16 News

1. On 20 August 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Viet Nam Bui Thanh Son and the Foreign Minister of Australia Senator the Hon Penny Wong met in Ha Noi to hold the seventh annual Viet Nam – Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
2. Both sides noted that the Viet Nam – Australia partnership has never been stronger, with mutual strategic trust and understanding. Both sides share a common vision for a peaceful, secure, and stable region, where disputes are resolved peacefully in accordance with international law. The elevation of the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024 was an historic development. Both sides welcomed significant progress in the Plan of Action to Implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2024-2027).
3. Both sides appreciated the frequent high-level engagement, welcomed the inaugural Viet Nam – Australia Ministerial Security Dialogue, and encouraged an early convening of the inaugural Ministerial Energy and Minerals Dialogue. Both sides welcomed the establishment of a new Viet Nam – Australia Policy Planning Dialogue.
4. Both sides welcomed their expanding trade ties and committed to further deepening the trade and investment relationship and enhancing economic cooperation, including the fruitful implementation of the Viet Nam – Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy and the practical initiatives set out in Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, including the $2 billion Southeast Asia Financing Facility.
5. Both sides acknowledged the deepening strategic cooperation in science, technology, cyberspace and innovation and on digital transition and digital inclusion. Both sides welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology Cooperation and reaffirmed the commitment to finalising a Digital Economy Memorandum of Understanding. Australia welcomed Viet Nam’s diplomatic contribution to international efforts to combat cybercrime, including through hosting the Signing Ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime.
6. Both sides acknowledged the strong people‑to‑people links, including deep education connections and the growing number of Vietnamese students studying in Australia. Both sides reaffirmed the commitment to working together to support Viet Nam’s human resource development. Viet Nam welcomed Australia’s commitment of $96.6 million in ODA for 2025-26 and the Viet Nam – Australia Development Partnership Plan 2025-30. Both sides also agreed to continue frank, collaborative and constructive exchanges, including through the annual Human Rights Dialogue, and to strengthen and contribute to the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council and its mechanisms.
7. Both sides reaffirmed their unwavering support for multilateralism, the United Nations Charter and international law, which underpins regional and global peace, stability and prosperity. Both sides recognised the importance of the collective capacity to shape the response to changing dynamics in their region and to address common challenges.
8. Both sides emphasised the upholding of a predictable, transparent, open, inclusive, free, fair, sustainable and rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core to foster global economic growth, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the regional economic architecture, including through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), the ASEAN -Australia – New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Australia reaffirmed the continued support for Viet Nam as the host of APEC 2027. Both sides will work closely together and with other members to ensure the success of APEC 2027.
9. Both sides reaffirmed their steadfast support for ASEAN Centrality and the ASEAN – led regional architecture, and agreed to continue working closely to further deepen the ASEAN – Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), especially leveraging the 5th anniversary of the CSP in 2026. Viet Nam welcomed Australia’s commitment as ASEAN’s oldest Dialogue Partner to support the implementation of ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future through practical initiatives and increased cooperation, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) through practical cooperation in its four priority areas, and in maintaining an open, inclusive, transparent, resilient, and rules‑based regional architecture with ASEAN at its centre, that upholds international law.
10. Both sides agreed to work together to promote open communication and dialogue within ASEAN-led mechanisms and other relevant regional and multilateral institutions in order to strengthen regional architecture, enhance mutual understanding, reduce the risks of miscalculation, prevent conflict and address shared challenges. Both sides encouraged concrete confidence building and preventive diplomacy measures to bolster conflict prevention processes, including through the Peacekeeping Partnership Arrangement, and strengthen strategic stability in the Indo‑Pacific region. Both sides welcomed ASEAN’s efforts, and the leadership of Malaysia as ASEAN Chair, to facilitate the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, including the establishment of an ASEAN-led observer mechanism. On Myanmar, both sides commended the ongoing efforts of ASEAN, including the Special Envoy, to seek a peaceful resolution in line with the ASEAN Five Point Consensus.
11. Both sides expressed their shared concern regarding the situation in the South China Sea and reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to peace, security, stability, and the rule of law, including freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In this regard, both sides emphasised the need for full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and noted the importance of any Code of Conduct on the South China Sea (COC) being in accordance with international law, particularly the UNCLOS, and not prejudicing the rights of any state under international law. Both sides reaffirmed that the UNCLOS sets out the comprehensive legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and that it is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector and its integrity needs to be maintained and protected.
12. Both sides agreed to advance cooperation between Australia and Mekong sub-region as a key aspect of the Viet Nam – Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both sides commended the Initial Mekong – Australia Senior Officials’ Meeting in May 2025, co-hosted by the two countries, and welcomed Viet Nam’s initiative to draft a concept paper on Mekong ‑ Australia cooperation to address shared and transboundary challenges, including sustainable development, deepened economic linkages, regional cooperation and prosperity. Viet Nam welcomed Australia’s announcement of a $50 million portfolio of six new and expanded climate resilience activities across Mekong countries, and support for human resource development through Australia Awards scholarships. Both sides also appreciated Australia’s support for the Mekong Delta in enhancing climate resilience, agricultural transformation, and sustainable livelihoods, and look forward to further cooperation on capacity building, technology transfer and knowledge sharing. Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to work together through regional and multilateral frameworks, including the Mekong River Commission and ASEAN-led mechanisms.
13. Both sides agreed to cooperate in addressing non-traditional security challenges of mutual concern. Both sides recognised the shared challenges Viet Nam and Australia face in responding to climate change and the importance of taking urgent climate action to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement, while ensuring economic prosperity and the transition of economies to net-zero by 2050. Viet Nam welcomed Australia’s active role in promoting global efforts in response to climate change, including its bid to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific. Both sides agreed to enhance their cooperation on climate change, just energy transition and disaster preparedness.
14. Both sides acknowledged the upcoming 25th anniversary of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in 2025, and reaffirmed the importance of the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

