Press conference - United Nations headquarters, New York

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, good morning. I'm very proud to be representing Australia at the United Nations General Assembly here in New York this week, and to be joined here this morning with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

This visit will allow Australia to continue to work with our international partners on a range of issues with one focus right across the board, which is, what is Australia's national interest and how is it best served.

Australia is a middle power. We do have influence in the world, and we are able to exercise our voice to put forward the view of Australia in what are turbulent times. I think the fact that Australia has a secure political system, legal system, puts us in a strong position to be listened to in the forums that will be held over the next coming days.

We are, of course, very much focused on putting forward Australia's national interest, but also Australian values. And during this week, we'll promote investment in Australia, particularly in renewable energy, but also manufacturing in a forum that will be held at Macquarie over the next couple of days.

We'll share in Australia's world leading experience in protecting children online, and we're very pleased that the leadership that we've shown is seeing other countries, and particularly the European Union, provide support. Wednesday morning will be an important event. Minister Wells will join us for that. Her arrival here was delayed because of the debacle that Optus have been involved with in Australia, to stay back in Australia to lead the response to that.

Australia does want to see increased peace and stability around the world. That's why tomorrow, I will attend a major a conference on the two-state solution, hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. Australia is a long-standing supporter of a two-state solution as the only pathway to a secure and prosperous future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Later today as well, I'll meet with the King of Jordan, His Majesty King Abdullah II, to discuss the Middle East and our bilateral relations. And there'll be other bilateral meetings held during this week.

Today, I'm pleased to be here with Minister Wong to announce that effective today, Sunday, the 21st of September 2025, the Commonwealth of Australia recognises the state of Palestine. We have had in Australia a long-term position on a bipartisan basis of two states. One of those states is, of course, Israel. The other, of course, is Palestine. And this recognition being announced today, in sync with our international partners, the United Kingdom and Canada, means that three of the Five Eyes nations are all making this decision today.

We recognise the legitimate and long held aspirations of the people of Palestine of a state of their own. And in doing so, we reaffirm Australia's long standing of two states, the state of Israel and the state of Palestine, living side by side behind internationally recognised borders and peace and security.

Our active recognition is based on the commitments received from the Palestinian Authority; including that the terrorists of Hamas cannot govern Gaza again, Palestine recognises Israel's right to existing peace and security, and the Palestinian Authority will demilitarise and hold democratic elections, driving broader reform to governance, finance and education.

I want to acknowledge the leadership of the Arab League that has given added strength to these commitments. Their demand for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza and surrender its weapons has helped to create this moment of opportunity.

This is the best chance the world has had in decades to disarm and isolate Hamas, and deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine. This is a moment of opportunity for nations of goodwill to work together to see the hostages taken in the atrocities of October 7, 2023 returned immediately and with dignity, to bring about an immediate ceasefire and to bring an end to the humanitarian catastrophe which is being inflicted on Gaza, to see vital aid, food, water, medicine for people in need.

Australians want the killings to stop. Australians also, of course, don't want conflict to be brought to Australia. And Australians want the people of Palestine and the people of Israel to know a future of greater hope, true security and real peace. Today, we advance that course. Tomorrow, we continue that work, and tomorrow afternoon's conference being convened by Saudi Arabia and France will be the next step, following the recognition which our three states are announcing.

I'll turn to the Foreign Minister, and then we'll be happy to take some questions.

PENNY WONG, FOREIGN MINISTER: Thank you, Prime Minister. As the Prime Minister has said today, Australia formally recognises the state of Palestine. The practical steps of recognition will begin now, and this fulfils the commitment that the Prime Minister made a month ago.

As the Prime Minister said, this is the moment, the best opportunity that we have as a country to contribute to momentum towards a two-state solution. This will be an ongoing process. For now, what we will do is ensure that Australian Government communications are updated to reflect this formal recognition, official documents, public facing websites, government systems, policies and operating procedures will refer to the State of Palestine, or Palestine, rather than the OPTs. Further steps will follow, such as establishing embassies to follow progress on reforms committed to by the Palestinian Authority.

