Page 19 - IB AUG 2019

Politics

Delegates to the Forum were welcomed by Tuvaluan children pleading with them to take action on climate change.

something that is going to continue into Islands Business asked Prime Minister its island neighbours.
the future.” Morrison if the pleas of island leaders had Successive Coalition governments
persuaded him to change his government’s elected since 2013 have badly damaged
Climate funding policy, refusing to make further financial institutions that play a practical role in
British Prime Minister Boris Johnston contributions to the GCF. He replied: “No, engagement with the region. The gutting
once claimed that the United Kingdom it hasn’t, because I just want to invest of Radio Australia has allowed China to
could “have our cake and eat it” through directly in helping the Pacific family here. use their shortwave broadcasting fre-
Brexit, as it negotiates Britain’s departure I don’t need to send a cheque via Geneva quencies. The takeover of AusAID by
from the European Union: “My policy on or New York or wherever it has to go.” DFAT lost a generation of development
cake is pro having it and pro eating it.” Given Australia was previously co-chair expertise, which is only now being rebuilt
Pacific island leaders also want to have of the global climate fund, Morrison knows through the Office of the Pacific. Volun-
their cake and eat it. They welcome the very well the GCF Secretariat is actually teer programs lost funding; then newly
support – financial, human, diplomatic in South Korea. But abusing the United announced funds came with increased
and technical – from Australia, New Zea- Nations and multi-lateral agencies plays DFAT micro-management. The CSIRO and
land and other development partners. But well to conservative members of his own Bureau of Meteorology lost climate-related
they also want Scott Morrison and Jacinda party and panders to Australian voters funding, vital for research on cyclones and
Ardern to respond to their concerns about who support Pauline Hanson’ One Nation. disasters.
the existential threat of climate change. After the Forum, former Kiribati Presi-
Many Forum island countries clearly Pacific family dent Anote Tong revived the debate on
welcome direct, bilateral support for cli- Scott Morrison is stuck between a rock whether to shun Australia within the Fo-
mate adaptation and resilience initiatives. and a hard place. He is stepping up efforts rum: “Should there be sanctions imposed?
Forum Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor to maintain Australia’s long-standing I think that’s a question that leaders are
also wants donor support for the new policy of strategic denial in the islands. no doubt asking themselves. I think these
Pacific Resilience Facility, adopted at the Members of Canberra’s hard-headed secu- things have got to be expressed. It’s not
Tuvalu summit. But island leaders think rity community are worried a hostile power only in my mind, I’m sure it’s in everybody
globally, as well as locally. They see Aus- (i.e. China) could gain the political or eco- else’s mind. I’m surprised Australia is not
tralia backing the Trump administration nomic influence that might open the way seeing this, or they’re ignoring it, which is
by refusing replenishment funding for the for island states to shift support from the the height of arrogance.”
Green Climate Fund (GCF). Western bloc, or establish a military base Australia won’t be going anywhere, but
The declaration from the Sautalaga that would transform regional security. the next three Forum leaders’ meetings
Climate Dialogue, held the day before the Morrison has made personal visits to will be hosted by Vanuatu (2020), Fiji
official Forum, noted “the significant role Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and now (2021) and Kiribati (2022). If Morrison
that the GCF plays in supporting develop- Tuvalu and the Prime Minister often re- hasn’t got the climate message in Tuvalu,
ing countries in their efforts to address peats the slogan that Australia is part of he’ll have plenty of opportunity to under-
climate change. We call for a prompt, “the Pacific family.” But regardless of the stand in the next few years.
ambitious and successful replenishment “step up”, the Funafuti Forum exposed
of the GCF.” many policy rifts between Australia and r nicmac3056@gmail.com

Islands Business, August 2019 19