The decision by the Israeli Higher Planning Committee to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area, East of Jerusalem, is unacceptable and a violation of international law.

We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms.

Minister Smotrich says this plan will make a two-state solution impossible by dividing any Palestinian state and restricting Palestinian access to Jerusalem. This brings no benefits to the Israeli people. Instead, it risks undermining security and fuels further violence and instability, taking us further away from peace.

The Government of Israel still has an opportunity to stop the E1 plan going any further. We encourage them to urgently retract this plan.

Unilateral action by the Israeli government undermines our collective desire for security and prosperity in the Middle East. The Israeli government must stop settlement construction in line with UNSC Resolution 2334 and remove their restrictions on the finances of the Palestinian Authority.

Greens Deputy Leader and Higher Education Spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has strongly condemned the University of Melbourne following findings by the Victorian Privacy and Data Protection deputy commissioner that the university unlawfully surveilled students and staff during a pro-Palestine protest by using Wi-Fi location data. The deputy commissioner found that because “the collection and use of the data involved the surveillance of students and staff, and surveillance by its nature is antithetical to human rights, the breach was serious”.

The University of Melbourne has maintained that its use of Wi-Fi location data was reasonable “given the overriding need to keep our community safe”.

Lines attributable to Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for Higher Education:

“The University of Melbourne has doubled down on unlawful surveillance and failed to apologise for its serious breach of privacy.

“Universities should nurture critical thought, dissent and protest. Surveillance is the tool of authoritarian states, not places of learning.

“Using Wi-Fi tracking, CCTV footage and email monitoring against students and staff is a profound betrayal of trust. A university that spies on its students has lost its moral compass.

“Universities should defend free expression, not police it. When a university treats protest as a crime, it betrays its own purpose.

“The University of Melbourne’s claim that the surveillance was justified to ensure community safety is a harmful narrative designed to smear protestors. The real threat to safety is Israel’s genocide in Gaza — and yet the University continues to maintain links with weapons companies fuelling that genocide.”

“Instead of doubling down on this punitive response—one which has already harmed students and staff—the University must offer an unconditional public apology, reverse all disciplinary actions against pro-Palestine protestors, end ties to weapons companies and immediately commit to transparent policy reform that respects privacy, academic freedom, and the right to protest.”

The ACT Greens are calling for fresh hearings in the parliamentary inquiry into Caretaker Conventions, after documents released under Freedom of Information revealed multiple potential breaches of the rules before and after the 2024 ACT Election.

“These FOI documents show Labor used government resources and the ACT Public Service to help coordinate and support election campaign events, so it’s pretty clear the caretaker conventions are not having the effect they’re meant to,” said Andrew Braddock MLA, Greens spokesperson on Democracy and Integrity.

“The public service is a crucial asset to our democracy, and I will always defend it. This evidence shows a direct threat to the apolitical and unbiased nature of the public service.

“I think Labor has been in government for such a long time that there’s complacency on both sides, among the politicians and the public service, that’s not so much nefarious as it is foreseeable and disappointing.

“In one case, we’ve got Labor candidates posing for social media pictures in the refurbished Fitzroy Pavilion at EPIC, seven weeks before the ACT Government officially reopened it,” Mr Braddock said.

“There was even an instance of the public service preparing an entire briefing pack for Andrew Barr – with speaking notes, instructions on where to park, a list of attending VIPs and which media outlets would be there – for the opening of Carlotta Restaurant less than 48 hours before election day.

“How could anyone think it’s appropriate to use Territory resources to support Andrew Barr to cut a ribbon, two days before polls closed?

“This is clearly a case where Mr Barr could have attended without the assistance of the ACT Public Service, or, as the caretaker conventions say, the public service could have also briefed the opposition and the crossbench.

“And that is why I have brought these issues to light – because I believe it is vital that there are appropriate protections and mechanisms to ensure our public servants can remain apolitical at all times, especially during caretaker.”

“As a public service town, Canberrans understand the importance of remaining impartial and able to provide frank, fearless advice to the government of the day. When those boundaries blur, we must examine the causes, address entrenched issues and strengthen the ACTPS so public servants have the independence to do their jobs as intended.

“Political parties and candidates can ask for access to government facilities for electioneering, and the public service can provide it. But in these cases, it was the Chief Minister’s office asking, and the public service is in the habit of saying yes.”

Background

Ministerial offices and the ACT Public Sector switch into ‘caretaker’ mode in the lead up to an election, to make sure the ordinary services of government continue while politicians are kept at arm’s length.

The rules around the caretaker period are not legally enforceable, but they are a convention followed in democracies around the world to avoid binding an incoming government. They effectively level out the advantage of being an incumbent government.

The ACT’s caretaker conventions reinforce the apolitical nature of the ACT Public Service “by avoiding the use of Territory resources in a manner that advantages a particular party.”

The documents provided under FOI show Labor staffers and ACT public servants used Territory resources to set up Labor campaign events and unnecessarily support candidate community engagement.

CMTEDDFOI 2025-088 is available on the ACT Government’s FOI Disclosure Log.

On the day of a national meeting of Education Ministers, the Greens are urging ministers to go beyond band-aid fixes and tackle the systemic problems undermining safety and quality in childcare.

The Greens say yesterday’s naming of 29 centres under new laws is a start, but it won’t lift overall quality or address the deeper failures of the for-profit model.

Last week, the Greens announced they will move to establish a Senate Inquiry into the quality and safety of early education and care as soon as Parliament resumes. The inquiry will, among other things, examine how the childcare subsidy model props up for-profit providers and undermines standards.

Australian Greens spokesperson for early childhood education and care, Senator Steph Hodgins-May: 

“More and more evidence is mounting that the profit-driven model of early learning is failing by treating children as revenue streams, not as young people deserving of quality care and education.

“As Education Ministers meet today I urge them to go beyond band-aid fixes and confront the real issue putting our kids at risk – a system that puts profit ahead of care. 

“The rapid review in Victoria warns providers are putting profits ahead of children’s safety, while the recent NSW review exposed the inherent conflict between profit and quality care. When will the Government finally reckon with this?

“The difference is stark: only 13 per cent of for-profit centres exceed the national quality standard, compared with almost one-third of community and not-for-profit centres.

“Naming and shaming poor quality providers is a first step, but it’s not enough. These are our children we’re talking about, not line items on a balance sheet.” 

The Greens say the Government’s roundtable has delivered nothing for workers, renters and first home buyers, according to Greens Senator Barbara Pocock.

With the Treasurer just today identifying the need to move on intergenerational inequality, the Greens say the government must move beyond talk, into action on tax reform and improved conditions for workers.

Senator Larissa Waters, Leader of the Australian Greens:

“What a flop that the roundtable didn’t result in anything more than Labor’s minimal pre-election plans. No action on big corporations paying their fair share, no changing housing tax settings that have cooked affordability, and no understanding that climate action is key to future economic prosperity. What a visionless approach,” Senator Waters said.

“The roundtable didn’t consider taxes on rich coal and gas corporations or take action on handouts for wealthy property investors. It didn’t move us towards a four day work week or raise income support. Instead, the major outcomes seem likely to push up emissions and slow down rooftop solar.

“The Treasurer’s calls for action on intergenerational inequality moments after the economic roundtable finished show how little the three day event achieved.

