MATT SMITH, MEMBER FOR LEICHHARDT: Good morning. My name is Matt Smith. I'm the Federal Member of the Leichhardt. With me is Senator Nita Green, Assistant Minister for Tourism, the South Pacific and Northern Australia. And, of course, the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Prime Minister, thank you for coming along and joining us. He just hopped off the plane from the South Pacific.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the 54th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting in Solomon Islands from 10 to 11 September.
Prime Minister Albanese joined Pacific Leaders in signing the Pacific Resilience Facility Treaty, establishing the first Pacific-led regional climate financing mechanism.
MURRAY JONES, HOST: The Prime Minister joins me this morning. Anthony Albanese, good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Murray. It is wonderful to be back here in beautiful Cairns.
JONES: You've got a good day for it. We've really turned on the sunshine this morning too, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: That's a cracker. Thank you for that. I think the sun is shining. Matt Smith is the new local member. Life is good.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, this has been a very successful meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum here in the Solomon Islands. We have made real advances in our common interests. We are all members of the Pacific family and it’s important that we cooperate on economic issues, on national security and in dealing with the challenge of climate change.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Australia is a proud member of the Pacific family, and it’s been a great pleasure so far to participate in my fourth meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum. Investing in the security and prosperity of our Pacific neighbours helps make our region safer and helps make our economy stronger. In a time of strategic competition in our region, Australia's engagement in the Pacific Island Forum matters more than ever, as does our contribution to infrastructure, to regional security and climate action.
Thank you so much, Prime Minister, for not just that wonderful speech, but your very warm welcome here in Vanuatu.
To the Deputy Prime Minister, to the members of the Council of Ministers, to Members of Parliament who've joined us here as well
To members of the diplomatic corps, including my High Commissioner.
THE HON JOTHAM NAPAT, PRIME MINISTER OF VANUATU: Prime Minister Albanese, I'm honoured welcome you on your first official visit which signifies the importance your Government places on our bilateral relations. This will be the second official visit ever by an Australian Prime Minister, the first being in 2019. For Vanuatu, high level visits such as this demonstrate a strong and genuine efforts by both governments to build sustainable, trustworthy and long term relationship.
SALLY SARA, HOST: The Prime Minister joins me now. Prime Minister, welcome back to Radio National Breakfast.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Sally. Good to be with you.
SARA: Are you going to sign this economic and security deal with Vanuatu today? Will it go through?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Vanuatu and Solomon Islands from 9 to 11 September 2025.
On 9 September Prime Minister Albanese will meet the Prime Minister of Vanuatu the Hon Jotham Napat and make a courtesy call on the President of Vanuatu His Excellency Nikenike Vurobaravu in Port Vila.
The Prime Ministers will then join other Pacific Leaders in Solomon Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting.
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.
It is a pleasure to be back at the BCA’s Annual Dinner and to be joined by so many of my colleagues.
We take pride in the fact that we are a Cabinet Government – and that is reflected in the way we engage with the business community, across portfolios.
Thank you to Geoff Culbert and to Bran Black for hosting us this evening.