{"id":437,"date":"2018-11-09T04:06:06","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T04:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=437"},"modified":"2018-11-09T04:06:06","modified_gmt":"2018-11-09T04:06:06","slug":"a-secure-and-prosperous-pacific","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2018\/11\/09\/a-secure-and-prosperous-pacific\/","title":{"rendered":"A SECURE AND PROSPEROUS PACIFIC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Labor welcomes the government\u2019s long overdue recognition of the importance of the Pacific.
\nToday\u2019s announcements echo many of the priorities outlined by Labor Leader Bill Shorten, in particular the need for a dedicated fund for infrastructure in the Pacific.
\nThe Pacific has felt the impact of the record $11 billion in aid cuts under this government. While we welcome these new commitments, it is important the government clarifies what else is being cut to fund them.
\nAs Labor has long argued, Australia does need to demonstrate greater leadership in the Pacific and play our part in ensuring a stable and prosperous region.
\nBut Prime Minister Morrison\u2019s actions since becoming Prime Minister have undermined Australia\u2019s engagement in the Pacific.
\nNo issue has done more damage to Australia\u2019s standing in the region than the Coalition\u2019s refusal to take seriously the issue of climate change.
\nSeptember\u2019s Pacific Islands Forum declared climate change to be\u00a0\u201cthe single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific.\u201d<\/strong><\/em>
\nYou can\u2019t have a Pacific policy if you don\u2019t have a climate change policy and yet the Prime Minister did not mention this issue once in today\u2019s speech.
\nMr Morrison has also undermined the existing highly successful Pacific labour mobility schemes in a desperate attempt to prop up the ailing Nationals Leader despite today hailing them as \u201clife-changing\u201d and promising to prioritise them,
\nLabour mobility schemes are highly valued by our Pacific neighbours and contribute substantially to economic development
\nAustralia\u2019s economy also benefits from the availability of Pacific workers. And our society benefits from the connections with Pacific communities.
\nFor the past five years all Pacific leaders have seen from Australia is a succession of Liberal governments so bitterly divided they have been unable to work with them on the issues that matters to their future.
\nIn his first weeks as Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also:<\/p>\n