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I don't think he's going to be able to do it. I don't think he's going to be able to do it. I don't think he's going to be able to do it. I don't think he's going to be able to do it. I don't think he's going to be able to do it. I don't think he's going to be able to do it. I don't think he's going to be able to do it. Hi, can I start with an apology? I'm sorry to keep you all waiting. As you know, the Leader's Forum went significantly over time. I didn't want to be rude to leave as much as I didn't want you to wait. Anyway, I hope you've been enjoying yourselves in this beautiful environment. I'm here obviously with Pat Conroy, who's the Minister for the Pacific. I'm very, very pleased to be back here in Suva to meet with Pacific Island Forum leaders and to continue the constructive conversations between Ministers. The Prime Minister, as you know, will be arriving tomorrow. He and I and Pat are really very aware of the importance of this regional body, the importance of the Pacific Island Forum at this time. I said today at the Leader's Forum dialogue that we are here to listen and learn. It's obviously my first forum and it was very important to listen to the contributions from the various perspectives of Presidents and Prime Ministers around the table. And I gained a lot from it. As I've said previously, the Australian Government, the new Australian Government, is committed to bringing new energy and new resources to the Pacific and we recognise in particularly the importance of climate change. I had a very good discussion today with the Foreign Secretary of the FSM and we spoke about the lived experience of the Micronesian states to climate change. And as you know, that was one of the key aspects of Prime Minister Albanese's election campaign. I'd like to make a comment about the unity of the forum, which has obviously been a big discussion over these last weeks. The region is stronger together. It's a simple proposition. The region is stronger together and in the bilaterals I've had, in the discussions I've had in my previous visits and in the dialogue today, leaders talked about the challenges the region faces. Climate change, COVID and the recovery from COVID, both of which have fallen harder on this region than on many other parts of the world and of course, strategic competition. And all the nations of this region are seeking to navigate those challenges. All the nations are seeking to navigate those challenges and we do it best when we can do it together. That's the approach Australia has taken. That's the approach the Pacific Island Forum is taking and that is why Pacific Forum unity is so important. Now as you know, there have been a lot of discussions about Pacific Island Forum unity and the position the Australian government has consistently taken is we were seeking to support whatever the consensus could deliver because the most important thing was to ensure that at this time in a contested world, in a world confronting climate, COVID and the economic recovery from COVID, that the forum remained united. So I do want to commend Prime Minister Banu Mirama and the Government of Fiji and leaders from the Micronesian states for their work to try and bring the forum back together. You know, we obviously have a civil agreement which Australia is supportive of as the pathway to that unity. Can I note that we are continuing toward, working towards further greater unity and I note where the position that the leader of the President of Kiribati has articulated and I say along with all other members of the forum that we seek reconciliation and the door remains open and we hope that progress can be made there. In that vein, I wish the President and the people of Kiribati all the best on their national day which is today. Happy to take questions. Oh, that's just okay. You go first. So in the Micronesian split, it might be transferred back to the election of the past as Secretary-General. Sure. It was obviously a very tight vote. You've been very critical of the previous Governments if it's in the Pacific. Sure. How did Australia vote? Is it worth hearing those grievances? No. Do you have a view on how damaging that episode has been? No. I think my focus along with those of the leaders in that room is to try and do what we can to strengthen the forum at a time where the forum needs to be unified. That's the approach we've taken. Minister, just on Kiribati, are you worried China will sweep into the blunt and what is Australia doing to help remedy that situation? I think Australia has taken the view that we should facilitate the discussions and the cooperation between the Micronesians and Prime Minister Banu Marama and others. That's the approach we're taking. Obviously, as I said, competition is one of the challenges the region faces and we do think it's best faced together. Minister, can I ask you a question? When will those discussions happen? They have happened. The Beijing Times said this morning that five nations will either forge anything together or take individual paths. How likely is that latter scenario? I think we have to give this some time. I think that a lot has passed, a lot of progress has been made and you looked to where the forum was over a year ago now. We are in a much better place than we were and that's a great tribute to leaders who have been prepared to come to the table when there were really strong differences, some of which you've referred to. But obviously, where things are with Kiribati, we need to keep the door open and keep working towards reconciliation. Minister, on climate change, what's there any discussion of Australia hosting COP 29 with the city nations? Minister Conroy discussed it last week. Was that last week at the Foreign Minister's forum that I only attended one session virtually because I was in Bali and he may wish to go to that. Thanks, Penny. And on the broader point at the Foreign Minister's meeting last Friday, there was a real sense of enthusiasm and quite frankly a palpable sense of relief that Australia isn't back in the game of taking action on climate change. And the communique last week welcomed our action on climate change including obviously 43% emissions reduction by 2030 on the way to a legislator net zero emissions by 2050. A commitment to a Pacific infrastructure financing partnership on climate change. A objective of our policy of reaching 82% renewable energy by 2030 was really welcomed by the region. And the communique also welcomed our interest in hosting a UN conference of the parties, a UN COP in partnership with the Pacific. In both that meeting and in our bilaterals there's a real sense of enthusiasm for Australia undertaking that endeavour but we'll see how it goes. Just on a follow-up on that is Australia's emissions target credible as one of the highest in the developed world if it is going to close a COP form with the city? It's absolutely credible. 