AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister Penny Wong has reaffirmed her country’s enduring commitment to the Pacific, highlighting shared values, regional cooperation, and climate action during a visit today to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva.
“It feels like I’m coming home,” Senator Wong said, recalling her first visit to the Secretariat three years ago. “This is the heart of the Pacific region, and I’ll always remember standing here and promising that Australia would listen, learn, and act.”
Wong underscored the Pacific’s increasingly uncertain future, citing climate change, declining global aid, and pressure on international norms as key challenges requiring unity and resilience among Pacific nations.
“We share one ocean and one future and we must count on each other,” she said. “Australia is a partner the Pacific can count on.”
The Foreign Minister noted that 75% of Australia’s development funding is directed toward the Pacific, reaffirming the nation’s long-standing policy of tariff-free access for Pacific exports — a practice in place for over four decades.
She also announced new security partnerships with Tuvalu, Nauru, and Papua New Guinea, aimed at enhancing policing and emergency preparedness, while supporting Pacific-led solutions to regional security challenges.
“We are enabling Pacific security to be provided by our Pacific family — safeguarding sovereignty and strengthening regional preparedness,” Wong said.
Climate Action: “We Hear You”
Responding to calls for climate justice, Wong assured regional leaders that Australians had voted for stronger environmental action, including the protection of the Great Barrier Reef and broader natural heritage.
“We hear you. The Australian people hear you,” she said. “We’ve committed $3 billion in climate finance to help build resilience and support Pacific nations facing the climate crisis.”
Wong urged Pacific countries to amplify their voices ahead of COP31, where the region is expected to advocate for stronger global climate commitments.
A Call for Unity and Maritime Security
Reaffirming Australia’s support for regional maritime security and integration, Wong emphasized the importance of Pacific unity in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
“Our region is stronger when we stand together,” she said. “Australia is committed to supporting the Pacific Way, grounded in peace, cooperation, and mutual respect.”
