President Joe Biden, first lady Jill 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, with the USS Sterett and USS Missouri behind us, we were surrounded by 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. The “self-evident” truths that every American generation strives to give deeper meaning. And the peace and freedom that America seeks to defend around the globe.
The principle that every country – big or small – should be able to seek to shape its own destiny and secure its own future. Where the sovereignty of every nation is respected, and the dignity and liberty of every individual is recognised.
Where peace is secured not by fear of force or strength of arms alone but through the collective commitment and the shared responsibility of the international community. That is the heart of our alliance. The soul of our partnership. Not a pact against a common enemy – a pledge to a common cause. A shared belief that freedom, peace and equality are not just American ideals or Australian values – they belong to all humankind.
That is why Ukrainian soldiers are driving Australian-made Bushmasters as they drive back an illegal and immoral invasion. And it is why all Australians condemn the atrocities, terror and pitiless brutality of Hamas. And, Mr President, we applaud the personal resolve you have brought to this troubled part of the world. You have spoken with moral clarity and you have stood up for a simple principle.
The principle that every innocent life matters, Israeli and Palestinian. And that in any conflict, every effort must be made to protect civilians.
American leadership is indispensable, but it is not inevitable. It takes a leader to deliver it. It takes wisdom to show empathy, courage to provide humanitarian assistance, and true leadership to seek peace. Because protecting innocent people is not a show of weakness, it is a measure of strength.
Mr President, our nations’ steadfast alliance has grown and thrived through 15 of my predecessors and 13 of yours. In Australian public life, it meets the No.1 measure of a great idea – both political parties try and claim credit for it.
But it is not, and never has been, the leaders at this podium who determine the strength and success of our alliance.
It is the people we serve. Presidents and prime ministers can praise our countries’ shared values, we can sign agreements to advance our common interests.
But it is our citizens who make the words a bond. It is our people whose courage and ambition, hard work and aspiration, give life and weight to all we share and all we strive for.
Sometimes we casually refer to average Americans or everyday Australians, but what they do every day is anything but average. It’s our people making the breakthroughs that are seeing Australia and America co-operate in new technology like never before.
From quantum computing and medical science, to agriculture and defence. It’s our people driving unprecedented collaboration in our creative industries, in art and film and music. From Barbie to Bluey.
It’s our people partnering to unlock the possibilities of clean energy and critical minerals. The new third pillar of our alliance: a plan for both our nations to seize the transformative economic opportunities of clean energy and a plan to help every nation meet the global challenge of climate change.
It is our people who will train together – side-by-side – to service the next generation of our submarines and defence technology.
And it is our people that we honour when we remember the generations of Australians and Americans who have fought and fallen together. Our veterans and all those who have given the cause of peace their last full measure of devotion.
And, Mr President, in reflecting on this century of service, I’m reminded of a sentiment you have shared before from an American soldier talking about his time in Iraq: “You know when there’s an Australian with you, they’ll always have your back.” A generous thought from a man of courage and character, Major Beau Biden.
Mr President, you have known far more than life’s ordinary share of loss and grief.
And you have been called to serve at a time when sadness and strife have cast a long shadow on our world.
You understand that the task for all of us is to draw on the strength that hope instils.
To look to the future, not just with optimism for better days but with the determination to build a better world. And while we do indeed face testing times. Our friendship is tried and tested. Our people are up for the challenge.
Our alliance has been shaped by history, and it is ready to shape the future. So, with optimism and determination. Let us pledge to make this a time when “hope and history rhyme”.
Let us write the next chapter in our alliance, together.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered this speech at the welcome ceremony on the White House’s South Lawn.
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