By Pita Ligaiula in Koror, Palau
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says climate change, security and stronger Pacific partnerships will dominate Australia’s engagement at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
Speaking at a press conference in Koror, Albanese said it was important for Australia to listen to Pacific leaders and respond to the priorities of the region.
“The Pacific is our home, and the Pacific family needs to work together.
“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,” Albanese said.
Albanese is attending his fifth Pacific Islands Forum and said the coming days of bilateral meetings, the Leaders’ meeting and the Leaders’ Retreat would provide an opportunity to strengthen Australia’s relationships across the region.
Albanese said climate change would remain a central issue for Pacific leaders.
“Climate change is an existential threat to the very existence of some of the countries who are represented here,” he said.
He said Australia had a key role to play in the Pacific but stressed that its engagement must be respectful.
“We are a leader here in the Pacific, but it’s important as well that we engage respectfully,” Albanese said.
The Prime Minister pointed to Australia’s growing security and diplomatic ties with Pacific countries, including its alliance with Papua New Guinea and a proposed alliance with Fiji.
“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,” Albanese said.
He said climate change and security, including the growing challenge of transnational crime, would be key issues during the Forum.
Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Forum meeting was an important step towards COP31 in Türkiye later this year.
He said Australia’s deeper engagement with Pacific countries had been closely linked to changes in Australia’s climate policy.
“This PIF Leaders’ Summit comes in the lead up to COP31, so it’s an important waypoint,” Bowen said.
Bowen said climate finance for small island developing states would be one of the key priorities of Australia’s COP31 agenda.
“Those small island developing states are on the front line of climate change, but have trouble getting access to the support for climate adaptation,” he said.
Bowen said Australia also wanted to give greater attention to oceans in global climate discussions and support Pacific countries seeking to reduce their dependence on diesel.
“Many Pacific countries are dependent on diesel
“The supply in recent months has been uncertain, and so many Pacific countries are seeking to transition to 100 percent renewables,” he said.
He said discussions with Pacific leaders and climate ministers during the Forum would help shape the pathway to COP31.
Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy said the 55th Forum Leaders Meeting was an opportunity for the region to determine its own future amid growing geopolitical competition.
“The Pacific region stands at a crossroads.
“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,” he said.
He said Australia’s approach under the Albanese Government could be summed up simply.
“We turn up. We listen and we act on the Pacific priorities,” Conroy said.
“That’s what a proud member of the Pacific family should do in a respectful way,” he said.
Conroy said Australia’s security, prosperity and stability were closely linked to a safe and prosperous Pacific.
He said the Pacific faced a range of security challenges, from climate change and transnational crime to more traditional security concerns.
Conroy pointed to the Pacific Policing Initiative as an example of regional cooperation on security.
He said the Pacific Security Group was supporting Palauan police during the Forum meeting.
“This is a multinational police force made up of police personnel from across the Pacific, providing security for the Pacific,” Conroy said.
He said this demonstrated the Forum’s commitment to collective regional security.
Conroy also announced the completion of the East Micronesian Cable, connecting Nauru, the Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati through undersea telecommunications infrastructure.
He said the project was supported by Pacific countries, Australia, the United States and Japan.
The cable provides the three countries with access to undersea telecommunications infrastructure that carries most modern internet traffic.
“It’s another example of a regional approach to enhancing human development in our region,” Conroy said.
Albanese also announced that Australia will invest $15.6 million(US$11.14 million) over four years to support Pacific athletes preparing for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The funding will support athletes on their pathway through the Pacific Games in Tahiti next year and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Conroy said the investment would build on Australia’s PacificAus Sports and Team Up programmes.
“We’re allocating $15 million(US$10.71 million) to support Pacific athletes on the road to Brisbane over the next four years,” he said.
Albanese said the Brisbane Games would provide a major opportunity to deepen Australia’s engagement with the Pacific.
“The Brisbane Olympic Games is an opportunity, particularly to engage with the Pacific,” he said.
As Forum Leaders prepare for their main discussions, Albanese said Australia would continue to focus on the issues identified by the region itself.
“I’m really looking forward to the discussion over the next few days and to some really positive outcomes,” he said.
