Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning. Thanks for being here. Well, we've all seen so much footage of the horrific devastation in Nepal and also in China. We know that in excess of 4,000 people are missing, over 900 dead, and we know that there are 43 Australians who are not accounted for. We hold grave concerns for their wellbeing. Those concerns deepen each day. We've been working around the clock to gain information, to provide support, to work to ascertain any information about the Australians who are missing. We've deployed additional Australian personnel to Nepal. We've engaged with China and with Nepal, both at Foreign Minister level but also regularly at official level, particularly through our Embassy in Kathmandu. I want to say first that our thoughts are with the friends and families of all those who we cannot account for. This is an extraordinarily distressing time for you, and we are thinking of you.
I also want to thank Australians. You have been extremely – extraordinarily generous. Australians have donated some $2 million of their own money since Friday towards supporting Nepal through this crisis. The Government has provided in total some $8 million of humanitarian assistance through various partners. After my discussion with the Foreign Minister of Nepal, we have determined to respond to their request for additional supplies, specific supplies. This was their preference, rather than additional personnel for search and rescue. They've already deployed some 20,000 people. So, an RAAF plane will be departing Amberley today, or this morning, with additional supplies as requested by Nepal. Things like hygiene kits, shelter kits, solar kits, and the sorts of humanitarian supplies that you need in a disaster zone where people have no access to infrastructure and no access to shelter. Happy to take questions.
Journalist: Minister, obviously the Keats family have released this information. You've said the government hasn't confirmed this as yet. Could you explain what the threshold of information that the government needs to be able to confirm this death?
Foreign Minister: Well, it would be confirmation from authorities, but I'm also realistic about this. When you have the thousands of people missing that you have, and you've seen yourselves the difficulty, the challenge Nepali authorities have in identifying who is missing and identifying who is deceased. Obviously, official confirmation is challenging at this time. What I would say is my thoughts are with the Keats family. We respect the rights of families to make the statements that they have made and our thoughts are with them.
Journalist: Minister, just turning our minds to the Pacific, does Taiwan have the right to participate in PIF and what do you make of China's envoy saying there will be consequences if it does?
Foreign Minister: I think the Pacific should be able to determine its own relationships. Obviously, Australia has a one China policy. We have diplomatic relationships with Beijing, and we maintain an economic engagement with Taiwan. There are Pacific Island countries who have a different position and we respect their right to make their sovereign decisions. I think the more important thing here is the Pacific Islands Forum is the key central forum of the regional structure and it's so important if you believe that the Pacific should make decisions about the Pacific, for the Pacific, this is the forum where that occurs.
Journalist: Minister, just on the Pacific again, there's been reports multiple leaders won't be attending this time around. Do you think China has had a hand in that?
Foreign Minister: Well, I'd refer to my previous answer. And what I'd say to you is I've been upfront with the Australian people. We are in a permanent contest in the Pacific. Leaders make their own decisions about whether to attend. Australia's a strong supporter of the forum because if you believe in regionalism and the Pacific making its own decisions, this is the key forum for that. And I've made the point to my counterparts that at a time of competition, actually, regionalism becomes even more important. It's one of the ways in which you can deal with the asymmetry of power between greater powers and smaller powers.
Journalist: And just staying in the Pacific, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale is facing a leadership challenge. What do you make of that challenge?
Foreign Minister: Look, these are sovereign decisions for the people and the Parliament of Solomon Islands.
Journalist: Your New Zealand counterpart, Winston Peters, cast suspicion I'd say over the challenge saying the timing is curious given the summit is occurring right now.
Foreign Minister: Look, obviously we would leave these decisions to the people and the Parliament of Solomon Islands. We would prefer if people were able to focus primarily on the forum, but we accept people have their domestic politics that they need to attend to. Thank you.