Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to talk, if I may in the last minute, about two Pacific Island Forum members who are important neighbours for us.

The first is Cook Islands, the incoming Chair of the Pacific Island Forum, and I thank them for their hospitality last week. Whilst I was there, I signed the Oa Tumanava partnership with Prime Minister Brown which paved the way for deeper cooperation between our two countries. Cook Islands, as I said, is the incoming chair of the forum. We have elevated our engagement with the Pacific Island Forum as the key regional architecture within the Pacific. It is one of 11 countries which I have had the privilege of visiting since my appointment as foreign minister.

In relation to Fiji, I would like to inform the Senate that we are building on our new Status of Forces Agreement between Fiji and Australia signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and his counterpart last week. That marks an important milestone in our defence relationship with Fiji. (Time expired)

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.