Informal discussions focus on enhancing collaboration and shared interests between Singapore and Australia.
Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim shared a photo from an October 17 meeting with Australia’s Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Tim Watts, alongside fellow WP MPs Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) and Dennis Tan (Hougang SMC), as well as other parliamentarians. The informal discussion, hosted by the Australian High Commission in Singapore, revolved around strengthening the ties between the two nations. In a Facebook post on October 18, Assoc Prof Lim (Sengkang GRC) remarked, “We were able to share candid thoughts on how such ties may be strengthened.”
In his reflections, Mr. Lim emphasized that Australia needs to balance its deeper engagement in Southeast Asia—the region closest to it—while maintaining its Western, liberal identity, which is integral to its heritage and appeal. He suggested that Australia could leverage its traditional strengths in tertiary education, tourism, and sporting excellence as exportable services to diversify its economic growth.
Mr. Watts also tweeted about the meeting of the Singapore-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group on October 18, highlighting the significance of the gathering. “Meeting members of the Singapore-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group was an important opportunity to listen, share perspectives, and celebrate the strong and vibrant relationship between our two countries,” he wrote.
Watts noted the warm friendship between Australia and Singapore, rooted in shared experiences and a long history—Australia was the second country to recognize Singapore’s independence in 1965. He expressed confidence that the partnership is geared towards facing the future together.
During his visit, Mr. Watts served as the keynote speaker at the Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) 2022, held from October 18 to 20 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, participating in a session titled “Tackling the Ransomware Scourge: Global Cooperation for a Transboundary Issue.” He stated, “It’s in all our interests that cyber threats like ransomware do not threaten the stability of the governments, economies, and societies of nations in our region.”
Additionally, Mr. Watts met with Minister for Communications and Information, Josephine Teo, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling, discussing ways to advance the cyber and critical technology collaboration between Australia and Singapore. The visit included lighter moments, as Mr. Watts shared his enjoyment of Singapore’s culinary offerings, tweeting about his experience at a local hawker centre where he sampled chicken rice and chilli crab. “A great way to end the day with the fantastic flavours of Singapore,” he wrote.
