Scott Morrison has made clear how little the Pacific, and foreign aid, matters to his government by dropping the portfolio from his ministry.
The Liberals have cut more than $11 billion from our Overseas Development Assistance budget in five years. Now, Mr Morrisons first foreign policy decision as Prime Minister is to cut the ministry from the front bench.
This is despite the former Foreign Ministers 2017 DFAT White Paper declaring Australia's overseas aid program aims to help developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development in line with Australia's national interest.
Australian development assistance spending is now at its lowest level in history - just 22 cents in every $100 of our national income will be spent on foreign aid in 2018-19 and Scott Morrisons own Budget Papers forecast it will fall even further to just 0.19 per cent of GNI over the forward estimates.
Earlier this year former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop acknowledged her government needed to demonstrate greater leadership in the Pacific and play our part in ensuring a stable and prosperous region.
Instead, Mr Morrison has returned to his front bench Peter Dutton, who jokes about the impact climate change is having on Pacific Island states.
Pacific Island states are now openly expressing concerns Mr Morrison may cause further offence by not attending next weeks Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Nauru.
Mr Morrisons decision to axe International Development Assistance and the Pacific from his front bench can only further worsen Australias already diminishing influence in our region and sends a terrible signal to our Pacific neighbours about just how little this Government cares for the region.
Authorised by Noah Carroll, ALP, Canberra.