The United Kingdom will boost trade ties in Australia and the Pacific region by re-establishing a diplomatic post on the west coast after a 20-year absence.
The British High Commission in Canberra says the diplomatic presence in Western Australia will accelerate trade and investment as the UK doubles the number of high commissions across the region.
The diplomatic post will take the form of a consul-general and will be located in Perth, nearly 20 years after the previous position was shut down, it said.
The new consul-general on the west coast will be supported by an existing team of eight staff in Perth.
The announcement is timed to coincide with a visit of the UK’s minister for Asia and the Middle East, Amanda Milling, who starts a regional tour of Australia, New Zealand and Vanuatu on Monday.
The British High Commission said the visit would underline the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific “in light of the brutal invasion of Ukraine”.
“We may be geographically far apart, but when it comes to our shared values, history, economic and security ties, the UK’s partnerships with Australia, New Zealand and Vanuatu could hardly be closer,” Ms Milling said ahead of the visit.
