Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Hi everyone. Bula vinaka. It's fantastic to be back here in Fiji. This is my third visit in just over three months. So that is a reflection not only on my affection for your country, but also the importance Australia places on Fiji and on Pacific regionalism.
I was really pleased to announce today 23.5 million Fijian dollars in support for the HIV response, and this reflects the strength of our Vuvale Partnership. Regrettably, as you know, Fiji is experiencing the fastest growing HIV outbreak in the world. And Australia is standing with you in responding to this crisis. Our support recognises that this is a health challenge, but it is also a security challenge. Alongside our health partnership, we're also working together to combat transnational crime, illicit drug trafficking, which is contributing to this challenge across the region. Fundamentally, stronger health outcomes in your country strengthen the health security of both our countries and of the wider Pacific family.
Last month, of course, our two prime ministers, Prime Minister Rabuka and Prime Minister Albanese, signed the Vuvale Union and the Ocean of Peace Alliance. This is a new chapter in the relationship between Fiji and Australia. And I can announce I plan to table these two treaties in the Australian Parliament next week. This is the first sitting week after the signature at the State House, so I will be very honoured and privileged to table it so that the process of ratification from the Australian side can commence. The Vuvale Union is a reminder that when Pacific countries work together, we are better placed to address shared challenges and to advance shared interests.
As you know, I'm also here for the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting. This does come at a critical time for our region. In an increasingly uncertain world, it is more important than ever that Pacific countries work together, work together to ensure that the future of our region is determined by our people. The Forum is central to this. It brings all 18 members together, and coming together we have a stronger voice in the issues that matter to us. We know that relationships are built on trust, and Australia has been working to build that trust, strengthening relationships and transforming our partnerships across the Pacific. We are investing in practical cooperation that helps deliver security, economic opportunity and resilience for all Pacific Island countries. In a more contested world, in a more uncertain world, these relationships matter. It is how countries make their own choices through partnership and not coercion. So Australia will continue working with Fiji and Pacific partners to help achieve a region that is peaceful, that is stable and that is prosperous. Happy to take your questions.
Journalist: Senator Wong, Lice Movono from the ABC. My questions are to do with pre-COP, because you've answered most of our HIV questions. So this is to do with rumours that we've heard that Australia is finding difficulty in securing the attendance of world leaders at both the Nadi pre-COP and the Tuvalu pre-COP. So we're asking for confirmation on that. And also, what do you take from that difficulty to get world leaders to come? Do they not care about the climate impacts that we can see when they go to Tuvalu?
Foreign Minister: First thing I'd say is I saw the comments Prime Minister Rabuka made, and I agree with them. And I join with him in saying to the world, come to the Pacific. Come to the Pacific and see for yourself the reality of climate change for Pacific Island nations. Come to the Pacific and understand what this means for the people of the Pacific, for their livelihoods, for their culture, for their economies – come to the Pacific. Australia has always sought, or I can say to you, as Australia's first climate minister, I understood very early on, many years ago, how important it was to work with Pacific nations to elevate your experience and your voices. And we did that. This is what this pre-COP is about. And we do want to elevate Pacific voices and Pacific priorities through the Forum. We will continue to encourage leaders to come.
Journalist: [Indistinct] Just on what Australia's key goals and priorities for tomorrow's Pacific Island Forum meeting? And what does Australia hope to achieve?
Foreign Minister: We want a stronger region. We want a region which is able to deal with the very large challenges which we know we are experiencing, whether they are the health challenges that we're discussing today, the economic challenges which we know about, or the geopolitical reality, which is we live in a much more uncertain world. Regionalism is one of the ways we can assure peace and security and stability in our region, which is, of course, a platform for stronger economies and healthier communities.
Journalist: [Indistinct] From the Fiji Times. In regards to the $23.5 million funding, I'm curious to know whether or not that is additional funding or whether that was already allocated in Australia's already existing healthcare assistance.
Foreign Minister: We have been your health partner for quite some time. But obviously, we have now the Vuvale Partnership. And the Vuvale Union health package is quite a substantial commitment over 10 years. The funding I've announced today builds on the 12 million Australian dollars. So I think it's about 19, 20 million Fijian dollars which has been previously announced in relation to your HIV response, and this is additional funding on top of that.
