Australian travellers will soon find it easier to enter the United States, as part of a federal government plan to strengthen ties between the two nations.
The Australian government on Tuesday announced it will join the United States' Global Entry program, which allows participating travellers to clear immigration and customs more quickly after landing in the US.
The scheme will initially open to a limited number of Australians who travel frequently to the US in January 2025, but the government is working to expand the program for all eligible Australians tourists later that year.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the program would help bolster the bilateral relationship by strengthening people-to-people connections and commercial ties.
"Our two countries have stood together for many decades and will continue to work together in the decades ahead," she told reporters in Washington.
Australians who sign up to the Global Entry program can participate in the Transportation Security Administration's pre-check program, which allows them to access fast-tracked screening processes before boarding domestic flights in the US.
More than 1.3 million Australian tourists visit the US every year where they spend more than $8.7 billion.
The US is also Australia's largest economic partner, with $77 billion in two-way trade conducted between the nations.
Flight Centre chief operating officer Melissa Elf welcomed the announcement as travel to the US continues to grow.
"It's fantastic news for corporate travellers," she said.
Flight Centre data shows the number of Australians travelling for education has grown 93 per cent between January and June compared tot he same period the year before.
However, capacity has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels and Ms Elf says an increase in choice and competition would prompt further growth in travel.
Senator Wong landed in Washington on Monday to attend the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations and discuss the future of the relationship.
She also signed a statement with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to formally join American-led satellite program Landsat Next.
As part of the agreement, the federal government will commit $207.4 million over four years to Geoscience Australia for ground station upgrades and data processing and analytics developments. The program will map the surface of the earth and supports mining exploration, environmental monitoring and disaster management from 2031.
"The satellite data ... will help the Indo-Pacific to optimise food security and agricultural production, improve urban infrastructure planning, and prepare for disasters," Senator Wong said.
