Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Scarr for his question. It was a great pleasure yesterday to join, with Prime Minister Morrison, the Pacific leaders for the special Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Retreat. I particularly want to thank Prime Minister Natano of Tuvalu for his strong leadership as forum chair during a very difficult period with COVID-19. It was the first meeting of Pacific island forum leaders since the pandemic began and the first ever to be held virtually.

Leaders considered two issues of vital performance to our Pacific family: our COVID-19 pandemic response and the appointment of a new forum secretary-general. Firstly, let me acknowledge and warmly welcome my friend Henry Puna, the former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, as the new PIF secretary-general. Australia looks forward to continuing its very warm and productive relationship with Mr Puna in his new role. I thank and acknowledge the great service of the outgoing secretary-general, Dame Meg Taylor of Papua New Guinea, who led the forum with drive and purpose over the last six years. Let me also acknowledge the other candidates, also friends of Australia, who put themselves forward, and thank them for their willingness to contribute in this role.

Together Pacific leaders have acted decisively to escape the worst health effects of COVID-19. The economic and fiscal effects of the pandemic on the Pacific, however, have been significant. This week leaders committed to working together towards sustainable economic recovery in our region, including restoring vital air and sea connectivity. Underpinning that, they emphasised the need for global cooperation on the critical issue of equitable and affordable access to vaccines. Leaders made clear their objective for full vaccine coverage for all Pacific countries and committed to working together to ensure timely and equitable distribution of vaccines across our region.