Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I have indicated to the chamber that the minister has explicitly disagreed with the interpretation that was placed on the comments in the media story. Senator Wong, in raising a matter that I have not had an opportunity to check, has now repeated the assertion, and that may be the approach she chooses to take. But I also know that Senator Ruston has met today with the former President and reaffirmed our strong commitments to the Pacific in that conversation. She has advised him that her role—including also, of course, what I do as Minister for Foreign Affairs—is to work closely with our Pacific neighbours to build climate change resilience, to support them in adaptation, and we, of course, absolutely welcome the strong contribution of our neighbours across the Pacific, including the former President himself.