Senator Penny Wong

She said this when addressing the Pacific Islands Forum on her first bilateral visit to Fiji.

“I understand that climate change is not an abstract threat, but an existential one.

Wong repeated a statement made at the Pacific Islands Forum Boe Declaration on Regional Security from 2018, “We reaffirm that climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific.”

“I’m deeply honoured to be here at the Pacific Islands Forum – the pre-eminent Pacific Institution, the heart of Pacific regionalism. For more than 50 years, the Forum has brought us together in the Pacific way. Through the Forum, Pacific nations have championed their interests on the international stage – and led international thinking on issues such as climate.”

Australia is a founding member of the Forum, a membership they treasure, said Wong.

“We will increase Australia’s overseas development assistance to the pacific by $525 million over the next four years, working with you to recover from the pandemic.”

“I know that Pacific women have a key role to play in your recovery, and in your economic development,” added Wong.

“Societies work better, economies work better, communities work better, when we remove barriers to participation of women and girls, when all have an equal place in national life.

In a statement, Senator Wong said: “The visit, in my first week as Foreign Minister, demonstrates the importance we place on our relationship with Fiji and on our Pacific engagement.

“Australia will listen to our Pacific partners as we work together to face our shared challenges and achieve our shared goals – including tackling climate change, pandemic recovery, economic development and regional security.

“I’ve become Foreign Minister at a time when our region faces unprecedented challenges.

“But we will face these challenges together, and we will achieve our shared aspirations together.

Senator Wong says the government of Australia wants to help build a stronger ‘Pacific family.’

“That is why we will do more, but we will also do it better.

“We will listen to what the Pacific has to say.

The Australian Foreign Minister said the Australian Government knows that nothing is more central to the security and wellbeing of the Pacific than climate change.