36956 (2026). Hon Damien O'Connor to the Minister of Defence

36956 (2026). Hon Damien O'Connor to the Minister of Defence: Was a trilateral defence ministers' meeting between New Zealand, Australia, and Japan planned or proposed for August 2026; if so, will it proceed as planned; if it will not, will it be rescheduled or replaced by alternative arrangements such as a virtual meeting or officials-level talks; if so, when, and if not, why not?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: A meeting was scheduled to take place on 18 August 2026 in Canberra. As this occurred shortly after I was appointed, it has been deferred. Future trilateral meetings will be considered at the next appropriate opportunity. No impact has been identified on the Maritime Fleet Renewal Programme. The Australia and Japan governments were notified of this decision in writing.