Pat Conroy's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
type: channel
language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2026-02-10T22:05:32+00:00
items: Defence Equipment | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
items: Defence | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Shortland Electorate: Schools | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Manufacturing Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Energy | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Defence Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
items: Defence Procurement | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Mining and Energy Industry | Distinguished Visitors | House debates
items: Critical and Strategic Minerals Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Mental Health | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates

Defence Equipment | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for Boothby, from the great defence state of South Australia, for her question. The Albanese government is united in working hard to deliver the capabilities our Defence Force...
encoded: I thank the member for Boothby, from the great defence state of South Australia, for her question. The Albanese government is united in working hard to deliver the capabilities our Defence Force needs to keep Australians safe. Importantly, we're accelerating delivery at the same time as creating Aussie jobs. We've increased naval strike range tenfold, and we're more than doubling the size of the warship fleet. Our first new warship will be delivered five years ahead of the Liberals planned first new frigate, and we'll deliver four new warships in the time the Liberal government was to deliver one. We're also delivering the autonomous Ghost Shark submarine to safeguard our maritime approach. They are rolling off production lines in a factory in Sydney right now. We're acquiring counterdrone capabilities in record time. And our world-leading Ghost Bat is the first military aircraft designed and made in Australia in more than 50 years. We're making missiles right now in South Australia, and we'll open another missile factory next year. By contrast, under the last Liberal government not a single missile was built. All they produced was two media releases. You can't defend a country with media releases. I'm also asked about what we've rejected. We've rejected the chaos and division that we've seen from the Liberals and Nationals. The Albanese government runs a proper, orderly cabinet process because our national security demands nothing less. This means we can deliver. We're creating 10,000 shipbuilding jobs. By contrast, the Liberals closed two shipyards, slashing thousands of jobs. We're investing $10 billion in drones and counterdrones. The Liberals cancelled the nation's only armed drone project. We're undertaking the biggest reform to defence in 50 years, while a pet goldfish lasted longer than Liberal defence ministers. We're building factories while they are building leadership contenders. We're rolling out missiles and drones while they're rolling leaders. We're …
date: 2026-02-04T14:55:00+00:00

Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
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description: I share the shock and devastation of all Australians following the horrendous terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025—an act of evil, blatant antisemitism; a terrorist attack...
encoded: I share the shock and devastation of all Australians following the horrendous terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025—an act of evil, blatant antisemitism; a terrorist attack that has struck at the heart of our nation; and an attack on our way of life. My thoughts, and the thoughts of the people of Shortland, are with the family and friends of the 15 people who tragically lost their lives—who were murdered. The trauma and loss their families are dealing with is beyond anyone's worst nightmare. I think especially of the parents of 10-year-old Matilda, who are facing an unimaginable future without their daughter. My heart goes out to the people who were seriously injured, and may face lifelong impacts as a result, and to the broader Jewish community, who've faced a targeted antisemitic attack. The first day of Hanukkah should've been a joyous celebration of faith, but it will be remembered as one of our darkest days. My community also grieves with the people of Bondi. Like us, the Bondi community loves the ocean and the sunshine, and they've suffered an enormous trauma at the heart of their beloved beach. In the month since the attack we've seen Australians across the nation embrace their fellow Australians, especially those of Jewish faith. I know that people in Shortland have been deeply affected. In fact, my office has received thousands of emails and phone calls. Most of these people have been expressing horror and dismay that such a grotesque act of violence could take place in modern Australia. For example, Nicholas from Jewells wrote: I am writing to you as a constituent who is both deeply saddened and profoundly disturbed by the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. This was not only an attack on our Jewish friends and neighbours but an attack on the Australian way of life itself, a way of life built on fairness, tolerance and a belief that everyone is a mate, regardless of their faith or where they come from. Nicholas went on to write: Australia…
date: 2026-01-19T12:31:00+00:00

