Canada and Australia have a “rare” ability to help convene a coalition of middle powers because they know their allies can trust them, Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a speech to Australia’s parliament on Thursday.
Carney’s words built on a headline-grabbing speech he gave in January at the World Economic Forum, in which he blasted the old world order and called for middle powers to unite to stop dictating how the world works.
“In a post-rupture world, nations that can trust and work together will be quicker to the punch, more effective in their responses and more proactive in shaping outcomes, and ultimately those countries will be more secure and prosperous,” he said in Australia on Thursday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses Parliament in Canberra, Australia, Thursday, March 5, 2026.
The Canadian Press/Adrian Wilde
“Middle powers like Australia and Canada have this rare convention power. Because others know what we say and we match our values with our actions. Canada and Australia have earned this trust throughout our history. The question now is what we do with it.”
Carney made no mention of the escalating conflict in the Middle East during his speech to the Australian Parliament.
During his speech, Carney said Canada and Australia had signed a series of new agreements on critical minerals, with Australia joining the G7 critical minerals consortium.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the countries’ plan to modernize their bilateral tax and investment treaty.
“The world has always been run by great powers,” Carney said. “But it can also be shaped by moderate forces acting with sufficient mutual trust and speed and purpose.”
Earlier in the day, Carney met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and attended a reception at Parliament House.
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In a meeting with cabinet members, Albanese said the two nations share common values and interests. As middle powers, there have been discussions on how to cooperate on defence, economy and environment, he said.
“We’re both affected by climate change, and a practical way we can help each other is if your firefighters help us, and then our firefighters help you,” Albanese said.
“We have much to learn from each other, much to gain from mutual cooperation,” he said.
Carney took time before his speech to recognize the Australian firefighters at the Australian Chamber who helped fight the wildfires in Alberta last summer.
In his remarks at the meeting with Albanese, Carney said some of the discussions held by the leaders and some of the agreements the governments plan to sign reflect the progress they started at the G7 summit last year.
“We look forward to learning from you, cooperating in those areas, cooperating in other strategic areas such as critical minerals and financial services,” Carney said.
Carney’s tour of Australia began in Sydney on Wednesday, where he gave a speech and took some questions at the Lowy Institute think tank, including one about what his “game plan” is for managing his relationship with US President Donald Trump.
Carney laughed before “discussing the importance of respect but not commitment.”
“He’s president for a reason. He’s had success in other areas,” Carney said, calling Trump a “very successful politician” who was elected twice.
Carney later said that, in private, Trump is more direct than he is in public and more interested in hearing different points of view. “Creates the ability to work through things,” said the Prime Minister.
“But it’s not easy, to be clear,” he added.
“What I find is that they’re especially private, direct and discussing issues and making it clear where your position is. That’s critical.”
Carney said Canada and Australia are both rich in critical minerals and are working together to build “the largest mineral reserves any credible democracy has.”
He said Canada and Australia could partner on more defense projects such as AI and aerospace.
“Right now, when we spend capital on defense, 70 cents of those dollars go to the United States,” he said.
Ottawa and Canberra signed an agreement last year to buy an Australian over-the-horizon radar system for Canada to use in the Arctic.
The two countries are working to build a link between the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, and the European Union, which would create a new trade bloc of 1.5 billion people, Carney said.
The CPTPP is a massive Pacific Rim trade bloc that includes Australia. Canada is a member of the CPTPP and has a trade agreement with the EU.
Ahead of Wednesday’s speech, Carney held meetings with business leaders, including Simon Trott of global mining company Rio Tinto and Jack Cowin, CEO of fast food company Competitive Foods.
He met heads of investment funds, including Raphael Arndt, CEO of Future Fund, Shemara Wickramanayake, CEO of Macquarie Group and Kate Galvin, CEO of Victorian Funds Management Corporation.
Carney visited India before arriving in Australia and heading to Japan for the third and final stop of his 10-day tour.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 4, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
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