Press conference - Apia, Samoa

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I've just come from the opening session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting here in Samoa. And apart from what was a rather extraordinary cultural display, including all the countries of the Pacific, including Australia, the speech of His Majesty King Charles was, of course, a highlight. King Charles spoke about the existential threat of climate change to our region. He also spoke about the need to not divide, but to come together in our common interest as a Commonwealth. And it was very well received by the heads of government and by the delegates to this important conference that comes at an important time, and the first time, of course, that CHOGM has been held here in the Pacific. We also heard from the Prime Minister Fiamē, and I was able to have a bilateral meeting with the Samoan Prime Minister this morning, after which, I had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the UK, Keir Starmer, as well as I had a range of informal meetings while we were waiting for CHOGM to occur, with other Commonwealth leaders. The Pacific is, of course, a global leader in climate action, and Australia respects and supports that leadership. The meeting that we had today with the Prime Minister of Samoa, and other Pacific partners who we discussed with, was about galvanising action in our region, and it will be front and centre of the next two days deliberation. Australia and the United Kingdom, of course, are old friends, but we're also close friends. And more than friends, we're partners, and I've enjoyed a positive relationship with Prime Minister Starmer for some time. It's the first time we've been able to meet face to face as Prime Ministers of our respective nations. We today discussed, importantly, our new climate and energy partnership that we will be delivering on. We have a common view about the challenge, but also the opportunity, that climate change action represents. We both are on the path to net zero through the transition, and we see that as an opportunity for new industries, new jobs and a new industrialisation of our respective countries. From Australia's perspective, of course, a future made in Australia, from the UK's perspective, a future made in the UK. And there's a real opportunity for us to develop technologies together to make a difference, as well as look at cooperation in areas such as climate finance. The new partnership will allow us to explore cooperation right across the board in all of these areas. Today, also, we're announcing grants on our Australia-UK Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnership Program. This is six companies in Australia, six companies and entities in the United Kingdom, cooperating and collaborating to make a difference with the emerging green hydrogen industry that has such promise to play a critical role in the transition to net zero, in the production of green metals, in a range of areas that will make a difference of lowering our emissions whilst producing new industries and new jobs and new opportunities for Australia, but also for the United Kingdom. Of course, we also discussed AUKUS and the progress that we are making together. And in December, the Foreign Minister and Defence Ministers of both countries will meet, and that will be the next step in making sure that we continue on that pathway, the optimum pathway, for the delivering of AUKUS, and both of us expressed our support for the progress that has been made. I will hand to the Foreign Minister, and then we're happy to take some questions.

PENNY WONG, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Thanks very much, Prime Minister. Look, it's fantastic to be here with the Prime Minister for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Obviously I had the Foreign Minister's track yesterday and today is the important Head of Government Meeting, and it's been a fantastic opportunity to engage with all members of the Commonwealth. Can I just say in relation to the partnership the Prime Minister has announced with Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This is the Prime Minister's first formal bilateral with the incoming government, and what a cracking start. Straight away, we're set to work, working together on transforming our economies, on dealing with not just the existential threat, which is climate change, but all that we need to do economically for our own economies and for the world. So it's a very exciting announcement that the Prime Minister is making today.

PRIME MINISTER: Happy to take some questions.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu has said that Australia is not doing enough to curb fossil fuel emissions. What do you say to that?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I had positive discussions with Prime Minister Teo and other Pacific leaders here. They recognise that the challenge of climate change doesn't mean that you can just flick a switch and act immediately. We need to make sure that energy security is prioritised in order to make sure that we have that support going forward. But we've worked very closely with our Falepili agreement with Tuvalu. The Prime Minister of Tuvalu was in Perth recently as well to pick up the vessel which will provide support there in Tuvalu. And I must say that the feedback I've had from Pacific leaders has been very welcoming of Australia's leadership here in the Pacific when it comes to climate action.

JOURNALIST: Can I ask you further about climate change? Because the King's speech was very interesting on the existential threat. He made some very dire warnings about what climate change could lead to without, well, global action, and I guess that means an agreement here. Now the King is usually meant to be above politics, isn't he, but climate change is a very political issue. And in fact, politicians like Nigel Farage, for instance, once likened him to an eco-loony for taking a position on climate change. Admittedly, before he ascended the throne. Has he gone too far and beyond his official duties by being so political about climate change, or is he absolutely right to warn of division and conflict?

PRIME MINISTER: His Majesty is very passionate about the world in which he lives and about the responsibility that we have to future generations. It's an issue which has characterised his public comments over a long period of time. He also made very strong comments in the Great Hall in Canberra. And in most parts of the world, with very few exceptions, climate change is above politics. It is about existential threat that exists to countries like Tuvalu and Kiribati. It's about the world in which we live. It's about our native fauna and flora. It's about the natural disasters that we were warned would increase in intensity and in frequency. And that is precisely what we are seeing in Australia, but in other parts of the world as well, increased impact of climate change, whether it be rising sea levels, increased cyclones, increased bushfires, increased droughts, we are seeing the impact of climate change, that's recognised by scientists around the world, and indeed one of the first world leaders to recognise the challenge of climate change and the need to act was Margaret Thatcher.

JOURNALIST: The King also talked about misinformation and the dangers of social media. It's an area your government has worked on reform for. Have you discussed this topic with the leaders here today, and do you consider this an endorsement from the King?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, His Majesty, of course, speaks for himself, and he made comments about the world in which he resides. And social media is having an impact. It's having an impact around the world, and much of that impact, of course, is positive. The capacity to communicate with each other is an important one. The use of new technologies to get information out there can be very important, but we also know that there can be a very negative impact as well. With misinformation, we've seen the use of artificial intelligence, including, fake information, and indeed, fake videos and a range of materials. And we know that social media when it comes to young people is having an enormous impact, and that's what my government is doing. It's something that we see discussed, I think, at the site of every tennis court on the weekend, netball court, football oval, swimming pool, we see parents after school, they're very concerned about this impact. And I think that the fact that His Majesty, King Charles, is very conscious about the modern world and prepared to engage in debate about that discourse is, I think, of course, up to him, but it's something that I think brings him credit.

JOURNALIST: If I could just ask, Keir Starmer and others have talked about conflicts, including that in the Middle East. Jim Chalmers has talked about the need for a ceasefire in the Middle East to prevent persistent global inflation. Do you agree that a ceasefire would go some way to doing it?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have been very clear about our view, and it's a view we signed with Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders in the 13 countries that signed up to the statement some time ago. Quite clearly, we do need a resolution. We have said very clearly that we also want to see the hostages released. We want to see both Israelis, but also Palestinians and Lebanese to be able to live in peace and security. I note that Secretary Blinken is there in the region, and the Secretary of State has played a critical role in trying to bring about a reduction in conflict in the region, and we certainly wish him well,

JOURNALIST: Just, obviously, the legacy of colonialism is being discussed, and there are calls from African and Caribbean nations for Britain to pay reparations or engage in a process of reparatory justice for the evils of slavery. It's something the UK Prime Minister has ruled out, but given Australia's own history of black birding, is it something you'd support other Commonwealth nations in calling for, or at least for truth telling processes?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Australian Government has recognised black birding for a number of decades now. Paul Keating in 1994 said that black birding represented a sorry chapter in Australia's history, and it does. What my government is focused on very much is a forward agenda of, how do we close the gap? How do we make a difference when the gap is there between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in so many areas? We need to do better.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just briefly back on climate change, if that's all right. The King also spoke about the way that climate change could fuel social division and inequalities between nations. Is this something the Government's examined in our own region, as temperatures rise and as natural calamities increase, the way that, for example, water shortages or other problems could fuel conflicts between countries, and given the ONA has done some assessment on this, ONI rather, sorry. Why should that assessment not be made public to the Australian people?

PRIME MINISTER: Because ONI that's the job that it does so, I think with respect Stephen, you know the answer to why intelligent briefings are just that. But we know as well, it is no secret, and the Australian Government has made information available. That is one of the contexts of the discussions that take place at places like the Pacific Island Forum and indeed, CHOGM here, as well as bilateral visits. We've had visits, if you speak about the region, from the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga, a range of countries in our region, Fiji too, since I've been Prime Minister, it's always front and centre. And there is an equity aspect to climate change because of its impact is not even across the board, and so it is part of the context of the debate is making sure that Australia and those countries that, of course, are largely responsible for the emissions which are there, have a greater responsibility to act. That's something that's been recognised in, that's part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We need to act together as the world. And I think that was a theme of, Commonwealth essentially means common good, and it is something that was a theme of His Majesty's speech. And I think it was a very fine speech, which will be well received by Commonwealth nations.

JOURNALIST: Could I ask Minister Wong about the work with women that you've been doing over the last couple of days. The Queen has obviously, you know, spoken extensively about ending violence in the Pacific against women. When we talk about Australia engaging with the Pacific nations, we often talk about rugby league. What's our in with women to help the Pacific, a platform for us, for Australia to help the Pacific?

MINISTER WONG: Well, thanks for the question. I appreciate it. And you know, one of the points that I made yesterday and Her Majesty also made, is that if you're serious about progress and development and peace, then you have to ensure you deal with women's experience of violence, women's access to education, women's access to economic empowerment. In other words, a country cannot be all that it could be unless women and girls are enabled to fulfil their potential. We've really sought to integrate this work into our development assistance programs. And so you will see in Australian development programs, there's a much greater emphasis than under previous governments, on making sure that there is a perspective around gender. In other words, if you're funding an economic initiative, what is needed to enable women to participate as well as men? Education, similarly, what is the infrastructure needed for women and girls to participate so there is no peace and stability and prosperity without women taking their full place in a society. And we'll continue to talk with the region about that.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much. One more.

JOURNALIST: Two more?

MINISTER WONG: You've had one.

JOURNALIST: The King also said you can't change the past, which is clear, but do you think the Lidia Thorpe's outburst or protest in Parliament indicates the Commonwealth collectively has not progressed?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, Lidia Thorpe's outburst was, of course, about Lidia Thorpe, and she achieved her objective because I'm getting a question about it now. I thought it was rude, outrageous and entirely inappropriate.

JOURNALIST: If the ocean declaration is signed tomorrow what would Australia's commitment be?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm not going to pre-empt the processes. I'm hoping to end this press conference so that I can go to, the sessions haven't begun yet, they begin this afternoon. We'll be working this afternoon in a couple of sessions, but then again, tomorrow. I can indicate about tomorrow, just to get this in your diaries as well, the Pacific Policing Initiative, a number of, particularly Samoa, but other countries as well, have recognised that this is the first time it's operated. We announced it just months ago. There are 11 countries, 46 police officers, including three from Australia, participating, providing security here. There's also the people who are looking after me here from the local police, were trained by Australians in the past, and tomorrow, we'll be first thing meeting with the nations of the Pacific who are participating, because this will be something to really celebrate. This is a great example of how Australia can provide practical support with, of course, the three prongs. One is the joint operations such as this one. The second will be the centre there at Pinkenba in Brisbane, that will provide the training. And then the four Centres of Excellence, one of which will be in Papua New Guinea, another which will be in Fiji. This is an example of Australia really making a difference in the region. And I conclude with that, but to thank all the journalists as well who made the effort to come here. This is an important gathering, and I appreciate, and I think Australia appreciates, the fact that you're here as well. Thanks very much.

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