Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Australia has a responsibility to help a neighbour in need and to respond to the sorts of requests that we have received from our Pacific neighbours when disaster strikes. This is expected of us not just as neighbours and friends but also by the international community as a leader in our region.

We live in one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world. Between 2015 and 2016, more than 1.7 billion people have been affected by disasters in the region, and this represents 84 per cent of people affected worldwide by disasters. Of course, Australia directly benefits from a safe and prosperous Pacific region, and, by assisting our Pacific island neighbours to recover as quickly as possible from disasters, we are contributing to the stability, the security and the prosperity of our region.