PIF

“This is a pivotal moment for the planet and a lifeline for the most vulnerable people of the Pacific”, said Secretary General Taylor.

The 46th meeting of the Pacific Island leaders ended in Papua New Guinea last week with a repeat of calls to tackle climate change.

Small island states like Kiribati say developed nations like New Zealand and Australia should set their emissions target at 1.5 degrees but the two countries remain set on two degrees.

Jenny Hayward-Jones from the Lowy Institute says the resulting communique will still bring a strong Pacific voice to COP21.

This is the will of all the Pacific leaders and their people including Australia and New Zealand and PNG as chair is mandated to consult with Indonesia.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott revealed this to the media tonight after the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ retreat in Port Moresby.

“Australia will be increasing its Ariel surveillance of the Pacific (Ocean) and will be committing additional $19million a year so the fisheries (industry) can be properly patrolled and policed,” Abbott said.

Australia will also be giving a new patrol boat to monitor illegal fishing in the PIF nation’s exclusive economic zone. 

He said a “stronger economy is vital and fishing and tourism is a mainstay of Pacific economies.”

This was the outcome announced by O’Neill this evening after much debate among leaders.

O’Neill is also expected to consult the Indonesia government on a fact finding mission by PIF to West Papua.

“We declare that this is a consultation process and we need to work together and the Indonesia government must be commended for their efforts to ensure more autonomy is given to West Papua,” he said. 

West Papua Human rights issue was a key agenda discussed today by the leaders.

The pair were scheduled to both attend PIF in Port Moresby this week but Bainimarama is a no-show and Key said “it would have been nice” if he had turned up.

Key acknowledged it was Bainimarama's decision saying, “if he doesn't want to come he doesn't have to come”.

There are indications Bainimarama has been stirring up trouble by encouraging smaller Pacific states to thumb their noses at New Zealand and Australia this week.

The Forum is meeting this week in Papua New Guinea’s Port Moresby, with leaders hoping to thrash out a shared position to take to the UN Paris climate change conference in December.

Kiribati President Anote Tong Tuesday said the future of his nation was threatened by climate change and raised the prospect of Australia and New Zealand being asked to leave the grouping if they undermined a consensus on taking serious ­action.

The pre-forum meetings were held on Tuesday between the past, present and future chairpersons of the forum namely the leaders of the Marshall Islands, Palau and Papua New Guinea.

Pacific NGO spokesperson Ann Singeo says the pre-forum meetings could become an important space for input from civil society organisations in the region ahead of the forum proper.

For the first time, 25 members of regional civil society organisations held a breakfast discussion with four Pacific Leaders, PM O’Neill, President Tommy Remengsau of Palau, President Christopher Loeak of Marshall Islands and President Peter Christian of the Federated States of Micronesia at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby.

The countries form the Forum Troika.

The host, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, told The Australian the Port Moresby summit “will showcase PNG’s energy and diversity, and we shall take leadership roles in some issues we are passionate about”.

These would include “climate change — and how the Pacific should position itself in that ­debate” in the run-up to the Paris World Climate Summit, “and about economic integration of the Pacific as a means of supporting the development of the region and mobilising skills”.