Page 12 - IB OCT 2017

Human rights abuses Meg Taylor on Referendum Forum to help New Cale-
Forum West Papua P16 donia’s big say P16

From Page 11
The theme draws together regional pri-
orities on the oceans, climate change,
security and fisheries. Prime Minister
Tuilaepa said: “The Blue Pacific provides
a new narrative for Pacific regionalism
and how the Forum engages with the
world. It will require a different way of
working together, that prioritises The
Blue Pacific as the core driver of Forum
policy-making and collective action.”

Preparing for COP23
From left: The view from the Apia waterfront where the forum met. Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull and PNG PM Peter O’Neall discuss issues. Samoan Police band entertainment. SPC DG Dr Colin Tukuitoga and his deputy
Following the successful UN Oceans Patricia Cornish with Fiji Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola. Photos: Nic Maclellan
Conference last June, the 48th Forum
leaders meeting was a crucial opportuni- critical of the Australian Government
ty to prepare for the next global climate and its current debate over energy policy.
talks at the 23rd UNFCCC Conference Key ministers in the Turnbull govern- Labour mobility
of the Parties (COP23) in Bonn. For the ment are supporting the construction of The Australian delegation to Samoa
first time, Fiji will assume the presidency a high efficiency, low emissions (HELE) sought to refocus attention on trade and
of COP23, an unprecedented position to coal plant using taxpayer funds, as well labour mobility. Prime Minister Malcolm
raise the profile of Pacific climate policies as a $900million grant to construct a Turnbull came to Apia for just one day,
over the next year. railway from the coast to Queensland’s but announced a program for greater
In the margins of the Apia Forum Galilee basin, opening the way for the labour access for the smaller island
meeting, Fiji’s Ambassador Amena proposed Carmichael coal mine run by states of Kiribati, Tuvalu and Nauru.
Yauvoli and COP23 Secretariat direc- India’s Adani Corporation. Beyond the existing Seasonal Worker
tor John Connor gave a briefing about In response to criticism over the Program (SWP), another 2,000 workers
preparations for this November’s global ongoing commitment to coal exports, from these countries will be able to work
climate talks. They encouraged other Australia’s Minister for International in northern Australia for up to 3 years,
island nations to play a greater part, Development Concetta Fierravanti-Wells with the program expanded beyond
highlighting five key priorities for Fiji’s said: “Australia has committed under horticulture into new sectors.
presidency: facilitative dialogue; final- the Paris Agreement to reach our tar- The PACER- Plus trade agreement was
ising the implementation guidelines get of 26 to 28 per cent (reduction in signed by 10 countries in Nuku’alofa
for the Paris Agreement; developing a greenhouse gas emissions). Australia is last June. However the regional trade
platform on gender, local communities on track to achieve its targets. Australia deal has landed with a dull thud, given
and indigenous peoples; ongoing work has an agnostic approach to technol- the ongoing absence of Papua New
around adaptation and loss and damage; ogy as we transition from one energy Guinea and Fiji - the two largest island
and strengthening the oceans-climate component to another. We will meet our economies. Vanuatu also missed the
change nexus. commitments in accordance with our June signing. However a recent decision
Fiji’s representative in Apia, Ratu own domestic requirements and our own by the Vanuatu Council of Ministers
Inoke Kubuabola told Islands Business: domestic arrangements.” opened the way for Prime Minister Char-
“It’s a good time for one of the Pacific The Pacific Islands Climate Action lot Salwai to sign the agreement on the
island countries to put its hand up, given Network (PICAN) criticised Canberra’s margin of this year’s Forum.
the challenge of climate change for the focus on fossil fuel projects: “Australia’s The signing of PACER-Plus still leaves
region. So Fiji through Prime Minister continued promotion of coal – the dirtiest Forum Island Countries hoping to re-
Bainimarama decided to take up the of the fossil fuels that are driving the negotiate bilateral access issues with
presidency of COP23. However, we need world’s warming climate – jeopardises Australia. Prime Minister Salwai told
everybody to be involved, not only gov- negotiation outcomes, and ultimately Islands Business that he hoped Australia
ernments but also private sector, CROP the safety of the entire Pacific region.” would remove its ban on commercial
agencies, everybody.” Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga imports of kava: “While being a member
On climate change, leaders reaffirmed was also critical of Australia’s climate of PACER-Plus, Vanuatu is in a better
“the Pacific Islands Forum’s commit- policies, recognising that current global position to negotiate with Australia on
ment to continue to work with others pledges under the Paris Agreement will the import of kava.”
who remain steadfast on their obliga- raise temperatures to more than 2.7°C. He also tied Vanuatu’s signature to
tions under the Paris Agreement” - a “We hope that Australia could take a greater access to the Australian labour
veiled criticism of the Trump adminis- leadership role on reaching the target market for ni-Vanuatu seasonal work-
tration’s backsliding on commitments of 1.5°C to which we’re all committed, ers: “We hope by signing this, we can
made by Barack Obama in 2015. instead of saying one thing, but then increase the number. Some of the states
Despite the facade of unity on climate coming up with coal mines and all these in Australia were waiting, as nego-
policy, many island governments were sorts of things,” he said. tiations hadn’t been done because they

12 Islands Business, October 2017