Thank you.
I'd like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we meet this morning, the Whadjuk People of the Noongar Nation.
I pay my respects to their Elders Past and Present.
And I acknowledge any first nations people in the room.
To all the distinguished guests – and those who have travelled from far away to be here.
It's an honour to join my state and Federal Parliamentary colleagues in welcoming you to Perth.
I especially acknowledge:
The President of Timor-Leste, His Excellency President José Ramos-Horta,
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, his Excellency Gaston Browne,
Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment in Tuvalu, His Excellency Maina Talia,
Minister of Justice in Palau, Her Excellency Jennifer Olegeriil.
Former Prime Minister of Samoa, The Honourable Fiame Naomi Mata'afa.
And former Prime Minister of Sweden, the Honourable Stefan Lofren.
Each of you are longstanding leaders on climate action.
Your countries are on the frontline of the climate crisis.
You and your people have a profound and firsthand understanding of the impacts of climate change.
Your presence here today speaks volumes.
It demands that the world pay attention to the unique issues your nations face.
And it makes sure your experiences and expertise are reflected in solutions to the challenges that lie ahead.
I'd also like to take a moment to thank Michael Sheldrick and his team for bringing all of us together at an important moment.
Ahead of COP31, Global Citizen Now is a very timely chance for young people, and leaders across government, business, academia and philanthropy to come together to strengthen energy security and help fast track the green industries that will power the future.
This is a shared goal that no single country, institution or sector can achieve alone.
It's a goal that requires us to learn from each other by sharing our diverse experiences and ideas. It doesn't always mean we'll agree all of the time.
But in a world which feels increasingly volatile, we cannot let our differences divide us further.
Because some of the most enduring partnerships are built not on sameness, but on a willingness to find common ground amid difference.
They are the same principles that underpin the Albanese Labor Government's approach to our international partnerships.
Partnerships grounded in mutual trust, mutual respect and respect for sovereignty.
Partnerships that begin with listening, that recognise local leadership, and that understand that the people closest to the challenges are often closest to the solutions.
Because we are living through a period of profound global uncertainty. And our partnerships matter more than ever.
The rules based international order is being tested.
Some countries are stepping back from development and climate commitments.
Multilateral institutions are facing increasing pressure.
And yet the need and challenges that confront us are only growing.
In this trying time, while others have chosen to retreat from aid, I am proud that the Albanese Labor Government has made a different choice.
We have chosen to remain a stable and reliable development partner.
We have chosen to maintain our investment in official development assistance.
And we continue to progress action on climate change, a central pillar of our international development policy.
Because climate change is not only driving more frequent and severe droughts, floods and extreme weather events.
It is undermining food security. Threatening water supplies.
Increasing pressure on energy systems, disrupting housing and livelihoods.
Climate change deepens inequality and increases the risk of displacement, instability and disease.
And, as we know, women and girls often bear the greatest burden, people with disabilities face additional barriers, and communities already experiencing disadvantage are among the hardest hit.
That is why climate action, and development action cannot be separated.
If we want stronger economies, healthier communities and greater stability, we must prioritise climate resilience.
And we must do it in ways that empower communities to lead.
Because lasting change cannot be imposed from the outside, it must be owned locally, shaped locally and sustained locally.
We see the power of this approach across our region.
In Timor-Leste, the Australia-Timor-Leste partnership for climate resilience is bringing together communities, local government and development partners to strengthen water security and build resilience to climate and disaster risks.
By connecting community priorities with local planning and institutional reform, it is creating resilience that is not only effective but enduring.
I have also seen this first hand when I visited Vietnam's Mekong Delta earlier this year.
The Delta is one of Southeast Asia's most important economic and agricultural regions.
It also faces growing threats from sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion and increasingly severe weather.
Through our Aus4Adaptation Program, Vietnamese and Australian researchers, institutions, businesses and communities are coming together to find practical solutions.
Solutions in climate-smart agriculture, in water management, in nature-based approaches and in community resilience.
These are not theoretical discussions, they are practical partnerships turning shared knowledge into action.
Partnerships that cross borders to connect needs with ideas and passions to resources.
We saw this spirit of collaboration on display at Pre-COP in the pacific just a couple of weeks ago.
More than 50 countries came together alongside thousands of experts, advocates and community leaders, to elevate pacific priorities and help shape the road to COP31.
It's important to note – the Pacific is not waiting for others to solve climate challenges, Pacific Nations are leading the way.
One of the strongest examples of that leadership is the Pacific Resilience Facility – which is Pacific-owned, Pacific-led and Pacific-managed.
The facility provides timely financing for practical community resilience initiatives, from disaster preparedness and water security to resilient agriculture and coastal protection.
It reflects the powerful principle that communities know what they need.
When local communities have access to resources and decision-making power, they can deliver remarkable results.
We are already seeing that happen. In Tuvalu, the pacific resilience facility is supporting the Funafuti Women's Association to strengthen water security while creating a community space that promotes enterprise, skills development and local leadership.
This is climate resilience with tangible benefits.
It strengthens communities, creates opportunities, builds capability and helps prepare for a changing climate.
It was very encouraging to see new pacific resilience facility commitments announced at Pre-COP, bringing total pledges to US$190 million.
Another significant outcome of Pre-COP was the Taku Pakasoa Declaration.
Translating to "strength in unity", the declaration's message is both timely and powerful.
Small island developing states and least developed countries may face some of the world's greatest climate challenges – but they also have some of the world's strongest climate leadership.
And their call for the world to unite with those on the front line of the climate crisis should not remain in Tuvalu.
It should travel with us to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
Then on to Türkiye for COP31.
Then on to every forum where decisions about our collective future are being made.
And forums such as Global Citizen Now remind us that this cooperation remains possible.
Common ground still exists and practical progress can still be achieved.
But Governments cannot deliver the transition alone, nor can any of us acting in isolation.
Every sector has a role to play.
This summit matters because it brings our expertise and perspectives together and it helps us move beyond discussion towards delivery.
Because if there is one lesson that runs through every successful global effort, whether it is tackling disease, advancing development or confronting climate change, it is this: we achieve more when we work together.
The challenges before us are significant, but so is our collective capacity to meet them.
And if we act with purpose, partnership and solidarity, we can build a future that is more resilient, more sustainable and more prosperous for all.
Thank you.