On behalf of the Federal Opposition, I congratulate Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC on being elected by the British people as the United Kingdom’s 58th Prime Minister. I congratulate members of the Labour Party on forming a new Government.
The Federal Opposition will work with the Australian Government on a bipartisan basis to continue to nurture Australia’s special, spirited, and significant relationship with Britain.
Our bilateral relationship is a strong partnership untarnished by the passing of time, undiminished by distance, and unsullied by changes in government.
In these precarious times, there is no more important endeavour for our two nations than injecting speed and resolve into our defence objectives and partnership under the AUKUS agreement.
I take this opportunity to commend Sir Keir Starmer and the UK Labour Party for their goals to make Britain ‘a clean energy superpower’ and to achieve ‘energy independence’. The new British Government’s plan includes building new nuclear power stations and small modular reactors to help the UK ‘achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.’ There is much Australia can learn from the British experience.
I also take this opportunity to thank the outgoing British Government under the Conservative Party, including the leadership provided by Prime Ministers David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Elizabeth Truss and Rishi Sunak, for their unwavering commitment to our bilateral relationship over more than 14 years.
The Federal Coalition looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Starmer to Australia at a time when he is able to make his first trip, as leader of the United Kingdom, to our shores.
5 July 2024