The Australian Parliament has commended President Marcos' resolve to address coercion happening in the South China Sea and his administration's steadfast commitment to uphold international law.

Peter Dutton, leader of the opposition, praised Marcos' actions in the contested waterway during remarks he delivered before the President made a historical speech before Australian lawmakers.

Dutton's pronouncement came as he noted that the Philippines "has been on the frontlines subjected to gray zone activities," which several countries see as being initiated by China.

"Mr. President, we find ourselves in times of emboldened autocrats and belligerent regimes who show utter contempt for sovereignty, law and liberty," Dutton said.

"Your country shows and knows a resolve, because your country knows that the threats are real," he added.

Dutton said Marcos' stance during his last State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he vowed to defend the Philippines' sovereign rights and territorial integrity "encapsulates an imperative for all nations who cherish peace, prosperity and the preservation of civilization itself.

Dutton said like-minded nations, such as the Philippines and Australia, must all continue "to speak up with courage in calling out acts of intimidation, and interference."

"We must all maintain our strenuous efforts in diplomacy, and we must all especially lift our individual efforts to support the collective goal of integrated deterrence," he added.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who also spoke before Marcos' address at the parliament, stressed the need for cooperation between the two nations as doing so is "an assertion of our national interest and a recognition of our regional responsibility."

Albanese said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) must be upheld because for the Philippines and Australia, both maritime nations, it is "not an abstract notion, or a theoretical question."

"Freedom of navigation is fundamental to our sovereignty, our prosperity, our security and our territorial integrity," Albanese said.

The Australian leader said all countries, including the middle-powers and small nations, have the part to play "in building a more stable, peaceful and prosperous future."

On the other hand, Senator Janet Rice, a member of Australia's 4th top political party Australia Greens, opposed Marcos' delivering of remarks in the Parliament.

During Marcos' speech, Rice raised a placard, where she called to "stop the human rights abuses."

In a later post on X, she said "corruption in the Philippines is getting worse" under the Marcos' administration.

"There are hundreds of political prisoners and anti-terrorism laws are used as legal cover for extrajudicial killings," she said.

"Yet the Australian Government invited him to address the Parliament today. Shame," she added.