Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Macquarie for her interest in this. The fact is that a number of Pacific Island families face real challenges as a consequence of climate change. In particular, we know that Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands and PNG are among the top 10 most at risk countries when it comes to natural disasters. So in this respect Australia is playing a very important role—I am happy to inform the member for Macquarie—when it comes to helping our Pacific neighbours. We know, for example, that we are going to take responsible action in relation to climate change, because under the coalition government the target that we have taken to Paris represents a 50 per cent per capita reduction. This reinforces the strong message that Australia stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pacific Island family when it comes to taking action that is responsible and consistent with their needs. That is why I was so pleased that the Prime Minister announced overnight $1 billion that will go towards helping climate resilience in vulnerable countries, particularly those in the Pacific.

Australia is going to continue to work with a number of our program partners—

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

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