Under the Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation announced today, we, the Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan, announce the elevation of critical minerals as a core pillar of our economic security relationship.
The importance of our strategic coordination for critical minerals, including for advanced manufacturing and the energy transition as well as for broader economic security, will further strengthen the Special Strategic Partnership between Australia and Japan.
Australia and Japan are Special Strategic Partners with a commitment to mutual energy security and to rules-based and market-oriented trade and investment.
The prosperity, security, stability and economic future of our countries and region are intertwined. We recognise the complementarity of our trade and economic partnership and the interdependence of our energy security, we are committed to our two-way trade in energy resources and strengthening supply chain resilience, while also addressing unjustified import and export restrictions.
2026 marks 10 years since the Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA) was established to bring behavioural science to the forefront of public policy and service design.
Over the past decade, behavioural insights has become an integral part of how government approaches complex policy challenges. By focusing on how people make decisions, and the barriers that can stand in the way of action, BETA has helped design services that are easier to navigate, more accessible, and more likely to achieve their intended outcomes in benefitting Australians.
The Secretaries Board met today at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to discuss the following matters.
The Board discussed government priorities, strategic issues and emerging risks.
The Board received an update on geostrategic issues from Ms Jan Adams AO PSM, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Ms Cath Patterson, Acting Secretary, Department of Defence.
The Governor-General announced a special Australian Bravery Decorations Honours List to recognise the courageous actions of eight remarkable individuals during the tragedy that occurred at Bondi Junction in 2024.
The National Fuel Security Plan sets out a staged response to fuel supply challenges to keep Australia moving.
The plan is guided by 4 response levels:
Australia is currently operating at Level 2: “Keep Australia moving.” This means fuel supplies are continuing, but there are pressures on the system.
In 2023 the Australian Government reformed the Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme to make it more flexible and gender neutral. A key objective of the reforms was to encourage both parents to share caring arrangements. In this project, we explored how forms and websites support parents’ intentions to share their parental leave entitlements.