This gives effect to the commitment the Prime Minister and I made where we flagged announcement of this recognition. What we expect is reform in areas of education, governments, disarmament, democratic elections, and, of course, to ensure the exclusion of Hamas. There can be no role for Hamas.

The commitments of the PA are strengthened by the Arab League's unprecedented demand from the terrorist organization Hamas to end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons.

Now, Australia has made clear, we will work with the Palestinian Authority and the international community to both build the capacity of the Authority, but also to hold the Authority to the commitments it has made publicly to the international community. We've already agreed to work with Indonesia to assist the PA in meeting its commitments, to institute reforms to law enforcement and schooling, and, as I've said consistently, we are not recognising Hamas. What we are recognising is the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and the future of Palestinian children. And our steps today reflect our long held conviction that the only path to lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians relies on two states. Thank you very much.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you've mentioned self-determination. Self-determination cuts both ways, and there are studies and there are polls, that say that Hamas still has significant support in Gaza. If it is about self-determination, how do you get across that hurdle if you don't want them to be in power?

PRIME MINISTER: You get across that hurdle by excluding Hamas from the process. That's something the Arab League have made very clear, something that other governments are making that recognition, including the United Kingdom and Canada, will also make clear today.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, this puts you at odds with the United States, which is a member of the Security Council in this building behind us, and won't allow this to happen, will veto any move by the international community to do this until it's ready or Israel is ready, or both. And now you have leading Congressional Republicans threatening reprisals against Australia. What does this do to our bilateral relationship with the United States?

PRIME MINISTER: This is about Australia's position and the fact that we're a sovereign nation. Australia will make decisions based upon our national interests. We respect the fact that there will be different views, but we think that, for a long time, Australia has had a bipartisan position of two states. The recognition of Israel, its right to exist within secure borders, its right to defend itself, its right to provide a homeland for the Jewish people. That is legitimate. It is also legitimate if we say we're serious about two states, what's the other state? The other state is Palestine. It's not something somewhere else. It's Palestine. And the recognition of two states is a logical next step to progress peace and security in the region.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, what's your response to threats from Israel to take retaliatory action like annexing parts of the West Bank? If they did that, would this all have been worth it?

PRIME MINISTER: Look, we are seeing the Israeli Government continue to provide support for illegal settlements and expansion in the West Bank. We're seeing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfold in Gaza. The idea that Israel is just sitting back waiting to negotiate is not what is happening here. This is about the world saying enough is enough. We want peace and security in the Middle East. This is Australia playing a role.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, back to Mark's point, are you saying that you don't think there'll be any impact on our relationship with the United States in taking this position?

PRIME MINISTER: I'm saying that Australia makes our position clear as a sovereign nation. Our foreign policy isn't determined in Washington or Beijing or Wellington, for that matter, our foreign policy is determined around the Cabinet table in Canberra.

JOURNALIST: Keir Starmer waited until he's met Donald Trump in England before making this announcement. Do you think your decision on this has played any role in you not meeting Donald Trump on this trip in a formal bilat? And if it isn't Palestine, what is the reason you haven't met Donald Trump yet again, visiting America in a formal bilat?

PRIME MINISTER: No, is the answer.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just back to what the Foreign Minister was saying about the authority involved in building the authority of the Palestinian Authority, there's a question mark about its support levels among the Palestinian people. Can you please explain a little bit more about what Australia is willing to do to help boost the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority?

FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, I think there are really two points. The first is, we are ensuring that various steps associated with recognition, diplomatic relations, the establishment of an embassy, these steps will be taken in conjunction with Palestine. There is a degree of conditionality around what we are doing to ensure that this happens. The second point, though, is we recognise the importance of investing, with others, in the capacity of the Palestinian Authority, and so I was promised that one of the measures we agreed to with Indonesia, arising out of our meeting with the foreign and defence ministers of Indonesia, was to work together on the school reform, education reform. There are things such as changing the protocol, making sure that we invest in the capability and governance [inaudible], so these programs we will roll out with others. There's obviously a lot of work to do, which is also why we are taking responsibility.

