Labor government establishes Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement with UK

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has announced the Labor government and the United Kingdom are establishing a Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement. Mr Marles spoke at a press conference on Friday to make the latest announcement with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. “We have long had strong people-to-people ties, strong cultural relationships, but what is emerging now is a strategic and security dimension to this relationship,” he said. “We have all reflected on how close our reflexes and our instincts are around a range of matters and how much intent there is on the part of all four of us to see a greater degree of action between our two countries on top of what is already a very, very solid base of activity. “Over the last two days we have announced the establishment of a Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom and Australia. “Which is a status of forces agreement which contains within them a commitment to consult with each other where there are contingencies which engage our sovereignty and our national security.”