Joint press conference - Pacific Islands Forum

FELETI TEO, PRIME MINISTER OF TUVALU: Good afternoon to you all. Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, invited guests, I acknowledge the presence of my fellow Tuvaluans who have made Tonga their home. Welcome to this momentous occasion. Today marks the entry into force of the ground-breaking Falepili Union Treaty between Tuvalu and Australia. The Treaty signifies a new, elevated, advanced, integrated and a more comprehensive relationship between Tuvalu and Australia. The Treaty carries the title of a noble and a treasured Tuvalu value of the Falepili, which embodies good neighbourliness, care and mutual respect. It is the extension of the Christian value of do to others what you want others to do to you. So it is my enormous pleasure on this occasion, on behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu to publicly announce the entry into force of the Falepili Union Treaty after confirmation of ratification by both countries. This new elevated relationship between Tuvalu and Australia is firmly grounded on mutual respect of each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. The Treaty prioritises three key areas, namely, climate cooperation, mobility with dignity and shared security. For Tuvalu, building its resilience and adaptability to the impact of climate change, in particular climate change in new sea level rise and future proofing Tuvalu statehood and sovereignty remain our top priorities. This treaty is ground-breaking and unprecedented and the first of its kind in the Pacific region. For the first time there is a country, Australia, that has committed legally to come to the aid of Tuvalu upon request when Tuvalu encounters a major natural disasters, when Tuvalu is experiencing a major public health, a pandemic, or when Tuvalu is subjected to some form of military aggression. I know the Pacific Forum has regional frameworks that guide the mobilisation of assistance to foreign members under those circumstances. But unlike the Falepili Treaty, those regional frameworks are not legally grounded. For the first time also, another country, Australia, is legally committed to recognise the permanency of the future statehood and sovereignty of Tuvalu, despite the impact of climate change. Tuvalu is prepared to implement the Treaty after extensive public consultation and endorsement by the Parliament of Tuvalu. So today, Tuvalu and Australia have just exchanged diplomatic notes that carry confirmation of the ratification of the Treaty by each party. Prior to the treaty, Australia and Tuvalu have enjoyed a very warm and cordial relationship over the last 46 or so years since Tuvalu gained independence in 1978. Australia was one of the inaugural partners that contributed, and still contributing, to the Tuvalu Trust Fund that was established in 1987. Australia is also one of only two countries that have established resident diplomatic mission in Tuvalu. Australia is one of Tuvalu's major development partner, if not the largest. Tuvalu has also benefited from various regional labour mobility schemes sponsored by Australia, like the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme, PALM, and the Pacific Engagement Visa. So Tuvalu and Australia have had a long, healthy, durable and robust relationship. The treaty that we bear witness to it being brought into operation this afternoon is simply a progressive advancement of our mature and respectful partnership. As members of the Pacific Islands Forum, both Tuvalu and Australia are committed to the vision and values of the 2050 strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its vision for a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity that ensures all Pacific people can lead free, healthy and productive lives. Prime Minister Albanese, let me propose a toast. Let me propose a toast to the Falepili Union Treaty between Australia and Tuvalu and to the future prosperity of Tuvalu and Australia.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thank you very much. And to Prime Minister Teo, it is indeed a great day together to celebrate the Falepili Union coming into force. Something that we began this process one year ago at the Pacific Islands Forum. The Pacific is our home, and by working together we can keep our region peaceful, stable, resilient and prosperous. And to announce the entry into force of the Falepili Union between Australia and Tuvalu is indeed a very significant day. This is a ground-breaking agreement that was agreed to by the Australian Parliament just on August the 21st, to ensure after we went through our process of our Treaties Committee. We are making history here today. Together, Prime Minister Teo and I are demonstrating our two countries shared commitment to an enduring and elevated partnership. I had the pleasure of signing this new partnership with then Prime Minister Natano in the margins of last year's PIF Leaders Meeting. And today we've exchanged diplomatic notes with Prime Minister Feleti Teo to confirm the treaty's entry into force. Our historic partnership is called the Falepili Union, reflecting our commitment to the values of good neighbourliness, care and mutual respect. And today, we demonstrate our determination to honour that commitment. This is the Pacific way. We are genuinely looking out for each other's interests with great respect for each other and a commitment to putting our people first. And we both believe in our responsibility to the collective stewardship of our region, including through the Pacific Islands Forum. This exchange of diplomatic notes marks the entry into force of our Treaty. From today, Australia and Tuvalu will work together to open the Special Mobility Pathway in 2025. This will allow up to 280 people from Tuvalu every year the choice to come to Australia to visit, live, work and study. Australia is committed to respond when Tuvalu calls for assistance, responding to a major natural disaster or a health pandemic or military aggression. And Australia and Tuvalu will mutually consider and agree any third party engagement in Tuvalu's security and defence related matters. I had the honour of welcoming the Prime Minister in Brisbane just a month ago. He has a deep understanding that creating enduring bonds between our people will benefit both of our nations. He is one of the architects of this landmark agreement, and I thank him again for his leadership. I have made it a personal priority for Australia to take a seat at the table at PIF. Engaging consistently and deliberately, because being part of the conversation means that Australia gets to shape the solutions in our national interest and in the interests of our region. This is a clear illustration of the commitment that my government has to be a trusted partner in the Pacific, to secure our region and build a stronger Pacific to help face our shared challenges and achieve our shared goals. Importantly, climate change action is, of course, front and center of that. Important also that we listen to our Pacific partners and act on their priorities. Entry into force of the Falepili Union marks a momentous development in Australia's relations with the Pacific, setting the groundwork for an enduring partnership for generations to come. And I want to thank the generations of people from Tuvalu who are based here in Tonga, who welcomed us with that beautiful scene. It was a wonderful way to walk into this beautiful location. What happens in the Pacific matters in Australia, because Australia is part of the Pacific family. And today, that family is even closer than it's ever been before. Happy to take questions.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, on the policing deal, how can you ensure that that is Pacific led when it's coordinated from Brisbane with AFP training resources and not designed to counter Chinese influence, like the European nations have suggested. And did those concerns come up in your discussions?

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: No, it was very positive today, and everyone who spoke in the plenary session spoke in favour of the agreement, not just those people who were at the press conference, but there were other contributions as well, from the Solomon's, from Nauru, from other nations, from the Marshall Islands and more. Everyone spoke in favour of it, because this is something that has come, not Australia come out with an idea and then seeking to get everyone on board. This is something that has come from the Pacific itself. Australia is in a position to provide some leadership, and the logical place for training to occur is, in fact, in Brisbane. The AFP already, of course, play a critical role, and many of the police officers that you will see around the region, people who have had experience being trained with the Australian police force - either one of the state police forces, or with the AFP. So already, some of those processes have begun. Just a month ago we had essentially a trial training of bringing people together for the three pillars that are part of the relationship, and it's been extremely well supported right across the region.

JOURNALIST: PM Albanese, you mentioned climate change. What have you been telling the region's leaders about Australia's future gas plan and plan to rely on gas for at least another three decades? And if I could ask Prime Minister Teo, what is Tuvalu's view on Australia's ongoing reliance on fossil fuels? Is it disappointed that Australia plans to build new gas fields?

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Australia has, and our Pacific neighbours are fully aware, of the commitment that we have to climate action. That includes having renewables as more than 80 per cent of our energy grid by 2030 as part of our target of achieving a 43 per cent reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. People are aware - it actually hasn't been raised today at all, people are aware of Australia's commitment. And they're also aware that for some of the major projects, in order to secure supply - and I had this discussion with the New Zealand Prime Minister - that in order to secure stability of the energy grid and to enable investment in renewables, what companies like Rio Tinto, with the transition that's happening around Gladstone require, is that security of having gas there in order to invest in renewables. They know that that is the case. So we have had - with Australia's commitment to climate change - they're very aware that in order to get the stability going forward, we need to make sure there's a security of energy in Australia. We see the transition as being very much underway. People are aware of our commitment, and I have had nothing but support for that, including today, we reaffirmed our support for the Pacific Resilience Facility that will be based here in Tonga. Australia will contribute $100 million to that facility.

PRIME MINISTER TEO: I can reconfirm the commitment that Prime Minister Albanese conveyed to the Forum leaders this morning. As far as Tuvalu is concerned, the Falepili Treaty that we've just witnessed becoming operational, the commitments that Australia made in the Treaty itself to assist Tuvalu addressed issues in terms of its ability to adapt and to build its resilience against the impact of climate change. I'm quite comforted, and I'm hoping that, given our elevated relationship with Australia, Australia will do what it has promised to the region in terms of its commitment to combat climate change.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Teo, does Australia's commitment - does doing what is needed - include stopping any new coal and gas projects?

PRIME MINISTER TEO: Well, the Treaty doesn't specify that, but the spirit of the Treaty does give us comfort that Australia will do whatever is within Australia's capacity to assist Tuvalu and the region's efforts to combat climate change.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just back on the policing initiative, can you clarify in what circumstances do you anticipate that this new Pacific police support group might be sent overseas? What would the threshold be in terms of the severity of the natural disaster, for example, or civil unrest that would actually necessitate that. And I know you've got this before, but just briefly, how do you assuage any residual concerns that there might be within the Melanesian sphere, group or elsewhere, that this has an overwhelmingly strategic agenda and purpose and that it serves Australian strategic interests ahead of regional security?

