Prime Minister Albanese met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin today to advance the Australia-Germany relationship.
The leaders held positive discussions on boosting trade and investment, climate action and clean energy, and our defence and security cooperation.
The Australia-Germany relationship has never been stronger, and our economic partnership is increasingly important for Australia’s future prosperity and job creation in a time of global uncertainty.
Bilateral talks focused on drawing our countries closer, delivering growth, and investment opportunities from a prospective Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement.
Clean energy cooperation is at the core of the Australia-Germany relationship. Prime Minister Albanese outlined to Chancellor Scholz our ambition to become a renewable energy superpower and the commercial opportunities to help Germany decarbonise its industry. They discussed bilateral work underway to build and strengthen supply chains in both critical minerals and clean hydrogen.
Australia has also joined the Climate Club, joining the G7 and other high ambition countries, a German initiative to further international climate action. Membership in the club will complement Australia’s climate objectives, green economy opportunities and allow us to bring our unique regional perspectives to global emissions reductions action.
The Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of an in-principle arrangement for Australia to supply over 100 Rheinmetall Defence Australia Boxer Heavy Weapon Carriers to Germany, starting in 2025. This will be one of the biggest defence sales in Australia’s history – and is worth north of $1 billion dollars to the Australian economy in the production and supply of these vehicles.
This deal will boost Australia’s sovereign defence industry, secure local jobs and contribute to our economic growth, with the vehicles being produced in Redbank, Queensland.
The leaders affirmed a shared commitment to supporting Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. Australia and Germany are united in our belief that we have a collective responsibility to contribute to a safe, secure and stable world.
At the conclusion of the visit, Prime Minister Albanese extended an invitation to Chancellor Scholz to visit Australia as a Guest of Government in 2024.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Albanese:
“Australia and Germany have never been closer, and I have been honoured to visit Berlin and to meet with Chancellor Scholz today.
“We discussed ways to draw our countries even more closely together, with a focus on trade, clean energy, defence and regional security.
“Australia and Germany are forging ahead and seizing the exciting opportunities of clean energy transition while delivering new jobs and export opportunities for both countries.
“We have also made a significant step forward on defence cooperation, which will support jobs and industry in Australia.”
