On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, it gives me great pleasure
to present the committee's report of its delegation visit to United Kingdom and Poland in November 2025. The
aims of the delegation were to strengthen bilateral relations between our countries to advance our understanding of progress under the 50-year Australia and United Kingdom nuclear-powered submarine partnership and collaboration treaty, the Geelong treaty, and to learn about Australia's international defence cooperation in support of Poland and the Ukraine.

We returned to Australia with a reinforced sense of shared values, solidarity and a deep appreciation of the need to uphold and strengthen critical alliances. Resoundingly, we heard our own concerns about the indivisibility of Russia's war on Ukraine and the increased tensions in the Indo-Pacific region reflected back to us by UK and Polish parliamentary counterparts.
In the United Kingdom, we observed a trench warfare and drone demonstration by the Australian Defence
Force personnel training Ukrainian armed forces. Movingly, Ukrainian military officers spoke to us about the
psychological impacts of the ongoing conflict, with many veterans traumatised by the sound of Russian drones.

We were reminded of the past and present service and sacrifice of our own Australian Defence Force men and
women when we attended the Australian High Commission Remembrance Day service at the Australian War
Memorial in London. Our consultations with parliamentary counterparts underscored the importance of the Australia-United Kingdom defence cooperation under the Geelong treaty. Knowledge transfer was highlighted by our parliamentary colleagues and industry representatives as key to the success of the AUKUS program. They told us of the barriers to workforce migration and challenges in recruiting and retaining workers to long-term infrastructure projects, such as shipbuilding. These insights are discussed at great length in the defence subcommittee's inquiry report into the Department of Defence annual report 2023-24.

Now more than ever Australia relies on effective trade relationships with like-minded countries. We heard about the value of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement with a range of industry representatives as part of the Australia-United Kingdom bilateral economic roundtable. In Warsaw, the delegation had the privilege of hearing firsthand perspectives from both Polish and Ukrainian ministers of the impact of Russia's war on Ukraine, and the vital need for global support to uphold the international rule of law. We took solemn note of Australia's need to understand hybrid warfare, drone incursion and disinformation in an environment of increased weaponisation of migration, infrastructure and food security.

We heard that Poland's projected defence expenditure this year is nearly five per cent of its GDP. Ukraine's
defence spending in 2024 was nearly 40 per cent of its GDP. Ukrainian ministers spoke of the impact of the war on their country and the people of Ukraine, the increased drone and missile attacks largely affecting civilians and forced displacement, with over 2.5 million Ukrainians without homes. We were greatly impressed by the dedication of support organisations and the UNHCR in assisting Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

While attending the ReBuild Ukraine conference in Warsaw, we were both impressed and inspired by Ukraine's
determination to rebuild in the midst of conflict. We were both gratified and humbled to hear that Australia is
held in high regard in both Poland and Ukraine, and we note their appreciation of Australia's $1.3 billion military and humanitarian assistance commitment. Australia and Poland share a deep history of collaboration, with our troops fighting side-by-side in Tobruk during World War II and elsewhere. The delegation's presence in Poland emphasised the strong relationship between Australia, Poland and Ukraine.

We were honoured to affirm Australia's enduring and unequivocal support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. On behalf of the delegation, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to government officials, defence force personnel and organisations in the United Kingdom and Poland who graciously allowed time to meet with the delegation and share their insights and experience. We deeply appreciate the warm welcome and the hospitality we received. I'd like to acknowledge the assistance provided by the staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the Australian high commission in London, led by the then high commissioner, the Hon. Stephen Smith, and at the Australian embassy in Warsaw, led by Australia's ambassador to Poland, His Excellency Mr Benjamin Hayes. I would particularly like to thank other staff who were there in Warsaw who provided invaluable assistance in developing the program for Poland and generous support during the delegation's time in Warsaw.

I'd like to thank my fellow delegation members, Senator Dean Smith, Senator Deborah O'Neill, the member for Hinkler and the member for Adelaide. The delegation was ably supported both prior to and during the visit by the delegation secretary, Ms Leeann Galloway, and I want to particularly thank her for her wonderful contribution to the success of the visit. I commend this report to the House.

The full video can be found here: https://youtu.be/zHTuqInzIAw?si=pXVR4OPWRd0-9D8O