Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) | Hansard source

remittances, from Australia, New Zealand and the US. And who is the lead country in remittances to Tonga? Australia. Tongans in Australia send their money home. They keep communities afloat. That money allows them to build churches, build homes, get their kids into school, take their kids to the doctor. It is an incredibly important source of income for communities and families in the Pacific, and this is something that the coalition set up.

In 2016 to 2022, we introduced the Pacific Step-up. This was a hugely significant moment in our foreign policy here in Australia in terms of our relationships in the Pacific. It launched a new chapter in relations with our Pacific family. It provided education and employment opportunities, defence and border security measures, disaster assistance and impact mitigation infrastructure and technology.

We also launched the Australia Pacific Training Coalition. We opened new diplomatic missions right across the region and have representation in every single member of the Pacific Islands Forum. We established the Office of the Pacific within DFAT. That was a huge, momentous occasion. And we developed the Pacific Maritime Security Program. So I'm pleased to defend the honour. The list goes on and on. I have pages and pages here.