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: This is something that came from the Pacific itself. It's something that Pacific police officials have had discussion over going back as far as August of last year, of 2023. It's something that, as well, has three parts to it, to be clear. One is, the central component if you like, of the training facility there at Brisbane. The second is up to four Centers of Excellence that will be around the region. Now, all of those locations haven't been finalized yet, but one of those is a facility that is currently in Papua New Guinea that we're assisting with to provide training there. And the third element is the one that you referred to at the beginning of your question is, what would the deployment be? And I guess, could I say this, that your assumption that they'll be deployed overseas misses some of the point, which is that this will be a multi-Pacific operation. This isn't the AFP currently provide support, for example, at the Pacific Games in The Solomons. We provide support when there are elections on. What this is, is the idea that when there's a need for the Pacific family to provide support that might be in emergency circumstances, it might be for specific events, CHOGM for example, or major conference or major sporting event in the region, that you will have a better capacity to deliver, because you'll have better coordination. You will have better interoperability, as well, between the different police forces. And this is one of the occasions where the Pacific family essentially believe that one plus one plus one equals more than three. That if you have more effective engagement, coordination and interoperability, you'll get better outcomes. So a common sense approach tells you that that's right, and it's something that has the support, not just of the leaders in the Pacific Island Forum, but has the support as well of the police, the respective police agencies themselves.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Albanese, just on that, it was reiterated a few times in the press conference that sovereign nations will decide how they wish to contribute. Does that mean that not all PIF members need to be part of the PPI, and does that allow people to pursue policing initiatives with other countries, for example, China?

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: No, it just means that we're at a conference where nations are sovereign, and we're not going to say to country X "you must have this imposed on you." This is something that's come from the bottom up, and that is a common sense approach. So one size doesn't fit all, as well. There are some countries that are more susceptible to, I understand if you - no, you weren't here earlier this week. There were earthquakes here in Tonga earlier this week. When I had the bilateral with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, he spoke about the impact of the cyclone. There are other events like not everyone had the Pacific Games. The Solomon Islands hosted the Pacific Games, and therefore there was a presence there, as there was during the election campaign, as there have been during various elections as well. So sovereign nations will, of course, decide whether they require support at this time, but it will be available.

JOURNALIST: Do you believe that this will mean that no Pacific nation has to turn to China for their security needs?

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: This is about the Pacific family looking after Pacific security. This isn't about any other country. This is about making sure that the Pacific family are in the best position possible to maximize, in the most efficient way possible, the security and safety of their citizens, or the response to events that have - in the past - are required and have resulted in a request for assistance. Now Australia, be it through the ADF or through the AFP or other security agencies, has often been called upon to provide support in the region. What this will do is put that in a really structured way, because you will have engagement between the different police from the region, all learning off each other, all building relationships with each other, all talking about interoperability, so there's a clear understanding there. You'll get better outcomes.

JOURNALIST: Thanks, Prime Minister. An alleged Comancheros gang member, reported from Australia, was recently founded to be trying to set up an outlaw motorcycle gang in the Pacific. How will initiatives such as the new policing agreement help address that, and did Australia essentially let down its neighbours by not managing to stop it?

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Well, on the former, Australia will continue to implement its policies to ensure that safety is the prime consideration in these matters. That's what we do. And, secondly, by having increased coordination and engagement between police and on security matters, then you will get a greater understanding, and you can have as well intelligence learnings from the experience - not just from Australia to other countries - Australia will learn from what other countries are doing as well.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Teo, after the union was originally announced last year, there was some concern in Tuvalu about the security aspect of the agreement and the implications for Tuvalu sovereignty, the idea that Australia would have a veto essentially, over any security agreement. How do you address those concerns?

PRIME MINISTER TEO: Well, apart from the Treaty text itself, we did develop an Explanatory Memorandum which is supplementary to the to the Treaty text itself, and under the Explanatory Memorandum, it explained the joint understanding of Tuvalu and Australia as to how each provision of the Treaty will be interpreted and applied. As far as the particular provision of the Treaty that you are referring to in terms of, I think it's article 4.4 which requires Australia and Tuvalu to mutually agree before Tuvalu engaged in third parties. We did spend a lot of time with the Australian officials. The rationale behind that provision is that, because Australia - another treaty is committed to provide security guarantee - it will be in Australia's interest to have an idea of these other third parties. Because if those third party arrangements do compromise Australia's ability to provide those services, then Australia will not be able to live up to the guarantees that it provides. So that explanation and the many discussions we have, and also, if you read the entirety of the Treaty, rather than just focusing on that provision, there are a lot of safety valves for Tuvalu. If Tuvalu, under this treaty arrangement, feels that Australia is not living up to the spirit of the Treaty, then there are provisions like the ability of one party to suspend obligations, the ability of one party to even terminate the entire Treaty, they are there. So we've taken comfort from the discussions that we had with the officials of Australia that are enshrined in the explanatory memorandum, and that's given us comfort to proceed and go ahead ratifying the Treaty without any adjustment to it.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Teo, I'm just interested in your thoughts on the power struggle in the Pacific between the United States and China. Do you see that as dangerous for this region, or could it be advantageous?

PRIME MINISTER TEO: Well, I think all the Forum members feel that pressure. Our preference, of course, is not for that kind of competition to happen in the region. I think the region has far more serious development challenges to focus on, rather than being disturbed by this perceived competitions between the two major powers.

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Thanks very much, everyone. There is a ceremonial bit to come. Can I just add to that question. I thought an interesting moment this morning was Prime Minister Rabuka of Fiji reminding us that 'Pacific' means peace. That that is what it was about. And in his talking in the context of the Pacific Policing Initiative, which is there as well, the oceans of peace was very much a theme of this morning. That was in keeping with Prime Minister Rabuka, can be quite the philosopher about the region and he gave, I think, a really outstanding contribution this morning.

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