On behalf of the Coalition and the Federal Opposition, I also warmly welcome His Excellency, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, his wife, and the entire Thai delegation to our Parliament.
It was a great pleasure to meet with His Excellency earlier today, along with members of my team; The Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Shadow Minister for Defence, The Shadow Assistant Minister for International Development and the Indo-Pacific
The Coalition is very pleased to see our two countries deepen their partnership and collaboration because of His Excellency's visit this week.
Indeed, Australia and Thailand elevated our bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2020, under the former Coalition Government.
We've had a Free Trade Agreement in place now for more than two decades that's served both our peoples well.
As has the Economic Cooperation Agreement that was signed in Bangkok in 2022.
The Coalition's thoughts are with all the Thai families who lost loved ones earlier this month in the school shooting on the outskirts of Bangkok.
Australia has known similar mass shootings, of course.
And I commend His Excellency for the leadership he has displayed in the wake of that tragedy.
As His Excellency rightly acknowledged at the ASEAN Future Forum in June:
"… much of the world is becoming more fragmented, more polarised, and more uncertain."
The Coalition and Federal Opposition are deeply concerned about China's recent test launch of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile in the Pacific.
And we welcome all nations of our region calling out and condemning acts of coercion or aggression - whatever the source.
At a time of regional tension, I commend His Excellency for his determination to find a peaceful solution to Thailand and Cambodia's border disputes.
We hope the current ceasefire can turn into a lasting peace.
Mr Speaker, it's been eight years since Australian and Thai heroes rescued a boys' soccer team who had become trapped in a cave in northern Thailand.
That evacuation was extraordinary and a defining moment of friendship between our two great countries.
Today, we salute those heroes and acknowledge our abiding friendship.
His Excellency and the Thai delegation are most welcome guests in our country.