Journalist: [Indistinct] Fiji also needs assistance in drug rehab centres due to the increasing drug issues that are related to HIV. So under the Vuvale Partnership, how is the Australian Government going to be assisting Fiji in that area?
Foreign Minister: We respond to your government's and your people's priorities. And I think that's very important because the Minister today made a very important point, which is communities are partners in the fight against HIV. And so this is an area particularly where it's so important to work in partnership with community and to work in partnership with others. And we respond to Fiji's priorities. I met with some very impressive people today across a whole range of sectors and professions who are working very hard in your response, Fiji's response, to this challenge. And we know that that partnership and improving people's capability and capacity to do that is central to that. So I wouldn't be wanting to say the detail of what should or should not be done, that really is for your leaders and health leaders and community leaders in Fiji to identify what you think will work best.
Journalist: [Indistinct] My question is related to the Ocean of Peace Treaty whereby you have mentioned that Australia is supporting this initiative. Will this be also a centre of discussion in tomorrow's PIF meeting on what needs to be done from there?
Foreign Minister: The Ocean of Peace Alliance, or Treaty, actually grew out of Prime Minister Rabuka's articulation of his vision for the Pacific as the Ocean of Peace. And you might recall he spoke about it in a number of speeches publicly. Leaders, PIF leaders, Pacific Island Forum leaders, then adopted it. And we have chosen to work within that framework for the alliance between Australia and Fiji. I describe this alliance, you know, alliances are the greatest act of trust between two countries. They are the greatest act of trust. And they speak to our trust of each other and our recognition, our respect for each other, and our recognition that we matter to each other. The purpose of the alliance is to give effect to and keep faith with and give expression to in a practical way what leaders have said. We want this region to be an ocean of peace. We know we live in much more contested times and part of how we respond to that is to have Pacific Island Countries, Pacific Island Forum countries, work together to maintain security and stability and that's what this is about. I hope we have the opportunity to speak with members of the PIF about it so they are aware of, I'm sure they already are, but so we can talk through with them our vision and our commitments.
Journalist: I know Fiji has received a lot of health aid from Australia over the past few years. Now another $23.5 million has been injected to one of the country's biggest crisis. How will this $23.5 million make a difference in terms of the number that is scaling up from year to year?
Foreign Minister: The funding goes to prevention, to training, to workplace support, to community outreach, and to essential health supplies. And I hope it makes a difference. And we believe it will make a difference. But we also know, as do your leaders, that this is a very serious challenge. And this is a whole of community response that is required. No single leader, no single program will deal with this challenge. The whole of the community have to be engaged on this. And I was really pleased to see faith leaders and traditional leaders here today as well, because they will be so important in this response.
Journalist: [Indistinct] Just in regards to the Vuvale Partnership, I'd just like to ask a question on the progress of the CWM Hospital renovation. Just the challenges that might be facing in the renovation?
Foreign Minister: I'd probably have to ask you to speak to the High Commission about the detail of the project. I know it's a very big project. I think last time, the time before I was here, I was with the Minister at the CWM Hospital. So it's a very big infrastructure change over many years that will occur, but part of the commitment in the Vuvale Union is a commitment to upgrade that hospital.
Journalist: Australia, as my colleague has said, has pumped millions into Fiji's healthcare sector. And it's probably one of the sectors in Fiji that continues to face a lot of gaps. Given that you're such a big supporter in terms of financing, is Australia seeing its money being put to good use?
Foreign Minister: Well, I spoke to Dr. Jason today and I talked to him about what is the money being used for, what are you drawing from in terms of the world's best practice in responding to this. And he spoke about the various partners, including Australian partners, but obviously through WHO and others, who they are drawing on in terms of designing and implementing the response. I think we all wish there was a quick fix, don't we? We all wish there was a quick response to this, but if you look around the world at the response to HIV/AIDS internationally. We know that there's a lot of work required, a lot of partnership and a lot of community engagement. I thought the Minister's speech today where he spoke about stigma not protecting people was very powerful and a real act of leadership from your health minister. Thanks very much.