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

The Pacific Islands Forum is where leaders come together to make decisions, including decisions on security in the Pacific family. It is a core national interest for Australia to show up.

Australia has not always been welcomed there with open arms. We all remember how Mr Morrison was received. What is disappointing is that Mr Dutton, recklessly, wants to drag us back to those days. Today he's out there questioning whether the Prime Minister of Australia should be at the Pacific Islands Forum. Really? When Mr Dutton had the chance to make Australia more secure he left us more exposed. He went around beating the drums of war but, do you know what? He just surrendered in the Pacific—he just surrendered! And, while he was beating his chest, he let our country get beaten to the punch. We are determined not to ever make that mistake.