THE HON SUSSAN LEY MP
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FARRER
SENATOR THE HON MICHAELIA CASH
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MEDIA STATEMENT
AUSTRALIAN BID FOR UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
Thursday, 25 September 2025
Australia is a force for good in the world and serving as part of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is a worthy objective.
The Coalition will always back Australia’s national interest and we stand ready to work with the Government in any way we can to help support Australia’s bid for a seat at the table.
Now in its 80th year, we support efforts to revitalise and refocus the work of the UN. It is a vitally important international institution, however it faces many challenges to its effectiveness that need to be addressed. We would expect the Government to leverage a seat on the UNSC to advocate on urgent international issues impacting Australia’s national interest.
These include pushing for a settlement to the war in Ukraine, calling out China and Russia’s foreign interference activities in our region, brokering a ceasefire and constructive peace in Gaza that frees Palestinians from the tyranny of Hamas and maintains the security of Israel, and standing up for democracy around the globe.
Having set this goal, the Prime Minister should deliver on it, and efforts to secure this cannot detract from addressing the very real pressures Australians are facing at home on cost of living and access to services.
Australia has suffered the largest collapse in living standards in the developed world. Electricity prices are up 39 per cent, rents up 21 per cent and food up 16 per cent.
At a time of rising costs, Australians deserve a Prime Minister focused on their future. Instead, too often his focus is overseas, leaving families at home disappointed.
While we support this bid, we will not take a backwards step from calling out the growing list of Labor’s foreign policy failures including the drift in our relationships with the United States and the Quad, the inexcusable and premature recognition of a Palestinian state and the failures to deliver on promised security agreements with Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
ENDS
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