JOURNALIST: These are all fairly long-term issues still, and as you say Prime Minister, what we are seeing in Gaza is catastrophic, and Israeli is building new settlements in the West Bank. Does this in any way assist the process of addressing the immediate catastrophe, beyond just pressure? Is there something, is it, does it require, does it imply extra legal obligations on countries who are recognising Palestine as to do more?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is the world saying that the cycle of violence has to stop. This is a cycle that we've gone on now for almost 80 years, and it is the world saying - unlike what was formally discussed, was that recognition would come at the end of the peace process. This is the world expressing the view that the escalation of violence has to stop, and likeminded countries are coming together. My understanding is that up to ten countries will be recognising Palestine this week. We, of course, have had heavier engagement with our partners, including the United Kingdom, Canada and also France. But this is something that it was felt, as the Foreign Minister said in a speech some time ago now, that this could be a step to create momentum here.

JOURNALIST: Would you consider asking the US President to use more influence with Israel to end the humanitarian crisis, or a achieve a ceasefire?

PRIME MINISTER: The United States obviously has a very important role to play in the Middle East. President Trump has a position publicly and privately, and has for a long period of time, been an advocate for peace in wherever around the world. And we, of course, want to encourage all partners around the world, including within Israel, of course, as well. There's not a uniform view in Israel, and there is, of course, a range of views there. What's very clear, though, to me, as someone who has always supported two states, is that now is the time. You can't just watch what is unfolding and not have a response. Australia is not big players in the Middle East. It's not a major trading partner. We don't provide arms to Israel. What we can do, though, is to use this statement in conjunction with other partners to make this declaration.

JOURNALIST: Thank you, Prime Minister. Nice to see you.

PRIME MINISTER: Good to see you.

JOURNALIST: Could you tell me what are we actually recognising, in terms of borders of the State of Palestine? Where would you situate an embassy, noting it took you two and a half years to reopen the embassy in Cuba, we actually did have strong shared premises. And what are the exact metrics that would be required for the Palestinian Authority to meet for us to open an embassy, exactly?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, what this is, is a declaration of recognition of the State of Palestine. And what we're saying, I'll ask the Foreign Minister to add, is that in terms of further diplomatic measures, they will be determined by the response to the commitments that have been made, that we sought and that the Palestinian Authority have made -

JOURNALIST: So, are you thinking timeframes, two years or something. Is there a rough timeframe you have?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we will move as there is a response in those conditions met. So, we want to be certain, and we'll do that in partnership, not just with those nations that are recognising Palestine this week, but importantly as well, the Arab League are key players. The fact that tomorrow's conference is being convened by the Saudis, as well as France, is an indication of that. One of the things that we want to see in the region as well, isn't just the aspirations for Palestinians being realised, we also want to see the legitimate aspirations of Israelis to be able to live in peace and security, to be recognized by those countries around it as well. And so, the Saudi recognition and the statements of the Arab League are very important.

JOURNALIST: And where will we see the embassy, in Gaza or the West Bank?

PRIME MINISTER: All of those matters are to be determined as time comes. We're not about to open an embassy, to be very clear -

JOURNALIST: But where is the thinking about where it would go?

PRIME MINISTER: What we are doing, without getting ahead of ourselves. What we are doing is recognising is the State of Palestine. Those matters will be determined by the conditions that we've put up.

FOREIGN MINISTER: The Prime Minister has responded fully to your question, I think. But I would make this point, there is a long way to go. There is a lot of detail to work through. For example, we are in the same position as the United Kingdom, Canada and France, and all of the other countries which are doing this. But Australia has a couple of choices. We can either say we're sitting back and we're not going to worry about this while we see what is happening in Gaza, and whilst we see the prospect of long term peace be disappearing through the actions of some. Or we can try and make a contribution with the international community towards a pathway to peace, and that is what we are doing. So, all of the legitimate questions of detail you have, they confront all of us, which is why we are taking this one step at a time, and ultimately, ultimately, we have to make a decision as a country, do we want to contribute to this pathway to peace alongside the international community here at the United Nations, or not?

PRIME MINISTER: We'll go to Phil and to Andrew, then to Geoff, then here. Thanks.

