19 Aug 2019

Australian PM's attitude 'neo-colonial', says Tuvalu PM

From , 4:04 pm on 19 August 2019

Tuvalu's prime minister Enele Sopoaga has joined condemnation of the Australian prime minister's conduct at last week's Pacific Islands Forum, calling Scott Morrison's attitude "ignorant", "un-Pacific" and "neo-colonial".

Australia last week succeeded in watering down the language and commitments regarding climate change in the forum communique which again left it isolated among Pacific leaders.

Then, Australia's deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, was recorded saying people from Pacific countries threatened by climate change -- like Tuvalu -- will be fine because they, quote, "come here and pick our fruit."

Mr Sopoaga began by telling Jamie Tahana what he thought of the comments.

Tuvalu's prime minister Enele Sopoaga speaking at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Funafuti. August 2019

Tuvalu's prime minister Enele Sopoaga speaking at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Funafuti. August 2019 Photo: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat