Australia’s UN Security Council Presidency

I will travel to New York today to chair key meetings of the United Nations Security Council this week during Australia's Presidency.

Australia will use our second and final presidency to steer Council action to better respond to critical threats to international peace and security, including ISIL in Iraq and Syria, and advance our core national security interests.

On Wednesday I will chair a high-level meeting on counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism. The meeting will build on the Council's summit on foreign terrorist fighters held in September, focussing on the practical steps that countries must take to tackle the threat posed by terrorists and counter violent extremism.

On Thursday I will chair the first ever Security Council meeting dedicated to the role of police in UN peacekeeping operations. There are currently more UN peacekeeping missions than at any other time in history. The resolution will seek to strengthen the effectiveness of police deployments in UN peacekeeping operations.

Australia is well placed to promote more effective UN policing, given our experience and recognised track record with overseas deployment of police, both within and outside the UN system.

On Friday I will chair a Security Council meeting on the threat of the Ebola epidemic to international peace and security. The Australian Government has committed $42 million to the Ebola response in West Africa with a commitment to manage, staff and fund a 100-bed Ebola treatment facility in Sierra Leone.

Australia has served with distinction on the Security Council. I will use our second Presidency to highlight our active contribution to the UNSC during our two year term.