JOURNALIST: Just on another topic, while you're here, you're hoping to meet President Erdoğan to discuss next year's COP. Is that the central point you're going to make? Or is it none of us wants it? None of us wants it, so divert?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is a fact, if there is not agreement, then it will be held in Bonn. Look, I look forward - I've had a discussion previously already with President Erdoğan and with his Foreign Minister. I will advocate in good faith for Australia and the Pacific's position, I think the fact that it's a joint bid, and there'll be a range of Pacific leaders here this week who will be advocating as well, with these things. Quite clearly, if we're going to see our way through to a common position, it is highly likely there will be a need to be compromised. And so, you know, that is what this building does, it's called diplomacy. I'll have those discussions, not at the media conference.

JOURNALIST: Have you landed the meeting yet?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're discussing - Minister Bowen is meeting with his counterpart as a preview for that this afternoon.

JOURNALIST: Why do you think the US is so opposed to this recognition of this Palestine idea? Is it because they think it just won't work?

PRIME MINISTER: It's not up to me to speak on behalf of the US Administration, I wouldn't be so bold or presumptuous. What my job is to do, is to speak on behalf of the Australian Government, and that's what we're doing here.

JOURNALIST: Thanks, Prime Minister. If a Hamas affiliate or a rebranded Hamas wins a free election in a new Palestinian State, and a very fragile Palestinian Authority doesn't come anywhere close to what the expectations are in terms of their reform promises, is Australia's declaration here today, are there any triggers involved here that might cause a reconsideration of this very firm position that your Government's taking?

PRIME MINISTER: What we've said is, we're recognising the state of Palestine. If you support two states, it's not Israel and, you know, something else - and Marrickville, it's Israel and Palestine. So that is what we're doing here, recognising, formalising something that was always envisaged by the United Nations. The United Nations didn't create one state. They created two. There's a whole range of historical reasons, missed opportunities have occurred over subsequent decades. The world is saying enough is enough. We need to have a positive path forward, and that is what countries, overwhelmingly, there are, of course, already, I think the biggest 147 or thereabouts, I might be out by one or two, already recognise Palestine. But what you are seeing here is like minded countries, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France - I think I'll wait until tomorrow - but are going to recognise, all making this declaration. And that should say something to the entire world about what the globe thinks going forward. Because conflict in the Middle East has caused issues not just confined to that region. There's been a source of global instability for such a long period of time, and the only way forward that Australia can see, and the other countries recognising here, is for two states to actually be advanced.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you're here to talk about the social media event this week. Can you tell us about any of the countries that have representatives there, or that you've expressed an interest in watching what happens in Australia, or following soon?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, this will be a really important meeting. It will take place on Wednesday morning, and other countries, including it's expected that the European Union will be represented, my friend Mr Mitsotakis of Greece, other regional leaders, including my friend, President Rabuka of Fiji, and other leaders. We'll be out trying to round up a few more to come to what will be a really important event. But the globe is looking at this, and this isn't something that's confined to just Australia. This is something on the sideline, I'm sure, of basketball, baseball games here in the United States, just as it is in Australia. Ans after school, where parents are saying, we want to get our kids off their devices and onto the basketball courts, tennis courts, swimming pools, engaging with each other socially as well. And we'll be having a parent who will be coming from Australia as well. I've spoken to parents who've lost their young ones. No parent should have to say goodbye to a child, and I think, it wasn't a documentary, but may as well have been, that won so many awards in the last fortnight, people watching that will be moved by it. Anyone who's been a parent worries about these issues that, you know, we didn't, I didn't have to worry about, you know. I used to leave home on a Sunday morning, and you'd be down kicking the footy, engaging with people, not necessarily doing everything your parents would want to know you were doing, but essentially engaging. And now, you have children, our children, in their bedroom, being harassed, being put in positions that no child should. So, it's a strong action. It won't be foolproof, we don't say that, but we do say we want to empower parents to say to their children, no, you can't do that, to give them some agency. But importantly, it's about giving agency to young people themselves, let them be kids, as the campaign says. It's such a simple slogan that means so much. Before I conclude, can I just acknowledge that today is a very sad occasion for many Americans and indeed people who followed Charlie Kirk right around the world. The memorial is being held in Arizona, and our thoughts are with those who love Charlie, and his family. There is no place for political violence, here or anywhere else in the world. This is a tragedy, and our thoughts are with those who will be grieving today. Thanks very much.