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Today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hosted Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Canberra for their Annual Leaders’ Meeting.

Following the meeting, the leaders witnessed the signature of a range of bilateral arrangements that will renew dialogue and strengthen cooperation between Australia and China.

Australia’s goods and services exports to China have more than doubled since China-Australia Free Trade Agreement entered into force in 2015. Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen its implementation.

A Memorandum of Understanding on our Strategic Economic Dialogue will take forward discussions on economic policy issues and our bilateral economic cooperation.

Leaders welcomed the resumption of cooperation on climate change through an updated Memorandum of Understanding, which provides a framework to deepen dialogue on this vital issue. Australia will host the next Australia-China Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change later this year.

Education remains our largest services export to China, and China has been our largest source country for international students since 2002.

Leaders oversaw the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding on Education and Research Cooperation, which will encourage further cooperation in areas such as quality assurance, online education, and qualification recognition.

Australian and China also strengthened collaboration between our arts and cultural sectors through the 15th Implementation Program under the 1981 Agreement on Cultural Cooperation. The program will encourage collaboration, visits and skills exchanges between creative and cultural professionals and institutions.

Prime Minister Albanese

“I was pleased to host Premier Li today for the Annual Leaders’ Meeting, which built on the progress made since my visit to China last November.

“The agreements reached today are a result of the Government’s steady and deliberate approach to our relationship with China.

“They also reflect the broad range of areas where we can cooperate and work to mutual benefit.

“Bilateral trade has brought significant benefits to both our countries. China remains our largest trading partner and trade supports one in four Australian jobs.

“Australia and China recognise the need to work together to tackle climate change—a global issue that requires a global response.”

The Albanese government has made another major commitment to women’s sport and the Matildas, contributing to the shared cost of hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on home soil in 2026.

The government’s $15 million investment will help ensure the tournament is a success and build upon the Matildas sport changing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup performance while increasing opportunities for women’s football in Australia and across our region.

The 2026 competition hosted in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia is expected to generate more than $200 million for the local economy.

More than 24,000 international visitors will flock to Australia for the first event and games will be broadcast to a global audience of hundreds of millions.

It will bring Asia’s best footballers to Australia and give us another chance to celebrate the Matildas on home soil.

Last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup was an unprecedented success with a lasting impact on not just women’s football, but Australian sport.

The Matildas have continued that momentum qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics, moving to 12th in the world and selling out a record 14 straight home games, entrenching their position as our country’s most popular national team.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is the oldest women’s international football competition in the world.

The 2026 event will serve as the final Asian qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong:

“Hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will be another opportunity to bring the world to Australia, bring Australians together, and showcase Australian excellence and inspire the next generation of athletes.

“This competition will put Australia at the heart of sport in our region and our investment is another example of the Albanese government’s commitment to make Australia even stronger and more influential through sport.”

Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher:

“The Albanese Government is proud to be supporting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia with a $15 million funding boost.

“When we invest in women’s football we’re investing in more than a game, we are also inspiring future generations of sports stars.

“During the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup the Matildas ignited the dreams of young players across the country and with the Tillies leading the way, the future of women’s football in Australia is bright.”

Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:

“The Tillies and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup redefined Australian sport and now the Albanese government is backing the Matildas again with a $15 million investment for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

“Our Asian Cup funding builds on the $200 million Play Our Way program to improve women and girls sporting facilities, it builds on our investment for the Netball World Cup in 2027 and Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029.

“Women’s sport is not a nice to have, it is not a phase, it is brilliant, nation-stopping theatre and it’s here to stay.”

Football Australia CEO, James Johnson:

“We convey our sincere appreciation for the Federal Government’s substantial investment today which now ensures Football Australia is well positioned to continue this tradition.

“With the competition poised to commemorate its 50th anniversary next year, it’s our ambition to elevate the experience of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to a level that celebrates women’s football in our region, and further ignites dreams of the next generation of footballers throughout our confederation.

“Hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will strengthen our ability to establish a lasting impact for people from all backgrounds in Australia and across Asia.”

The Australian Government is strengthening nuclear safeguards to help prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

Safeguards, and their related verification techniques, deter the spread of nuclear weapons through the early detection of the misuse of nuclear material or technology.

Australia has been implementing the highest standards of nuclear safeguards for almost 50 years and was one of the first countries to establish a nuclear safeguards support program with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

With a new $7.5 million investment, Australia will provide funding to connect Australian expertise in robotics, AI and advanced physics with the nuclear safeguards work of the IAEA. This will equip the IAEA to develop more effective and technologically advanced methods to improve safeguards verification techniques.

