Australia
This information is from our Brexit archives, documenting what different countries thought of the negotiations, their relationship with the UK and priorities in the negotiations.
This page was last updated in 2020.
| Head of State
Prime Minister |
Queen Elizabeth II (since February 1952)
Scott Morrison (Liberal Party, since August 2018) |
| Population | 25,180,200 (2018) |
| Size | 7,692,024 km² (2,969,907 sq. miles) |
| Next federal election | 2022 |
| Last meeting with Boris Johnson | 25 August 2019 |
| Relationship with the UK | The UK and Australia are keen to secure a trade deal as soon as possible. Mr Morrison has suggested that such a deal could be concluded quickly. However, Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo had previously tempered expectations. Speaking on BBC radio, he said that detailed progress on an agreement must wait until Brexit is complete and added that an EU deal will take precedence.
The UK and Australia have strong economic ties. The UK is the second-largest source of foreign investment into Australia and their trade is valued at $29bn. |
| What Prime Minister Morrison said on Brexit | “Negotiators have to recognise the mutual benefits that come from co-operative and open financial arrangements and that the UK will continue to play an important role in the EU financial system.” |
| Australia’s priorities | Australia’s main priorities are introducing stricter laws to counter terrorism, introducing a childcare package, tackling youth unemployment, softening laws on parental leave and reforming the budget. |