Good morning. Firstly, on the tragic disaster in Nepal, this is an unimaginable tragedy. The number of Australians unaccounted for remains at 43. My thoughts are with every Australian family going through such an incredibly difficult time. My government will do everything we can to support them and look for loved ones. A RAAF C-17A carrying humanitarian supplies has left Australia on its way to Kathmandu. There are now some 18 Australian response team personnel in Kathmandu, and the foreign ministers of our respective countries have spoken, and Australia continues to offer whatever support will be valuable. This is a difficult time as well for the Nepalese Australian community, which is a growing one, one of the fastest growing, indeed, in Australia, and our thoughts go out to them. We know that vigils have been held around Australia, praying for those who have been affected by this tragedy.
It is very good to be back here for my fifth meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum. This is the 55th time that the Pacific family have gathered, and the third time that they’ve gathered here in Palau. The Pacific is our home, and the Pacific family needs to work together. And over the coming days, at the bilateral meetings that I’ll have today, at the Forum meeting tomorrow, and then the Leaders’ Retreat that will take place on Thursday morning, it’s an opportunity to listen and to engage and to offer support as well on the challenges, but also the opportunities that are here in the Blue Continent, the Pacific. Particularly, the emphasis, as President Whipps said last night in his opening address, will of course always be on climate change. Climate change is an existential threat to the very existence of some of the countries who are represented here. And last night was an opportunity as well to engage informally, to renew friendships and relationships with Pacific leaders, and I was able to do that both before and after the opening ceremony. That was indeed a very positive event and a celebration as well of culture here. And I’m sure that for those of you who were present, it was very enjoyable. Australia has a key role to play. We are a leader here in the Pacific, but it’s important as well that we engage respectfully, and that’s something that I’ve always sought to do with the Pacific Islands Forum. I think that is one of the reasons why we have really improved relations right across the Pacific, whether it be the alliance with Papua New Guinea that has now come into effect, our third alliance ever in history, or whether it be our fourth alliance, which is on the way with Fiji.
Now, today is also the 75th anniversary of our first two alliances, ANZUS. And the relationships with the United States and New Zealand are, of course, very important ones. And I’ve had the opportunity – there are over 80 people in the US delegation here, led by the Under Secretary of State, and I’ve had the opportunity to engage informally with our American friends this morning as well over breakfast. Australia’s commitment to the Pacific is unshakeable. No other part of the world is more important to us, which is why we have prioritised our engagement with the Pacific. Whether it be the improved relations with Vanuatu, Solomons, all of the countries here, the engagement that we have, and over coming days, climate change, but also the issue of security will be absolutely critical, including dealing with transnational crime.
Today, we’re also announcing that the Australian Government is investing $15.6 million over four years to support Pacific athletes on their journey to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane. Pat Conroy will speak more about that in a moment. But the Brisbane Olympic Games is an opportunity, particularly to engage with the Pacific, for them to see this as a part of their engagement with Australia and indeed with the world. I’m really looking forward to the discussion over the next few days and to some really positive outcomes.
CHRIS BOWEN, MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY: Well, thanks very much, Prime Minister. Well, one of the hallmarks, in fact, probably the significant hallmark of foreign policy under the Albanese Government has been the deepening of relationships in the Pacific. The significant step-up, as the Prime Minister said, through the alliance with Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the treaties and unions with Tuvalu and Vanuatu. And it’s unthinkable that those achievements, which are to the great credit of the Prime Minister and Ministers Wong and Conroy, would have been able to be possible without the significant change of approach to climate change in our country, climate change policy in our country, including our role in COP31 in which we have worked so closely with the Pacific.
So, this PIF Leaders’ Summit comes in the lead up to COP31. So, it’s an important waypoint. The Leaders’ Ascent Dialogue, which President Whipps is hosting this afternoon with myself and the Prime Minister in attendance, is a very significant step in the path towards COP31 in Türkiye later this year. And it’s an opportunity for Australia to outline more of our COP31 agenda, which we have developed in partnership with the Pacific. Access to finance for small island developing states – those small island developing states are on the front line of climate change, but have trouble getting access to the support for climate adaptation is a key signature approach of our COP31 role. The role of oceans in COP, which has been underplayed, under-emphasised in recent years, oceans which cover the vast majority of the world’s surface, and which are so key to the ongoing prosperity of our region. Again, opportunities to progress those conversations and prepare for COP31 in Türkiye. And also importantly, engagement with the Pacific on actual decarbonisation in the Pacific. Many Pacific countries are dependent on diesel, which is particularly ironic and it is an expensive form of fuel. The supply in recent months has been uncertain, and so many Pacific countries are seeking to transition to 100 per cent renewables. And we’ll be taking further steps and more to say about that in coming days and of course, in Fiji and Tuvalu and in Türkiye itself.