This week, the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office is hosting seven countries from the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network to attend a Masterclass on Advanced Safeguards, delivered by the IAEA. Participants will be provided with a greater understanding on techniques, current approaches and best practice in applying high standards of nuclear safeguards in their countries.

Australia is committed to a world without nuclear weapons and has a proud history of meeting the highest standards of nuclear non-proliferation. We strongly support the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime.

The ACT Greens have today announced they will deliver a Centre for Neurodivergence to provide free support to neurodivergent Canberrans, including those with ADHD and autism, should the Greens be re-elected later this year. 

“The ACT Greens want every Canberran to live a full and happy life, which means ensuring that everyone has access to the support and services they need,” said recontesting Member for Murrumbidgee Emma Davidson, ACT Greens spokesperson on disability.

“However, we know that most people who are neurodivergent are waiting months, if not years, to get a diagnosis and the support they need to live their lives to the fullest. 

“This can be particularly challenging for parents and carers who are left feeling isolated and helpless as they are trying to navigate this new and complex space with their child. 

“That’s why the ACT Greens want to establish a dedicated centre that provides free information and support to neurodivergent people and their families,” Ms Davidson said.

“The Centre for Neurodivergence will take a strengths-based approach – celebrating and supporting the beautiful diversity of how our minds and bodies work. It will also look at the community around the individual and provide support to their family, friends and workplaces in order to better understand neurodivergence. 

“At the moment, our systems of support for health care, education, employment, and social connections are built around neurotypical assumptions. Many people living in the ACT are neurodivergent, or know someone who is neurodivergent, yet our systems don’t support them and only change once someone has a diagnosis. 

“This means people go without the right support to excel in their lives, or may be adults before they connect with the right supports for their needs. We also know that there are many neurodivergent people who may not need or choose to go down the diagnosis pathway, who would still benefit from support. 

“Our Centre for Neurodivergence is a first in Australia and will provide a range of support for people when they ask for it – not only after they have a diagnosis.”

The Centre will provide free services and support such as:

• Assessment and diagnosis for people of all ages
• Early intervention allied health supports such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling, with or without a diagnosis
• Space for peer groups to meet
• Improved access to GP, psychology, and psychiatry services
• Information and resources for neurodivergent people, including those with autism or ADHD, their families and friends, carers, educators from early childhood through to tertiary education, and employers.

ACT Greens MLA Laura Nuttall, who is recontesting her seat in Brindabella, outlined the need for such a facility from her personal lived experience with neurodivergence.

“This would have been an absolute game changer for me when I was pursuing an ADHD diagnosis,” said Miss Nuttall.

“Getting support for ADHD is such an involved and often discouraging, exhausting process.

“We’re at a point where you can’t really get much support from allied health professionals before an official diagnosis, and for many people an official diagnosis is cost-prohibitive, takes ages and is ironically hugely taxing on your executive function. That doesn’t help when chances are, the reason you’re seeking help is because you need help right now.

“I realised I probably had ADHD a couple of years back when it started to interfere with my work, study and life. At the time I was under rental duress, but because I really did need the help, I went through the months of waiting, forked out roughly $600 and had some personally challenging discussions to be told that I did in fact have ADHD and could finally start getting help. 

“This system we’re proposing, that provides support before you even need to go through the diagnosis process, means people get help straight away, and I’m so excited that the Greens would make that happen in the ACT,” said Miss Nuttall. 

Ms Davidson said that the changes to the NDIS for psychosocial support mean that we will see more people left without the basic services they need to live a good life. 

“The ACT Greens plan will help people access support sooner, without diagnosis and address future needs that arise from NDIS reforms and the Disability Royal Commission recommendations,” said Ms Davidson. 

The Centre’s physical design and service model will be co-designed with people with lived experience of neurodivergence, carers, healthcare professionals, educators of neurodivergent students, academic researchers, and community advocates. It will be a fit-for-purpose building which will be easily accessible by bus or light rail.

The ACT Greens estimate this initiative will have a capital expenditure cost of approximately $15 million to establish a purpose-built space, and an additional $5 million per year for staff such as psychiatrists, psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, counsellors and peer workers.

The Centre for Neurodivergence is part of the ACT Greens commitment to delivering innovative health services across Canberra that support the person as a whole, rather than just their medical diagnosis. Read the details of our plan at https://greens.org.au/act/policies/disability.