“Labor can’t keep putting off important reforms year after year, talking about problems like the housing crisis or intergenerational inequality while doing little to fix them. It’s time to put the talk aside and take action.”

Australian Greens spokesperson for finance, employment and workplace relations, Senator Barbara Pocock:

“This is a missed opportunity for bold action from the Government. Labor could deliver genuine tax reform today that would tackle intergenerational inequality, improve conditions for workers and boost productivity. Long delays on tax reform aren’t going to fix anything.

“Labor is supposed to be the party of the worker and yet its economic roundtable has delivered nothing for workers. Despite weeks of proposals from unions, we’ve seen zero commitments from the Government to improving working conditions that would ultimately boost productivity. What’s the point of inviting workers’ representatives to a roundtable if you’re not going to listen to them.

“The evidence is clear – flexible working arrangements – such as the right to work from home and a shorter working week with the same pay – reduce the time spent on commuting, improve work-life balance, increase mental and physical wellbeing, and boosts workforce participation and productivity. They are good for women.

“This is about justice for working people. The profit share of GDP has risen while workers’ share has shrunk. It’s time for workers to get their fair share. The Government has the support of unions for real reform for workers and their families. The Greens stand ready to pass them in parliament. 

“Ending the housing crisis is possible but cutting red tape won’t cut it. We have to bite the bullet on tax. That means winding back unfair tax handouts to wealthy property investors which are cooking our housing system, fuelling intergenerational inequality and helping to shut an entire generation out of home ownership.

“Unless the Government makes the necessary reforms to the tax concessions for property investors, we’ll continue to see house prices rise and rents spiral. Labor must listen to the experts and deliver tax reforms that will actually help Australians put a roof over their head.

“Labor must deliver on essential tax reform to deal with the housing crisis, ensure workers get their fair share and strengthen flexible working arrangements which we know boosts productivity.” 

The NSW Government has accepted all recommendations of an independent review into the delivery of this year’s selective education placement tests, with the 2026 tests and beyond to be held at smaller venues and logistics to be overseen directly by the NSW Department of Education.

Respected education academic Dr Michele Bruniges AM examined the issues that caused significant disruption to 2025 testing held at larger testing venues. Dr Bruniges has also chaired the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment Governing Board since 2017.

Disruptions on the first day of testing resulted in the department shifting subsequent testing to alternative smaller venues, managed by departmental staff. This approach will continue in 2026.

Dr Bruniges’ recommendations for the department, include holding only one placement test session per day per school, with a maximum number of 300 students in large school venues and 180 students in the smaller school venues.

In her report, Dr Bruniges notes the department’s successful establishment of computer-based test design and delivery outside of the three large testing venues.

Planning is underway for the 2026 tests. The first round of offers for next year’s selective high school cohort will be today.

Along with the Bruniges Review, separate independent advice into the fairness and integrity of the 2025 tests was provided by Professor Jim Tognolini, Director of the Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment at the University of Sydney.

Professor Tognolini’s work examined whether students who sat the test twice due to disruption had an advantage and whether all test versions were comparable and equally difficult.

His review found:

• No evidence of advantage for students re-sitting the test.
• Minimal difference between the scores on the first and second test for students who sat the Selective High School and Opportunity Class test twice.
• All test versions, including re-sits, were of equal difficulty.
• Where common questions were used between tests, proven methods were applied to ensure fairness.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“The NSW Government is accepting all of Dr Bruniges recommendations including that future tests take place in smaller cohorts at local schools, ensuring we don’t see the disruption we saw this year again.

“Every student deserves a fair go, and I thank Dr Bruniges and Professor Tognolini for their work to ensure we deliver fair and well-run tests for entry to selective schooling and opportunity classes.”

NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said:

“We will implement all recommendations of the Bruniges review to ensure a smooth process for students participating in next year’s tests.

“The disruption experienced at the larger testing centres earlier this year was not acceptable, and I’m pleased our steps to address the issues delivered a fair outcome.”

Dr Michele Bruniges AM said:

“For NSW families and their children, a decision to sit for placement tests for entry into selective education is significant.

“The use of large testing centres this year caused disruption, and the review has made recommendations to ensure the disruption experienced is not repeated.”

Professor Jim Tognolini said:

“Despite disruption to testing at major centres, students resitting the tests did not receive an advantage.

“There was minimal difference between scores on the original and re-sit tests, with proven testing methods ensuring fairness.”