Defence | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for Newcastle for her question. The Albanese government is united and working hard to deliver the capabilities our defence force needs to keep Australian safe. Importantly, we...
encoded: I thank the member for Newcastle for her question. The Albanese government is united and working hard to deliver the capabilities our defence force needs to keep Australian safe. Importantly, we are accelerating delivery at the same time as growing Aussie jobs. This is in stark contrast to the Liberals and Nationals, who aren't listening, have no ideas and are focused on themselves. We've delivered naval strike missiles, Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles to the Navy years ahead of schedule, increasing their range tenfold. We are more than doubling the Navy's warship fleet and we've selected the Mogami class frigates months ahead of schedule, with the first frigate to be delivered in 2029. Our first frigate will be delivered five years ahead of the coalition's planned first new warship, and we'll have delivered four new warships when they had planned to deliver one. We've committed to continuous naval shipbuilding in Adelaide and Perth, delivering tens of thousands of new jobs. In contrast, the Liberals closed two shipyards, slashing thousands of jobs and secretly cutting $20 billion from the defence budget. We're increasing the budget by $70 billion. That is what a responsible, united government does. I'm asked about alternative approaches. We saw it on display by the last government and continued in the opposition leader's thought-bubble of a defence speech last week. It was a thought bubble so empty that the shadow minister for defence didn't even know about it. It was a speech that lauded Scott Morrison's commitment to producing guided weapons in this country. There's only one slight problem. Under the Morrison government, they produced zero missiles. The only thing they produced was media releases. I've got news for the opposition: you don't defend the nation with media releases or Top Gun music. In contrast, we're building two missile factories and we'll be producing missiles by the end of this year. That is what a united government does. The other insight of the oppo…
date: 2025-11-27T15:13:00+00:00

Shortland Electorate: Schools | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: It's always heartening to hear about excellence in innovation in our schools. In Shortland, I'm proud to say, we have some of the best. Hunter Sports High in Gateshead made history a few months...
encoded: It's always heartening to hear about excellence in innovation in our schools. In Shortland, I'm proud to say, we have some of the best. Hunter Sports High in Gateshead made history a few months ago after being named government secondary school of the year, and overall— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 09:32 to 09:44 As I was saying, it's always heartening to hear about excellence and innovation in our schools, and in Shortland I'm proud to say we have some of the best. Hunter Sports High School in Gateshead made history a few months ago after being named government secondary school of the year and overall Australian school of the year in the Australian Education Awards. Not only is this an amazing achievement; it is the second year in a row it's won both categories. Just think about that—it's the second year in a row that it has been the best school in Australia. To be awarded Australian school of the year once is a big deal, but to be awarded it back to back is phenomenal. I'd like to recognise and congratulate Principal Rachel Byrne, her staff, students and the wonderful community for cementing Hunter Sports High as a prime example of excellence in public education. It is setting the standard for education right across the country. These awards truly reflect the passion, expertise and commitment of the entire school community in providing an outstanding learning environment. Hunter Sports High prides itself on inspiring a love of lifelong learning in its 950 students from years 7 to 12. It delivers a learning environment that balances academic excellence and sporting achievement. Twenty-two per cent of its students identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, ensuring rich cultural experiences are part of the diverse fabric of the school community. Especially, as the school represents a region that includes Windale and Gateshead and other communities like that, this is a phenomenal achie…
date: 2025-11-06T09:32:00+00:00

Manufacturing Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: It is the cheapest approach as well. All those opposite do is oppose and obstruct the rollout of renewables. The truth is the Liberals and Nationals aren't listening. They have no new ideas. All...
encoded: It is the cheapest approach as well. All those opposite do is oppose and obstruct the rollout of renewables. The truth is the Liberals and Nationals aren't listening. They have no new ideas. All they have got is contempt for manufacturers, continued opposition to our efforts to make power cheaper through rolling out renewables, continued opposition to our support for industries through tailored packages. In the end, all we have from over there is obstruction, contempt for jobs and contempt for the communities that rely on those well-paid, secure, highly skilled jobs.
date: 2025-11-05T14:34:00+00:00

Manufacturing Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I hear the contempt from those opposite about an aluminium smelter getting assistance on an electricity contract. It demonstrates what they think about manufacturing in this country. This is a...
encoded: I hear the contempt from those opposite about an aluminium smelter getting assistance on an electricity contract. It demonstrates what they think about manufacturing in this country. This is a short-term deal but it provides breathing space for Rio and the state government to negotiate a long-term energy solution that ensures the smelter's viability. This is important because Bell Bay is a cornerstone of the local Tasmanian economy. The Albanese Labor government recognises the importance of smelters like Bell Bay, not only to the economy but to the workers and families in the community and that is why we are building a reliable energy system that will secure Australian competitiveness for decades. That is what Future Made in Australia, the capacity investment scheme and the CEFC all do. They make sure we have cheap power and in turn a vibrant and world-class industrial sector that delivers good jobs. Opposition members interjecting— Again, I hear interjections over there about our efforts to save manufacturing. Again, it demonstrates their contempt for manufacturing and the communities that rely on these well-paid secure jobs. Their opposition to intervention demonstrates their unfitness for government. We are getting on with the job of supporting manufacturing in this country while those on the other side demonstrate their contempt. We saw it when they were in government as well, where they delivered 22 failed energy policies. Under their watch, 24 of 28 ageing coal-fired power stations announced they were closing within a decade when they were in power. You would hope they had learned from the past. The fact is the only way to keep the lights on and reduce power bills is to accelerate the rollout of renewables, firmed for storage and backed by peaking gas.
date: 2025-11-05T14:34:00+00:00

Manufacturing Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for her question. I know that manufacturing is an incredibly important part of her local economy. Her community will be relieved to hear that the Tasmanian government, Hydro...
encoded: I thank the member for her question. I know that manufacturing is an incredibly important part of her local economy. Her community will be relieved to hear that the Tasmanian government, Hydro Tasmania and Rio Tinto have come to a 12-month in-principle electricity agreement for Bell Bay Aluminium—a business that employs 550 staff and supports nearly 300 local businesses through its supply chain.
date: 2025-11-05T14:34:00+00:00

Energy | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: We've been modernising our electricity grid, and the coalition has opposed us every step of the way. The coalition has campaigned against generational projects across the nation, and in...
encoded: We've been modernising our electricity grid, and the coalition has opposed us every step of the way. The coalition has campaigned against generational projects across the nation, and in abandoning net zero the National Party has betrayed regional Australia—even though they know regional Australia has the most to gain from taking action on climate. Renewables are creating jobs and new revenue sources across regional Australia. In campaigning against affordable energy, the coalition is campaigning against blue-collar jobs. We're making sure that we're delivering the cheapest power possible and in turn a world-class, vibrant industrial sector. In contrast, the coalition's chaos and division are making energy more expensive and unreliable and will kill manufacturing stone dead.
date: 2025-11-04T14:40:00+00:00

Energy | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the newly-shaven member for Hunter. His passion for jobs in our community is very laudable. We know that our vibrant, world-class industrial sector delivers good jobs for...
encoded: I thank the newly-shaven member for Hunter. His passion for jobs in our community is very laudable. We know that our vibrant, world-class industrial sector delivers good jobs for Australians—hundreds of thousands of jobs—and most of them in regional Australia. But the truth is that, without access to cheap and reliable energy, these industries and jobs are under threat. Just ask the workers at Tomago. Rio has been very clear: they haven't been able to secure competitive coal power offers. That's the truth of the matter. But it's a very different situation in Gladstone, where Rio have been able to secure renewable energy agreements. Boyne Island smelter has secured 80 per cent of its electricity needs through new firm renewable projects—the cheapest power available—at prices that will not only keep the smelter open but give the owners the confidence they need to invest. The bottom line is that, without access to reliable energy now and for years to come, heavy industries like smelters will not have a future. The future is renewables, and the Albanese government recognises this. We're supporting industries to move to renewable energy through the Powering the Regions Fund and the Green Aluminium Production Credit. The Net Zero Fund will invest $5 billion from the NRF on energy efficiency and decarbonising large industrial sites and will also invest in low-emissions manufacturing. The Capacity Investment Scheme is delivering 40 gigawatts of the cheapest generation storage available. The CEFC, which those opposite tried to abolish, has driven renewable energy infrastructure and technology projects nationwide. The truth is that, at Tomago, we're seeing the consequences of the coalition's decade of energy policy failure—22 failed energy policies, and the workers of Tomago are paying the price.
date: 2025-11-04T14:40:00+00:00

Energy | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I'll conclude by saying we're providing more certainty to workers than those on the opposite side ever did. I invite Mr Bowen to speak.
encoded: I'll conclude by saying we're providing more certainty to workers than those on the opposite side ever did. I invite Mr Bowen to speak.
date: 2025-10-27T14:37:00+00:00

Energy | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I'll start the question, but, as it was directed to a question about energy, I think it would be more appropriately answered by the minister for energy. We have been very clear that the energy...
encoded: I'll start the question, but, as it was directed to a question about energy, I think it would be more appropriately answered by the minister for energy. We have been very clear that the energy sector is going through a transition as ageing coal-fired power stations close down. Unlike those opposite, we've got plans in place to drive investment into the sector. When they were in government, gigawatts of capacity closed down without a suitable replacement. And who suffered the most? Heavy industry in this country. That uncertainty drove power prices, as they had 23 different energy prices that placed Australian manufacturing under huge pressure. We're combating that right now with our Future Made in Australia agenda, which is driving investment into manufacturing because we're focused on it. Unlike those opposite, who cheered manufacturing going offshore, including the automotive industry, we're focused on cheap energy to drive manufacturing.
date: 2025-10-27T14:37:00+00:00

Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: At the moment.
encoded: At the moment.
date: 2025-10-09T11:39:00+00:00

Defence Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for his question. Australia faces the most challenging strategic environment since 1945, and that's why the Albanese government is investing record amounts in the Australian...
encoded: I thank the member for his question. Australia faces the most challenging strategic environment since 1945, and that's why the Albanese government is investing record amounts in the Australian defence industry to keep Australians safe and deliver a future made in Australia. I'm delighted to inform the House that, according to the latest statistics, the industry grew by 12½ per cent, and jobs grew in that sector by almost 10 per cent. This investment is guided by the lessons from recent conflicts, including that we don't just need the right equipment; we need the ability to make this equipment in Australia. There's no better example of this than the Albanese government's $10 billion plan for drone and counterdrone technologies. Last month I announced our plan to acquire $1.3 billion worth of drone defences for the Australian Defence Force. Importantly, this will involve many innovative Australian companies, like Acacia Systems in Adelaide, which I recently visited. Their home-grown technology will be the brains of the ADF drone defence. We're also designing and making drones in Australia. Take a look at Ghost Shark, delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, or Ghost Bat, the first aircraft to be designed and made in Australia in over 50 years. So we're growing capabilities for the ADF, we're growing jobs and we're growing sovereignty and self-reliance for Australia. Our record stands in stark contrast to the coalition's wasted decade, where they failed to support our local industry. They cancelled the only armed drone project and delivered zero drone defences for this country. We're delivering both armed drones and drone defences for the ADF. They closed two shipyards, costing thousands of Aussie jobs. We're delivering continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and SA, supporting over 10,000 jobs. All they did for missile manufacturing was two media releases. We're building two missile factories, and this year Aussie workers will start making missiles in thi…
date: 2025-09-03T14:58:00+00:00

Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
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description: Let me start by saying this: representing the people of Shortland is the greatest honour of my life. I'm incredibly thankful to my community for putting their trust in me once again. I won't take...
encoded: Let me start by saying this: representing the people of Shortland is the greatest honour of my life. I'm incredibly thankful to my community for putting their trust in me once again. I won't take it for granted. I promise to keep working hard every single day to deliver for you and for our region. The result of the 2025 election sent a strong message across the country: Australians want a government that listens, that delivers and that puts people first. I'm proud to stand here and say that's exactly what the Albanese Labor government is doing and will keep doing. Throughout the campaign, my team and I spoke with thousands of people across our community. We doorknocked, we phone-called, we held street stalls, eager to hear what mattered most to people. We listened, we made commitments and now we're delivering. One example I'm especially proud of is our support for an amazing local organisation, Survivor's R Us. Survivor's R Us helps people dealing with domestic violence, homelessness and unemployment, some of the hardest things anyone can go through. They told us they needed a permanent space so they could keep doing their vital work. We listened, and now we deliver. A commitment by the Albanese Labor government of $2.8 million will help them buy a permanent site. This will give them the security they need to continue helping our community for many years to come. That's what good government looks like: backing local organisations, supporting people doing work on the ground and making a real change in people's lives. Everyone deserves safety, dignity and opportunity to rebuild. But our work doesn't stop there. We've also committed funding to support important community upgrades across Shortland. There is $4.6 million to deliver the second state upgrade of Belmont Sporting Complex, $130,000 to fix the steps of Charlestown Netball Courts, $220,000 to address Windale rugby league club's drainage issues at Hunter Barnett Oval, $420,000 to upgrade the lighting at John Bal…
date: 2025-09-02T19:20:00+00:00

