Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Second Minister for Defence Ong Ye Kung was hosted to breakfast yesterday by Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop in Canberra. During their meeting, both ministers reaffirmed the excellent relations between both countries, and discussed a wide range of geopolitical and security issues.   

While in Canberra, Mr Ong visited the Australian War Memorial where he laid a wreath in honour of Australian soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in war, including during the defence of Singapore in World War II. He also visited the Australian National University (ANU) and met ANU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Marnie Hughes-Warrington, where both sides discussed strategies for innovation in higher education.

Mr Ong then travelled to Sydney where he was hosted to dinner by Minister for Defence Marise Payne. Mr Ong and Ms Payne reaffirmed the close and long-standing bilateral defence relations between Singapore and Australia, and discussed regional and global security issues of mutual interest. 

Today, Mr Ong had a video teleconference with Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham. He also visited the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's digital and data innovation group Data61, and met with Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development; and Tourism Anthony Albanese, as well as University of New South Wales Chancellor and Chairman of ANZ Bank David Gonski. 

Mr Ong is in Australia from 7 to 12 October 2017 as a guest of the Australian Government, at the invitation of Ms Bishop. Before arriving in Canberra and Sydney, Mr Ong visited Exercise Wallaby 2017 at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia.