Brexit key to ‘bold’ trade deal with Aus

Malcolm Turnbull will meet Theresa May in Downing St, to agree on forging closer trade, defence and counter-terror ties.

Theresa May with Malcolm Turnbull at the G20. Picture: AP.

Malcolm Turnbull will visit the site of the Borough Market terrorist attack in central London today where two Australians were killed.

On his first official trip to the UK as Prime Minister following the G20 summit in Hamburg Germany, Mr Turnbull will also hold a key bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Theresa May at Downing Street where they will agree to forge closer ties closer counter-terrorism, defence and trade ties in the wake of Britain’s exit from the European Union

Prime Minister May is expected to tell Mr Turnbull today the UK would now look to Australia for a “bold” new trade deal.

“As the UK leaves the EU and forges a new role in the world, I am clear we should take the opportunity to strengthen our close partnership with Australia,” Prime Minister May is expected to tell Mr Turnbull.

“At times such as this we are reminded of the importance of the strong ties that have bound our two nations together for over a hundred years.

“And we will continue to stand together as close allies and firm friends against those who want to destroy our precious values and our way of life.

“Today we are leading partners in the Counter-Daesh Coalition, and as the fight moves from the battlefield to the internet we will work together to tackle the spread of Daesh’s hateful ideology online.

“Alongside this, our national cyber security centres co-operate closely to crack down on malicious cyber activity.

“Our law enforcement agencies work together to tackle serious and organised crime — particularly the illegal financial flows that fund criminal gangs and terrorists. And our intelligence sharing partnership under the Five Eyes alliance is central to our efforts to tackle the shared threats we face.”

On securing a new Free Trade Agreement, Mrs May will say that the opportunity of Brexit would allow the UK to seek stronger partnerships with allies such as Australia.

“We have both made clear our intention to continue to deepen our trade and investment relationship as the UK leaves the EU,” Mrs May will say.

“Australia was the first country with whom the UK established a Trade Working Group following the Brexit vote, and we are keeping up a regular and productive dialogue on the future of our free trading relationship.

“I am clear that discussions on an ambitious and comprehensive bilateral trade deal with Australia remain a priority for the UK.”

Mr Turnbull will tomorrow visit the Queen before flying back to Australia.