Defence Procurement | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for his question and applaud his commitment to Aussie manufacturing. The Albanese government has selected Mogami class as the preferred platform for our general-purpose...
encoded: I thank the member for his question and applaud his commitment to Aussie manufacturing. The Albanese government has selected Mogami class as the preferred platform for our general-purpose frigates for the Navy. This frigate decision is the biggest capability decision made by this government since announcing the Optimal Pathway for our submarines. It delivers on our plan to double the surface combatant fleet, giving the Navy much greater firepower. It's a plan backed by the Albanese government's $55 billion investment over the decade to deliver more ships more quickly. It's a plan to build eight of these next-generation stealth frigates right here in Australia, and it's supported by tens of billions of dollars of investment that we will make in Western Australia as part of our commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding. And I'm proud to say it will support over 10,000 well-paid, high-skilled jobs in WA and thousands more across Australia as Aussie businesses build these next-generation stealth frigates. This truly is delivering a future made in Australia. This decision was made months ahead of schedule and is an example of how we're accelerating critical defence capability projects to keep Australians safe, just like how we accelerated $1.3 billion in counter-drone capabilities to protect our troops and bases, a capability those opposite ignored when they were in power. We'll sign the frigate contract early next year, the first frigate will be delivered in 2029 and we'll have four frigates by 2034. That's four times as many frigates as the former coalition government planned and with the first new frigate delivered five years earlier. Let me repeat that: four times as many warships and the first five years earlier than the plan of those opposite when they were in power. I'm asked about a wasted decade. Our record on defence capability stands in stark contrast to the coalition. Under us, we'll have the largest surface combatant fleet since World War II. Under them, t…
date: 2025-08-28T15:04:00+00:00

Mining and Energy Industry | Distinguished Visitors | House debates
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description: I also applaud the member for Kennedy's long leadership on this issue. He's fighting very hard for his community, as is the Keep Our Copper delegation. As the Prime Minister said, Minister Ayres...
encoded: I also applaud the member for Kennedy's long leadership on this issue. He's fighting very hard for his community, as is the Keep Our Copper delegation. As the Prime Minister said, Minister Ayres is engaging with the state government and Glencore about this issue. As the PM has said—let's be clear—Glencore is a highly profitable company that has done very well out of Australia, and it's time for Glencore to be good to Australia. It's also important that Australian gas has to be available and affordable for all Australians, and that's why we've launched a review into the mechanisms involved there. This follows our work on capping coal and gas prices, which those opposite opposed. We'll focus on making gas more affordable for manufacturers so that Mount Isa has a strong future into the next few decades.
date: 2025-08-27T14:53:00+00:00

Critical and Strategic Minerals Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: We're working closely with the companies involved as well as their workers and the unions representing them. We're also working closely with the state governments because it's important that we...
encoded: We're working closely with the companies involved as well as their workers and the unions representing them. We're also working closely with the state governments because it's important that we come at a solution together rather than using this as a political football. The truth is we need to solve the energy crisis that we inherited from the other side of government as well as dealing with the long-term issues and the global trade. We're going to get on with the job. We'll back Aussie manufacturing. We're not the side of parliament that cheered when the car industry left; that was under your reign of power. We're going to back manufacturing and Aussie jobs, and we're going to fix the mess that you left us.
date: 2025-08-25T15:21:00+00:00

