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

I thank Senator Brockman for his question, because the government has been very clear in recognising that a stable, secure and prosperous region benefits us all. We know that our Pacific neighbours are family. That's why the Liberal-National government has announced a comprehensive set of initiatives to support the region's ongoing development, and those announcements are becoming a reality. Last month, Prime Minister Morrison became the first Australian Prime Minister to visit Fiji since 2006 and the first to visit Vanuatu since 1990, affirming their role in regional leadership. In Fiji we're elevating our relationship through the Fiji-Australia Vuvale partnership, which will be broad ranging and comprehensive, deepening our security, our economic and our people-to-people links. Last week, I was privileged to visit the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and, briefly, Vanuatu. I met leaders there to discuss progress in deepening our partnerships. I was able to turn the sod on two important initiatives—a new telecommunications cable landing point in Honiara and our new purpose-built high commission in Funafuti in Tuvalu. I officially opened our interim high commission while I was there.

We're working more closely than ever with the Pacific Island nations on the issues of greatest concern to them, as the Boe declaration affirmed, including regional security around climate solutions and disaster resilience. As the Prime Minister has said, we are strengthening our engagement with the Pacific for the Pacific's sake, because this is our home. This government has a comprehensive plan to step up our engagement in the Pacific, and we are delivering. Working closely with the assistant minister, Senator Ruston, with the Prime Minister and with myself, we are delivering.