Sally Sara: Well, tensions are continuing at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau over who is and who is not attending. China's anger at the presence of Taiwan, Taiwan's Foreign Minister, has cast a shadow over the talks with the leaders of Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Samoa not attending. Meanwhile, at today's talks, Australia plans to discuss a proposal to build a regional maritime security response to the illicit drug trade. Pat Conroy is the Minister for Pacific Island Affairs and is attending the forum along with the Prime Minister and joins me now from Palau. Minister, welcome back to breakfast.
Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy: Thanks for having me.
Sara: Before we get to the forum, the ABC understands the number of Australians missing in the flash flood zone on the Nepal-Tibet border has been revised down to 38. How hopeful is the government that more survivors can be found?
Conroy: Well, we still remain very concerned about those unaccounted for, but obviously having five citizens confirmed safe, which is great news for those Australian and their families, reduces the numbers of unaccounted Australians down to 38. But we are very concerned for the safety of those 38. They've not had contact with their families or next to kin since the disaster struck. And we're really focused on establishing their whereabouts and supporting their families in this very difficult time and supporting the people of Nepal in what is tragic circumstances.
Sara: We know that Australia has expertise in things like DNA, identification of bodies and so on. In the wake of the Boxing Day Tsunami, things like the Bali Bombings and so on, are we sending that kind of specialist help to Nepal?
Conroy: We've deployed a disaster relief team to Nepal and provided a $5 million donation to the Humanitarian Relief Fund. And we've offered further assistance to Nepal, but so far they've indicated that on the ground teams will be provided by India … The Nepalese authorities have indicated that's their preferred approach.
Sara: Minister, back to your specific portfolio and the Pacific Islands Forum. Why have a number of Pacific leaders not attended this event, by your understanding?
Conroy: Well, this is not unusual. It's very rare to have every single Pacific leader at the PIF Leaders’ Summit. I've been going to these since 2022 and I'm struggling to remember one where we had every leader.
Sara: But this many absent?
Conroy: Well, to give you an example, the last time Palau held the PIF, which was 2014, so, only 12 years ago, there were only eight leaders in attendance. We've now got 12 in attendance. So, each of these leaders makes their own decisions and they have a series of events that they have to attend to at home. For example, Prime Minister Napat of Vanuatu has his party congress which is obviously a very important domestic political requirement. President Maamau of Kiribati has parliament sitting. I think that's one reason why it's been reported that President Whipps, the chair and President of Palau, has been suggesting setting a fixed date for PIF each year so people can plan around that. That's obviously a question for the leaders to determine, but it's not unusual to have leaders absent. Ultimately, in those instances where leaders are absent, those countries are still represented at very high levels, either at sort of deputy prime minister or senior minister level, in all but one instance from memory.
Sara: China has expressed significant concern over the presence and prominence of Taiwan. Do you think the Taiwanese presence at the forum has been appropriate?
Conroy: Well, as Prime Minister Albanese said yesterday when asked, the question of who attends PIF is a matter for Pacific leaders and they have determined that the PIF last year confirmed the 1992 consensus which is that Taiwan can attend the PIF as a development partner while the People's Republic of China attends as a dialogue partner. And that's the consensus that's existed in the PIF since 1992. It was confirmed last year and it's what Australia supports.
Sara: Well, let's talk about this action to try and combat the drug trade in the Pacific. Is Australia offering any new money here?
Conroy: Yes, absolutely. There is significantly additional funding in the $600 million package that we've announced should the PIF leaders support the Waqa Moana concept that will be discussed today, which is a Pacific led and Australian backed proposal to build a better regional maritime security responses to the illicit drug trade. The drug trafficking in this region is increasing in intensity and sophistication. It's being drawn to the markets of Australia and New Zealand and Pacific countries are being caught in the crossfire. To give you an example, in 2025, five-and-a-half tonnes of illicit narco were seized. In 2026 alone, more than 17 tonnes have been seized. So, this is a really challenging issue for the region. And Australia is stepping up to support the strong call from the leaders that was made initially last year but is expected to be debated today for more coordination and more resources.
Sara: Do you think that Pacific Island nations will get on board? Are you confident?
Conroy: Well, this has been constructed as an opt in approach, so each country will determine whether it opts into this coordinate multinational approach. But we've had a number of countries very interested already. When Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Rabuka announced the Vuvale Treaty and our alliance with Fiji, for example, a significant part of that package was to counter the drug smuggling that was occurring through Fijian territory. Fiji was where four million tonnes, sorry, not four million, four tonnes of methamphetamine were seized a couple of years ago, which was the biggest seizure of that particular drug ever. So, this is a huge issue, but ultimately it's up to each country to determine whether they want to participate. But Australia has heard the calls of the region and that's why we are announcing this $600 million package to provide enhanced aerial surveillance, to provide greater police and border training, including at scene interdictions, and to support greater, stronger legal frameworks to enable prosecution. So, we're stepping up to support the region and we'll be up to each specific to determine how they participate.
Sara: Minister, thank you for joining the program again.
Conroy: Thank you. Have a good morning. Bye.