Critical and Strategic Minerals Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for his question, which is about the future of manufacturing in this country—in particular, the future of smelters. As we've said in this place many times, the...
encoded: I thank the member for his question, which is about the future of manufacturing in this country—in particular, the future of smelters. As we've said in this place many times, the sustainability of our domestic minerals and metals processing capability is vital to our national interest, and that's why we're backing jobs, backing manufacturing and backing heavy industry. The member also talked about energy. Obviously, energy is a critical part of the mix, and that's why we're investing record amounts in renewing our energy grid, backing renewable energy—which is the cheapest form of new energy—as well as improving reliability. I stood with the Prime Minister and other ministers when we backed Aussie industry with new investment in energy. The truth is the coalition had a chance to fix these issues, but they left us with a graveyard of discarded energy policies; by my last count there were 23. We're getting on with fixing the job by taking a considered approach, and Minister Ayres, in the other place, is working very hard at this. We've put aside funding for smelters, we've put aside funding for the green iron fund and we've put aside $2 billion for aluminium, to help with their energy transition. There's more to do, but the truth is we're not going to cop attacks from the other side, who sat on their hands for nine long years and did nothing about it.
date: 2025-08-25T15:21:00+00:00

Mental Health | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: Mental health is something that touches every family, every workplace, every school and every part of our community. It's something we need to talk about openly, honestly and locally. In my...
encoded: Mental health is something that touches every family, every workplace, every school and every part of our community. It's something we need to talk about openly, honestly and locally. In my electorate of Shortland, covering parts of Lake Macquarie in the Central Coast, I've seen firsthand the struggles that people face, whether it's a young person battling anxiety, a parent under pressure, someone doing it tough financially or an older Australian feeling isolated. There are real challenges faced by real people in our community. So, when my community told me they needed better mental health support, I took that seriously. That's why the Albanese Labor government is delivering a free Medicare mental health centre in Shortland—so people can get the help they need when they need it, close to home. This centre will be open to everyone—no referral, no appointment and no out-of-pocket cost. Just walk in and get the help you need, because mental health care shouldn't be a luxury. It should be accessible, affordable and local, not just for people in the big cities but for people in the regions too. These centres will relieve pressure on families and the broader health system by providing a one-stop hub for support. They'll be staffed by mental health nurses, psychologists, peer support workers and other allied health professionals, working together to deliver tailored, expert care. Whether someone is in crisis or simply in need of someone to talk to, they'll find a team ready to respond quickly, compassionately and effectively. People will be assessed onsite and connected to the right evidence based care. That might be short-term support, longer-term help or a referral to other local services. This is part of our broader commitment to strengthen Medicare and invest in the health of every Australian, because mental health is health. We're not just talking about better mental health care; we're delivering it. The centre can also help connect locals with other services to provi…
date: 2025-07-31T09:32:00+00:00

Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: The Pacific is our home. It is in our interest to foster a resilient, connected region that enables all our economies to grow and our people to prosper. The Albanese government has brought new...
encoded: The Pacific is our home. It is in our interest to foster a resilient, connected region that enables all our economies to grow and our people to prosper. The Albanese government has brought new energy and ambition to revitalise our Pacific partnership after a decade of neglect. We're using all tools of statecraft, security cooperation, development cooperation and people-to-people links to do this. We're also supporting the services that underpin economic growth, such as banking, aviation and critical infrastructure. The Pacific looks to us first for support. That is what good neighbours do. We're also facing a more uncertain international environment and we are in a permanent contest in the Pacific, both the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I have repeated that many times. That is why it's been so important that there has been such a transformational change in Australia's approach the Pacific since we were elected in 2022. We've signed landmark treaties with Tuvalu and Nauru, creating a safer region and advancing our position as a security partner of choice. We've strengthened cooperation with Papua New Guinea through our bilateral security agreement and our landmark national rugby league deal. These are both underpinned by strategic trust. We're also getting our relationship with the Solomon Islands on a better footing by building its police force. This confirms our position as their security partner of choice. We're also building a proud track record assisting one another after natural disasters. Most recently, we worked to support Vanuatu after its earthquake on 17 December last year, getting rescue and humanitarian teams on the ground within 24 hours of Vanuatu's request. And we shouldn't forget that, when Australia was hit by the terrible bushfires of 2019-20, Fiji sent 54 of its soldiers to help our emergency responses. I will always be grateful for that. Our investments have helped ensure every Pacific Islands Forum country will have an undersea telecommunicat…
date: 2025-07-30T16:30:00+00:00