So, good opportunity to engage, including today. I’ve already met with the Indian Minister. This morning, we’ll be engaging with the presidents and chief executives of the Asian Development Bank and the Green Climate Fund about that access to finance approach that we’re taking in COP31. And so many of my Pacific climate minister colleagues are here as well. So, it’s been great to already see some of them and to further Australia’s role in the deepening of arrangements, the deepening of friendships and partnerships in this contested region which is so important to our geopolitical future.
PAT CONROY, MINISTER FOR PACIFIC ISLAND AFFAIRS: Thanks, Chris. And the Pacific region stands at a crossroads. We’re at the 55th PIF Leaders’ Summit, where the Pacific has the opportunity through its supreme decision-making event to chart its own course, to say that it stands on its own two feet, that Pacific is proudly driving its own security and prosperity, that it’s dealing with the headwinds of geostrategic competition and saying the Pacific will determine its future as the Pacific family. If you think about the Albanese Labor government’s engagement with the Pacific, it can be summarised as: we turn up. We listen and we act on the Pacific priorities because that’s what a proud member of the Pacific family should do in a respectful way. And under Prime Minister Albanese, he’s seen a record level of engagement with the Pacific, both bilaterally through visits and engagements and alliances and treaties, as well as participation in the PIF, where we listen and act on the priorities of the region. And obviously, Australia’s security, prosperity and stability depends on a safe and prosperous Pacific, whether it’s combating climate change, the number one existential security threat, as Minister Bowen has outlined, whether it’s dealing with transnational crime or more traditional forms of security.
And if you can think about the tempo of the last few PIFs, what you’ve seen is the Albanese Labor Government under this Prime Minister, responding to the priorities of the Pacific, whether it’s the announcement of the Pacific Policing Initiative at the Tonga PIF a few years ago. Later today, I’ll be visiting the Pacific Security Group, part of the PPI that’s actually supporting the Palauan police to provide security. This is a multinational police force made up of police personnel from across the Pacific, providing security for the Pacific. And that’s a critical symbolic measure of the commitment to collective security that the PIF embodies.
But it’s also about human development and including around communications. So, today we’re also celebrating the completion of the East Micronesian Cable that connects Nauru, the Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati through undersea cables. The last three Pacific nations to access the modern form of undersea telecommunications, which carries almost 100 per cent of modern Internet traffic. This project was a multinational project led by Australia, but also investments from the Pacific itself, as well as the United States and Japan. Another example of a regional approach to enhancing human development in our region.
As the Prime Minister also announced, we’re allocating $15 million to support Pacific athletes on the road to Brisbane over the next four years. These Pacific athletes will be supported to compete in the Pacific Games coming up next year in Tahiti, and then the 2028 LA Games as a pathway, springboard for Brisbane. We’ve already supported 10,000 elite Pacific athletes through the PacificAus Sports program, as well as supporting 850,000 participants through the Team Up grassroots sports initiatives. So, this is another example of the broad gamut of support for the Pacific that the Albanese Government provides, whether it’s security, action on climate change, economic development, gender empowerment, sporting participation. We turn up, we listen and we act on the priorities of the Pacific and that’s how Australia remains the partner of choice for the region. Thank you very much.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister. The Chinese envoy last night threatened consequences over Taiwan’s presence here. Do you think Taiwan’s been a distraction, being here, or do you welcome its participation?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m not distracted. I’m focused on members of the Pacific family, and that is precisely the meetings that I have scheduled here. And I think this is primarily a gathering of the Pacific family, the members of the Pacific Islands Forum, and I look forward to the engagement. That’s the engagement that I’ve had.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you think it’s appropriate for China to threaten or make threats of consequences simply because Taiwan has been invited?
PRIME MINISTER: The Pacific Islands Forum determines what happens here, not any other country.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on Nepal. The Prime Minister of Nepal has branded it a climate disaster. Does the world bear collective responsibility for not doing enough on climate change for disasters like this? And how much hope do you have that more Australians who are missing will be found?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, I think on Nepal, there will be time to examine the science and what has occurred here. My thoughts are solely focused, at this point in time, on the families and on the extraordinarily difficult time that we’re going through and offering our support to Nepal. And we’ll continue to do that. Those debates will take place. But I don’t think, from Australia’s perspective, now’s the time. My focus is very much on people who are incredibly traumatised by not knowing what has happened to their loved ones.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on the eve of this summit, China warned its citizens that it’s dangerous to come to Palau. In your view, is China bullying the host nation for its decision to allow Taiwan to come here?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, this is a paradise here in Palau. And one of the things that is obvious as you’ve been walking around here is how friendly and how peaceful this place is. And President Whipps is a wonderful host. I look forward to the coming days.
JOURNALIST: So, to the question, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I’m focused on the Pacific Islands Forum. That’s what I’m focused on.
JOURNALIST: So is China, it seems.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that’s what I’m focused on.
