List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

5.11

Recognising the centrality of ASEAN in existing regional architecture, the committee recommends that the Australian Government continue to remain fully engaged with ASEAN and ASEAN-led multilateral institutions as well as deepen cooperation with member states individually.

Recommendation 2

5.18

The committee recommends that the Australian Government continue to its proactive engagement with the Quad in order to promote an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific region and work to address the region’s most pressing challenges.

Recommendation 3

5.22

The committee recommends that the Australian Government continue to explore opportunities to deepen its bilateral relationship with India as well as through multilateral mechanisms, including the Quad.

Recommendation 4

5.25

The committee recommends that the Australian Government continue to support its regional partners in areas of health security and health support, particularly in this challenging time as the world works through the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, Australia should utilise key regional mechanisms such as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Quad to provide health assistance and support vaccine supply to its regional partners in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Australia should also emphasise in regional forums that assistance with vaccines should be provided without conditions.

Recommendation 5

5.26

The committee recommends the Australian Government:

invest in efforts to strengthen regional pandemic preparedness and resilience, and consider bilateral and multilateral programmes designed to assist Indo-Pacific countries enhance their preparedness for future health security challenges in areas of detecting, containing and controlling disease; and

continue to support its regional partners in recovering from the health and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommendation 6

5.29

The committee recommends that the Australian Government continue to focus on improving human and labour rights in the Indo-Pacific region by looking for opportunities for increased engagement and cooperation while speaking out against human rights violations and abuses.

Recommendation 7

5.33

The committee recommends that the Australian Government increase its investment, engagement and cooperation in the region to address environment and climate change issues and build capacity for resilience in the region.

Recommendation 8

5.37

The committee recommends that the Australian Government consider seeking out opportunities to deepen cooperation between regional security partners in the area of critical minerals, which could include drawing upon the strengths of Australia’s resources industry and professionals and facilitating additional investment opportunities, including in supporting skills development, networking and capacity building.

Recommendation 9

5.42

The committee recommends that the Australian Government:

work with the Northern Territory government to explore opportunities to enhance Northern Territory’s place as a strategic asset for Australia’s security and defence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific; and

consider how it can further develop the Northern Territory as an 'Alliance Hub' that supports not only the Australian Defence Force but also key allies such as the United States, United Kingdom and partners such as India, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea. Opportunities could also be explored to include Timor-Leste in these arrangements given their proximity and existing cooperation with the Australian Defence Force. In light of recent announcements such as AUKUS, an Alliance Hub could also present opportunities.

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