Anthony Albanese's first order of business as Prime Minister was travelling to Japan to attend a leaders' meeting with the members of the Quad.
Ahead of the election, Mr Albanese put plans in place so that he could go to the meeting today — a day after being sworn in as Prime Minister.
But what is the Quad and why is the new Prime Minister racing off to attend the meeting?
What is the Quad?
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue [Quad] is a group of four democratic countries that are working together to create a free and open Indo-Pacific region, but it's not to be confused with an alliance.
The countries are:
- Australia
- Japan
- India
- The United Sates of America
The four countries worked together in 2004 to provide international community support following an earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Sumatra that impacted several nations in the region. The Quad held their first official meeting in 2007.
Since 2019, the countries' leaders and foreign ministers have met virtually several times and discussed the progress of topics like vaccines, climate change and new technologies.
In March, former prime minister Scott Morrison attended the leaders' video conference, which had a particular focus on the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
Who will be at the Quad leaders' meeting?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has travelled with Foreign Minister Penny Wong to meet US President Joe Biden, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo today.
Mr Albanese attended a leaders' meeting in the morning before breaking off into one-on-one meetings with countries for the rest of the summit.
According to Deakin University Research Professor Greg Barton, Japan and India will be looking for signs Australia is serious about engaging with Asia at this week's meeting.
"The US will be reviewing its expectations of what Australia, under a Labor government, is prepared to contribute to both the Quad security dialogue and to the AUKUS trilateral security pact."
What will the leaders discuss?
The meeting will address the region's most important challenges and will likely discuss relations with China after it signed a new security deal with the Solomon Islands, as well as Russia's war in Ukraine.
In Mr Albanese's opening address, he repeatedly stressed the importance of climate policy, highlighting Labor's promise to cut emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 and saying the "region is looking to us to work with them and to lead by example".
Professor Barton said the impacts of climate change would "contribute directly to political and social stability in our region."
Mr Albanese is also expected to take a $470 million foreign aid package for South-East Asia to the Quad to highlight a focus on the region — he announced this in the lead up to the election.
It will be a four-year pledge and will include appointing a senior “special envoy” to South-East Asia in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Why is it important that Albanese is there?
Mr Albanese said the Quad meeting was an "absolute priority" for Australia.
"There will be some changes in policy, particularly with regard to climate change and our engagement with the world on those issues and I look forward to the meetings that have been organised."
He said he would meet with the other leaders on Tuesday before returning to Australia on Wednesday to "get down to business."
Professor Barton said the immediate challenge for Mr Albanese and Senator Wong would be "to reassure allies and friends of continuity and certainty".
He said Senator Wong, who was born in Malaysia and raised in Australia, has a "formidable intellect" and "backstory" that will play a critical role in Australia's engagement with Asia.
Who will be acting Prime Minister while Mr Albanese is away?
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will step up while Mr Albanese is overseas.
Mr Marles was one of the leaders to be immediately sworn-in on Monday so that he could step up while Mr Albanese is in Tokyo.
Mr Albanese said there was a number of briefings that happened before the election to confirm these plans.
