QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr CONROY (Shortland—Minister for Pacific Island Affairs and Minister for Defence Industry) (14:12): I thank the member for his question and his passion for our relationships with the Pacific. We're committed to building relationships with the Pacific family. Australia's prosperity and security depend upon a safe and prosperous Pacific.

We turn up, we listen, and we act on the priorities of our Pacific friends. That's why we're delighted to welcome Prime Minister Wale and his high-powered ministerial delegation to Australia. The fact that you chose Australia for your first international visit so recently after being appointed is a tremendous compliment to us, which we take seriously.

We're inspired by your ambitious objectives for your people, and we're committed to working with you to achieve them. We're delighted that we've agreed to reset the relationship through a comprehensive, strategic, transformative treaty. This will build on a base that's already very strong.

In my numerous visits to Solomon Islands, I've been inspired by the love and affection our two peoples hold for each other. Fifty per cent of tourists to your wonderful country come from Australia. We're your largest export destination, and, through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, over 12,000 Solomon Islanders have come to Australia.

There are 5,000 right now filling critical labour shortages, sending back on average $1,500 per month to their families. In a recent visit to Honiara, I met Jerrod and Joseph, two returned meatworkers who spent three years away from their families filling labour shortages in our abattoirs. They now had the skills and savings to set up businesses in the Solomon Islands, growing your economy.

We're also privileged to be your largest development partner, acting on your priorities. I was delighted to open the $60 million National Transport Fund with Minister Ricky, an important innovation where we designated that every dollar had to go to a Solomon Islands company. That meant that you got the double dividend of both the infrastructure and the skills- and capacity-building to build your economy.

I call on all development partners. If it's good enough to fund projects in the Pacific, it's good enough to trust Pacific companies and Pacific workers with that work. I was also delighted to, through the leaders communique today, announce further support for your cyclone recovery, as well as 15 vocational scholarships.

We're committed to working on your priorities, Prime Minister. So I say to you, Prime Minister Wale and your ministers: Tenkyu tumas for coming to Australia. Tenkyu tumas for your partnership.

And to the wonderful people of the Solomon Islands: Tenkyu tumas for the affection you hold to Australia. Thank you.