Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. has welcomed the reelection of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government, calling it a victory for Australia and the Pacific region.
At a press conference with Palau media on Wednesday, Whipps praised the Albanese government for its strong support of the Pacific, particularly in addressing climate change and promoting renewable energy.
“I think for the Pacific, we can say it’s also a Pacific win,” Whipps said. “I was just in Australia for the Smart Energy Conference, and it was exciting to take part in discussions about the country’s energy transition,” said Whipps in a separate interview with ABC Australia.
Whipps commended Australia’s leadership in the region, saying the Albanese government has consistently raised key issues affecting Pacific nations on the global stage.
“As a Pacific Islander living with the impacts of climate change, we need leadership like this,” he said. “The Albanese government has done a great job of uniting Pacific leaders and highlighting the challenges we face.”
He added that the region is looking forward to the possibility of Australia hosting COP31. This United Nations climate conference, he believes, would help shine a global spotlight on the Pacific’s environmental concerns.
Whipps also expressed hope that direct flights between Australia and Palau, launched under the Albanese government, will continue.
He concluded by thanking the Australian people for their votes, saying their decision shows they care not only about their country but also about their neighbors and the planet.
“I have to thank the Australian people,” Whipps said. “They care about the Pacific, and they care about the planet.” (By: Bernadette Carreon)