Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the parliament, I welcome Prime Minister Napat and his delegation to Australia.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

You are most welcome here. Australia and Vanuatu are, of course, both members of the Pacific family. The bonds between our peoples and our nations have been built and sustained over generations. Today, together, we have agreed to strengthen those bonds by signing the Nakamal agreement, an agreement between equal partners and one built on close friendship. Together, we are strengthening our shared trust, deepening our mutual respect and investing in our collective prosperity. Nakamal will help our two nations build a more prosperous, stable and secure region—another important step in furthering our shared vision for the Blue Pacific, where peace and security in the region is a shared responsibility of the region.

Australia is a proud member of the Pacific family, and the agreement with Vanuatu today builds on our engagement as a reliable and respectful partner. At the beginning of next week, or on the weekend, I'll travel to Fiji and the Solomon Islands as well, deepening those relationships and working together across the board. The Pacific is our shared home, and we're working together with Vanuatu to the benefit of all our peoples.

This agreement will assist with economic development. It will assist on the shared values that we have on tackling climate change and the existential threat to many of the islands in the Pacific. It will assist with our shared vision of security in the region as well. In the one-on-one meeting that we had today, as well as the meeting with our respective ministers, there was a common view and consensus across the board about how important this agreement is to securing a more resilient and connected sovereign region where we will act together to grow our shared prosperity.

I look forward, with Jodie, to hosting Prime Minister Napat, his wife and ministers this evening at the Lodge in an informal gathering that will be important. It will be important because, at the end of the day, we've got to develop these relationships in our respective national interests. I think this is an agreement that will be welcomed right across the board. I thank you, Prime Minister Napat, for your leadership in making sure that this has been delivered.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

Prime Minister Napat, on behalf of the coalition and the federal opposition, I warmly welcome you and your delegation to our parliament. I congratulate you on the Nakamal agreement that has been signed between our two countries today, as we just heard from the Prime Minister.

Of course, this agreement is the latest phase of a partnership that has been growing stronger over many years and successive governments. The former coalition government was proud to enhance Australia's relationship with our Pacific family under our Pacific Step-up agenda. Under the coalition, Australia made vital historic investments in the telecommunications and digital infrastructure of our region. Such steps to practically improve and protect the self-determination of our Pacific family will always be the focus of our coalition.

In this world of geopolitical and other disruptions, the Pacific family must stand together, as we heard a moment ago from the Prime Minister. This is why my colleague the member for Fairfax and shadow minister for foreign affairs, Ted O'Brien, announced last week the coalition's support for a regional security pact for the Pacific that is designed by the Pacific.

Prime Minister Napat, we do live in dangerous times, where authoritarian powers seek to coerce and control while using both carrots and sticks, and for countries like ours enhancing our partnership sends a strong message about the importance we place on sovereignty, collective security and the solidarity of our fellow democracies. You and your delegation are most welcome guests in our country. Thank you for visiting us.