In our quest to build a better future, one of the things that makes it possible to reach so high is what lies beneath our feet.
And in our continent, nowhere is that truer than in Western Australia.
That’s one of the messages I’ve taken to America this week, where we’ve been following up an important step we took in Japan earlier this year.
In May, Australia and the United States made history when we signed the Compact on Critical Minerals and Clean Energy.
I’m delighted to be here today to help showcase Australian innovation.
And to celebrate the progress that the partnership between Australia and America is delivering for both our countries – and for the wider world.
Whether it’s new defence technology promoting peace and security.
The capacity for quantum and artificial intelligence to boost productivity across our workforce and drive prosperity in our economy.
Medical breakthroughs changing and saving lives.
Or clean, green technology helping the world make the transition to net zero.
Distinguished guests, Your Excellencies.
It is an honour to be here to open what all Australians should consider as a slice of home away from home.
Every one of our embassies is a piece of Australia in another land – but this is no ordinary land.
President Biden once referred to Australia as a great comfort zone for the American people. He spoke of an “easy mateship”.
The feeling is deeply mutual.
My great predecessor Prime Minister Bob Hawke described it as:
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Mr Prime Minister, we've been in close touch since the moment you came into office. And we've met all around the world.
And now, it's wonderful to have you by my side here at the White House.
And as we advance our Alliance even more than has already been advanced. It's strong now. It's getting stronger.
Before I get to the progress Australia and the United States have made today, I want to say just a very few words about the situation in the Middle East.
President Biden, First Lady Dr Biden
Thank you for the great honour of this invitation – and the wonderful warmth of your welcome.
Mr President
When you and I stood together in San Diego in March, the USS Sterett and USS Missouri behind us, we were surrounded by the examples of America's power.
To stand with you here in Washington DC is to witness the power of America's example.
The ideas and ideals that your great democracy was built on.
We, President Biden and Prime Minister Albanese, inaugurated a new era of US-Australia strategic cooperation during the Prime Minister's Official Visit and State Dinner in Washington, DC, today.
Our nations are inseparably linked by our common democratic values and the three pillars of our alliance: defence, economic, and climate and clean energy cooperation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Microsoft will make an additional $5 billion investment in Australia, helping our nation become a world-leading digital economy by significantly investing in skills and training to help equip a new generation of Australians for the jobs and opportunities of the future.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I'm very proud to be here in the United States, here as Prime Minister, but my first visit to Washington DC as Prime Minister of Australia. The United States, of course, our closest ally, our principal strategic partner and our largest two-way investment partner. Our nations are united by the common values that we hold, our deep history together and our shared vision for a world which is prosperous, which is secure, and which provides a quality of life in a peaceful way around the world.
The Albanese Government has announced a $2 billion expansion in critical minerals financing, which will solidify Australia's position as a world leading provider, help the transition to net zero, boost the economy and support more jobs and opportunities for Australians.
Critical minerals, including rare earths, are the building-blocks for a clean energy future, and are essential to achieving Australia's energy transition. This significant commitment will double the capacity of the Critical Minerals Facility to finance Australian critical minerals mining and processing projects.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: When I met with President Biden in Hiroshima in May, we signed the Climate, Critical Minerals and Alean Energy Transformation Compact. Yesterday, the Taskforce that was established on critical minerals under that Compact met for the first time with the Minister, Minister King, and Amos Hochstein, who's the Principal Advisor to the President on energy. This follows, as well, the Energy Committee that we established meeting with Minister Bowen just last week with his US counterpart.