Australian politics live: Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong lash Morrison over handling of Solomon Islands; at least 29 more Covid deaths

I think we would have a very good chance of hosting a Cop conference. Our proposal by the way goes … to Australia and the Pacific hosting a Cop conference.

I have had the honour of going to two conferences of the parties, the ones held in Montreal, where Kyoto came into effect, with number people ratifying the Kyoto protocol. I also attended the Cop in Nairobi.

And it isn’t just a government to government engagement, although that of course is the main game. It’s also one where business and civil society are participating in processes as well. So I think our plan, very conscientiously, as part of our announcement that we made back in December, of our climate plan, is about deeper engagement with the Pacific.

If you go to Kiribati, or Tuvalu, or any of those Pacific Island nations, what you will find, if you ask them what’s their priority, they will talk about climate change.

So it is an opportunity for us together with the Pacific to embrace them. It’s the sort of constructive relationship building that has been missing from this government.

I will make this point as well – that our climate policy is another example of the how … We had more extensive negotiations and consultations with people from the business council of Australia, Australian industry group, National Farmers’ Federation, the ACCI and the ACTU and unions, they all have been very supportive of our policy. That’s what is important.