Despoja on her election to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Ms Scott Despoja is the first Australian to serve on the committee in almost thirty years, and her candidacy was supported by the Australian government.

On 5 November, prior to the confirmation of the United States election results, Payne stated in an interview on ABC News Breakfast that she was “confident that the US systems and processes that have stood the test of time will deliver and outcome, and it is important that we wait for that.” Payne further said that “It’s important that we respect that process, that every vote is counted, and I’m sure that they will be.”

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong expressed “deep concern” on 6 November about reports that Chinese authorities are planning to “halt imports of Australian wine, lobsters, sugar, coal, copper, barley and timber.” Wong called on Morrison to stand up for Australian exporters and argued that the relationship with China “must be managed in the national interest and not for partisan political interests.”

Isabella Keith is an intern at AIIA National Office.

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