Australia to redirect $500 million in foreign aid to new Pacific projects

Tuvalu: Australia will redirect more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid towards renewable energy projects and disaster relief throughout the Pacific, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison faces direct calls from leaders to "do more" to curb the threat facing the region.

Mr Morrison will unveil a $500 million climate change and oceans package at the Pacific Islands Forum on Wednesday, promising Australia will be a "champion" of the environment and ensure the Pacific remained economically stable and "sovereign politically".

Pacific Island leaders held a climate roundtable ahead of the forum in Funafuti, the capital of Tuvalu, on Monday, highlighting the need for Australia play a bigger role to address the issues many low-lying nations face through climate change.

The historic meeting took place amid growing concern by Western nations over China's influence in the region as Beijing attempts to buy favour with massive foreign aid projects in return for bolstering its military presence.

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama appealed directly to Australia on Monday to transition away from coal-powered energy and said the Coalition must “more fully appreciate” the threat facing Pacific nations.

But he warned other nations about lecturing the Morrison government about emissions over the coming days, recognising coal had helped build a strong economy which in turn supported the region.

He said it was not for Fiji nor any other nation "to be prescriptive" as to how Australia ran its affairs, but added as a leader in the region it should do everything possible to achieve a fast transition to low-emission energy sources.

“That transition should be just for your own people and just for us here in the Pacific, where we face an existential threat that you don’t face and challenges we expect your governments and people to more fully appreciate," Mr Bainimarama said.

Mr Morrison said Australia recognised the climate change challenges the Pacific faced.
He said he would detail a new package from existing aid funds to help Pacific nations invest in renewable energy and climate and disaster resilience.

“The Pacific is our home, which we share as a family of nations. We’re here to work with our Pacific partners to confront the potential challenges they face in the years ahead,” Mr Morrison said.

“This highlights our commitment to not just meeting our emissions reduction obligations at home but supporting our neighbours and friends."

Mr Morrison said Australia was doing it part to cut global emissions and had set out "to the last tonne" how it would meet its 2030 target under the Paris Agreement.

The additional $500 million will be used to invest in renewable energy, ensure new infrastructure can withstand disasters and better equip health services to adapt to changing needs.

He said the federal government had already contributed to funding new roads and bridges that were more resilient to extreme weather in Papua New Guinea, the Tina River Hydropower project in the Solomon Islands and building climate resilient schools in Kiribati.

The government has also set aside $140 million from the aid budget for the Australian Private Sector Mobilisation Climate Fund to harness private sector investments in low emissions technology for the Pacific and South-East Asia.

Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga told the forum on Monday he had concerns about Australia’s coal policy - which he had previously expressed to Mr Morrison - and warned the positive relationship could change if the future of his people was not taken seriously.

“I hope we can be more understanding that the people of Tuvalu and small island countries are already submerged, are already going underwater,” Mr Sopoaga said.

“I certainly hope we do not come to that juncture to say we cannot go on talking about partnerships.. while you keep pouring your coal emissions into the atmosphere that is killing my people and drowning my people into the water.”

Typical dumbass Nails and his best mate Bobby nodding in unison. Every dollar spent in foreign aid earns us $7.10 in exports you dopey clown. We actually turn a profit. What a pair of ignorant simpletons.

https://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/aid-study-shows-every-1-spent-returns-710-i...

philperth2010 wrote on Aug 14^th, 2019 at 9:55am:


I don't believe I mentioned the actions of the government in any way, shape or form. The only comment is in relation to the sheer ignorance shown by that boofhead Nails and his mate who has been felating him with every post.

All done with borrowed money.

We don't have our own money to give.

Pacific Island leaders held a climate roundtable ahead of the forum in Funafuti, the capital of Tuvalu, on Monday, highlighting the need for Australia play a bigger role to address the issues many low-lying nations face through climate change.