Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Waters, if you will indulge me, I just want to give a shout-out to the kids from Darwin, at Malarndirri McCarthy's request. To Indiana, Ebony, your classmates and teachers at St Paul's primary: Senator McCarthy says, 'G'day,' as do we all.

Senator, your question is an array of many inaccuracies. We want to host the COP primarily and most importantly because we want to elevate the voices of the Pacific. That is the approach we have taken all the way along. That is why I've engaged at the Pacific Islands Forum at the foreign minister's level. That's why Minister Bowen has engaged with the PIF in his track, and the Prime Minister has engaged with the Pacific Islands Forum at a leader level. We have engaged very closely with the Pacific, not only then but also at UNGA, the UN General Assembly, where both Minister Bowen and I met with Pacific representatives to talk through trying to find a way through to get this conference held in Australia, importantly, to elevate Pacific experience and Pacific voices.

In terms of the assertion about the mining companies, I don't believe I have ever—I might be wrong—but I can't recall ever having a conversation with a resource company about our bid to hold COP. I know you like conspiracy theories, but what I would say to you is that you're not on track. The discussions continue. I wish we had resolved this earlier, of course I do. Certainly I know the importance of elevating the Pacific experience, because the Pacific, as you know, are experiencing climate change here and now. It's affecting livelihoods, national security, economies as well as food security and so much more.