In a recent statement made in the Australian House of Representatives, Member of Parliament Julian Hill called for support for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Health Assembly (WHA). This marks the first time in recent years that a federal Australian parliamentarian has voiced support for Taiwan’s involvement in the WHA through an official statement in the House of Representatives.
Hill, the chairman of the Defense Subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade of the Australian Federal Parliament, made the statement on June 3 during a session in the House of Representatives. He highlighted Australia’s repeated calls for the WHO to collaborate with Taiwan and urged all countries to agree to Taiwan’s participation in consideration of the interests of the Taiwanese people. Hill emphasized the importance of advocating for meaningful participation of Taiwan in international organizations and urged countries to support Taiwan’s involvement in the WHA.
In April this year, Hill visited Taiwan along with a bipartisan group of Australian parliamentarians. He stated that his visit before President Lai Ching-te’s inauguration continued the tradition of Australian parliamentarians visiting Taiwan. Australia and Taiwan share common interests in maintaining regional stability and peace. Taiwan is an important economic partner for Australia, and bilateral economic and trade relations continue to strengthen.
Last year, Taiwan became Australia’s seventh largest goods trading partner and sixth largest goods and services market, with two-way services trade growing by over 80%. Furthermore, Australia is Taiwan’s largest energy supplier, providing two-thirds of Taiwan’s coal, one-third of its natural gas, and three-quarters of its iron ore. Hill, a rising political leader in Australia’s Labor Party, currently serves as the chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Audit.
Additionally, Raff Ciccone, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Joint Committee, questioned during a budget hearing on June 3 how Australia will collaborate with other countries to advance relevant initiatives following its support for Taiwan at the WHA.
In response, Lucas De Toca, Global Health Ambassador at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), highlighted the significance of Australia’s first-ever mention of the importance of cooperation with Taiwan in a national statement by the Minister of Health during this year’s WHA.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia expressed gratitude to Representative Hill for his steadfast support for Taiwan, and particularly thanked Australian Health Minister Mark Butler for his statement in support of Taiwan during the WHA in May.