JOURNALIST: On the Pacific Islands Forum. Australia preaches regional unity via the Pacific Islands Forum. How concerned are you that Kiribati might be taking steps towards leaving or not playing its full participation in the Forum?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, from time to time, the Pacific Islands Forum has had issues with people not participating. Everyone’s participating at this Forum.
JOURNALIST: Kiribati isn’t.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, people are, there is a presence here. And everyone is focused on outcomes at this Forum. And one of the things that I do when I come to forums like this is look for unity and look for positive messages going out. That’s the role that Australia plays here, seeking to bring people together, showing leadership in the region, which is why we are, I think, respected. If you look at the agreements that we’ve had with countries across the board, whether it be the Cook Islands, we did the Tuvalu agreement, we’ve had agreements with – most of the countries have had our relationship expanded, our bilateral relationships. But the other thing that has occurred is the multilateral forums. As Patrick has said, the Pacific Policing initiative that I announced at I think it was the Tonga PIF meeting – that has had, more than half of the leaders of the Pacific have been to Pinkenba there in Brisbane and seen firsthand. The Pacific Security Group that is helping to police here – is essentially graduates. And the interaction that’s occurring between Australian police and police in the Pacific means that when we’re dealing with the challenge of transnational crime, which will be a major issue over the coming days, particularly issues such as drug importation into the Pacific, has an impact on Australia, because often that is the end destination. And that’s why working with the Pacific and getting those collaborative relationships in place is so important.
JOURNALIST: You spoke about Australia engaging with the region respectfully. Particularly over the last several months, can you say that China has engaged with the region respectfully?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m Australia’s spokesperson.
JOURNALIST: But would you say that the way China has behaved –
PRIME MINISTER: I’m Australia’s spokesperson and I speak on behalf of Australia.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you’re meeting with the PM of Tuvalu today. That’s not far from where China launched its ballistic missile test just a couple months ago. Do you see that a bunch of leaders not attending this PIF undermines or risks a collective condemnation against those actions?
PRIME MINISTER: I think that this is a well-attended meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, and I don’t think it’s productive to talk it down. I’m talking it up. I think with regard to China’s ballistic missile test, we’ve made it very clear that that is not acceptable. It’s not the act of a friend. It was a provocative action, and it was inappropriate. And we’ve made our position very clear, as have a range of other Pacific countries.
JOURNALIST: On Solomon Islands. There are concerns Matthew Wale is going to be toppled as leader. What will that mean for our possible treaty with the Solomon Islands?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have a good relationship with Prime Minister Wale. The Solomon Islands, of course, are a sovereign nation and their processes are up to them. One of the things we don’t do is interfere in those occurrences. But I regard Matthew Wale as a friend.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister – Mr Peters said he believe that there is outside interference behind Matthew Wale being challenged by his parliamentary colleagues. Do you agree with Winston Peters on that, and do you think there is outside interference in that happening this week?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I agree with what I say. And what I say is I’m concentrating on the Pacific Islands Forum here.
JOURNALIST: Where does it leave the region-wide security agreement that he was proposing?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’ll have debates over that. The Forum hasn’t begun yet. Well, had the opening ceremony. We’ll have those constructive discussions. But one of the things that you would recognise, and I know you have written, is that the upgrading of the security relationships has been rather extraordinary. In a very short period of time, we have gone from being in a situation where we were not highly regarded in these forums. We have turned that around very quickly, and not only warm relations with our neighbours, but the fact that we have had a doubling. We had two alliances in our first 125 years, the 75th anniversary of which we commemorate today. Compare that with the fact that we’ve had two alliances forged in the last 12 months, that says a lot about the relationships that we’re building. And here, Australia, I’ve got to say, when I walked in the room last night, it was such a positive reception, because those relationships really matter for Australia’s national interest. They really matter. And they matter as well for our place in the world where an advanced economy in a region in which you have a lot of developing countries with pressures on them. We have a responsibility in the Pacific to show that leadership.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just on that topic, are you anticipating to have any discussions either with the Prime Minister of Tonga about the ongoing discussions and negotiations on the Kaume’a Ofi agreement? And notwithstanding the uncertainty over Matthew Wale, any discussions about that treaty? Do you want it done by the end of the year?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’ll continue to work those issues through, but we’ll have those discussions. I met my friend, the Prime Minister of Tonga last night. We had a brief informal chat with him and his wife is here, travelling with him as well. And it’s a high-level delegation from Tonga, including, the Prince is here as well, members of the Royal Family. So, I look forward to engaging. We’ll have bilateral meetings with him today, and I’ll certainly also speak with the Solomons.
JOURNALIST: Do you think the end of the year is a realistic prospect?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we always aim for doing things as soon as possible, but also being practical as well. So, we want to upgrade the relationship with the Solomons further. I was the first international leader to attend their National Day. You will remember that very warm day there in Honiara, at that stadium. It was a turning point in the relationship, and I look forward to continuing to build on the relationships with all of our friends while I’m here. Thanks very much.