43% will be a challenge from where we are now but we'll get there on the way to net zero emissions by 2050 getting to 82% renewable energy in our national grid the climate financing facility for the Pacific. These are all really important parts of our climate policy and as the Prime Minister has said 43% is the floor we will achieve it and we'll go from there. Excuse me, excuse me. I think the position of Australia has made clear at the Foreign Minister's meeting and including in the joint resolution which was adopted and I can throw to Minister Conroy more on that if you want but I think the position has been made clear. Would you like to ask a question on the regional media? How do you plan to achieve the emissions target considering the 27 coal mining approval projects before you? As you know the 43% target is quite a substantial target and the coal mines will be dealt with in accordance with Australian law I would make the point that the target that we are proposing would see Australia at 82% renewable energy for our domestic market by 2030 but Minister Conroy may wish to add. Our 43% target will cover the whole of Australia's emissions so economy-wide targets. So those coal mines that you mentioned will go through the normal environmental approvals but Foreign Minister Wang is absolutely right the 43% emissions reduction target will be across the whole economy and we are confident we've got the policies in place to achieve that. Minister Wang can I ask I didn't quite hear that question before so I apologise but in 2019 Australia was effectively asked to stop any new coal mines or gas reserves being exploited and utilised the government at that time obviously stepped away from that. Have you been asked at this summit at this forum whether Australia would follow that line in not allowing any more coal reserves or gas mines to be utilised in response to I suppose noting that coal is now Australia's number one export? No I have been asked and you would know from our previous answers what the position is and it's consistent with the answer we just gave. Well you know what the position is. Minister, any push from Pacific Island leaders for Australia to do more on climate change seeing as we've had years of little to no action? To be honest I obviously argue for more ambition to date in my bilaterals and my private discussions and in the public discussions I've had there's actually a sense of relief that finally Australia is prepared to actually do something and I've been climate minister I know and it's completely legitimate for Ireland states which are already experiencing and have for many years the effects of climate change just to do more but given Australia has been so intransigent for the last decade I think that the view particularly has been relieved. This is going to be one of those can you confirm? To what extent is Australia working with the US to shape US strategic priorities in the Pacific? Well the view we have consistently brought to our strategic ally is of the importance of development in this region, the importance of climate in this region action on climate and the importance of showing up and we're really pleased that there's been a recent announcement by the administration about an additional post in the region. I hope that continues. Well that's a matter for the forum and for the chair. The Fiji sets the agenda, Fiji and the secretary general look at how the forum is to be run I wasn't aware there was a request for that but certainly this is a regional forum, it's a matter for the region and the Pacific family to resolve how the forum is run. Anything else over here? Sorry. We don't unlike our development assistance that doesn't come with those sorts of political strings attached. Sorry. And to demonstrate the conviction that Mr Wong has articulated, only yesterday we announced an additional $2 million of assistance to Kiribati to assist with their crippling drought and that's on top of the $600,000 we announced a couple of weeks ago so it's very important that aid is unconditional like that. Minister do you have a... Sorry there's just so many here. Can the 2050 blue continent strategy be successful without Kiribati? Does it need Kiribati? Look, I think well first can I just talk about the strategy and for the Australian who may not be aware. It is the strategy that leaders will consider and hopefully adopt. It is a very, very good, a lot of work has gone into it, a very good document that really talks about the oceans and natural environment as a resource that needs to be collectively managed and asset needs to be managed in a world where there is climate and strategic competition. And that's out to 2050 you'd want the whole region engaged which is why I again emphasise from Australia's perspective and I think from the form's perspective to Kiribati the door is open. Anything further? Last question please. Has climate change been overshadowed as the biggest threat facing the region and will that still be the centre of discussions at the forum? I can only say this that climate is central in the boy declaration in many leaders' statements past that it is the number one national security, economic challenge that the region faces. Obviously people have spoken about climate have spoken about strategic competition and have spoken about COVID and the path to recovery where there are real challenges for the Pacific. We know that there's a risk and we had a discussion today about the development path what they call economic scarring as a consequence of COVID this is not a region that can afford that we need to work with them to try and avert that. Thank you very much. Behind you. What does Australia stand on the influence of China in PG and with reports that they were excluded from in person meetings? That I was excluded. The reports that they were excluded from China? China was excluded I'm sorry I just didn't hear who you said well the membership of the PIF is clear in Australia and others are members of the PIF others are not so it's unsurprising that members of the Pacific Island forum would meet together I've made comments before about China we think in relation to Pacific security that members of the Pacific family are capable of providing that security and we think that the Pacific unity is important as we navigate a world where we confront climate COVID and strategic competition. This last question we've got reports of Pacific workers not being paid if we're still here. I'm happy to talk to you about that because we're a Labour government we're a government that has a very strong ethical and philosophical commitment to ensuring workers are not exploited. We've made some changes we will make more changes we looked at this a lot in opposition you can't guarantee everything but I can say to you we work very hard to make sure that we crack down on exploitation. Thank you very much.