Anthony Albanese is called out after pledging $350million to Pacific nations to fight climate change in latest FIFO trip – while Aussies battle with the cost of living crisis back home

Anthony Albanese has been criticized by Sky News host Andrew Bolt for allocating millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money to climate projects for our Pacific neighbors as Australians struggle with the cost of living pupil.

The Prime Minister is traveling to the Cook Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum, where he pledged $350 million to the Pacific Climate Infrastructure Finance Partnership on Thursday.

However, the financial commitment sparked controversy at home, with Mr Bolt expressing outrage at what he called a “ridiculous” spending spree, saying Albanese had fallen for another “sting of global warming “.

“He took another flight this time to the Pacific Islands Forum, with our credit card and today released another $350 million to give to Pacific countries for, you guessed it, the global warming,” Bolt said.

‘Can you believe it! $350 million here, $200 million there and soon more money for Tuvalu?

“Tuvalu does not need our money to fight global warming, which poses no threat there. Tuvalu is growing and not sinking under rising waters, Bolt said.

“The Albanians have fallen for it again – with your money!” »

Mr Bolt was referring to a University of Auckland study which found that in the four decades to 2014, Tuvalu’s total land area increased by 73 hectares, or 2.9 per cent.

Research suggests that some islands, particularly larger atolls and reef platforms, can adapt to the current rate of sea level rise.

However, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change presents four scenarios for future increases, three of which are more severe than those Tuvalu has faced so far.

Despite recent growth in Tuvalu’s land area, it remains a focal point for climate change activists due to its 101 low-lying islands.

Bolt then lambasted Mr Albanese’s comments that he had had “only overwhelmingly positive feedback” on Australia’s climate change policy from his Pacific counterparts.

‘No kidding! The reception is overwhelmingly positive – in fact that tends to happen when you throw a lot of money into the pockets of Pacific leaders – they would love that,” Bolt said.

“The money comes from Australian taxpayers – some of whom are struggling to put food on the table here at home.”

The Prime Minister is currently visiting the Cook Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum

Andrew Bolt has hit out at Anthony Albanese over his spending on global warming for Australia’s Pacific neighbors.

Mr. Albanese held formal bilateral talks with Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Cook Islands on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting and informal discussions with other leaders from Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia.

While environmental NGOs and climate activists have scorned the expansion of fossil fuel extraction in Australia, Mr Albanese said Pacific leaders had failed to do the same at meetings.

“They’ve been very positive about Australia’s position on climate change,” he said.

“It is recognized that since the change of government, Australia’s position has changed and that we take the challenge of climate change seriously, not only domestically, but also in the Pacific.”

The Australian Prime Minister showed off his fancy footwork in the Cook Islands on Thursday.

The PIF summit is Mr Albanese’s second as Prime Minister.

He flew to the idyllic island of Aitutaki on Thursday afternoon where he showed off his dance moves.

On Friday, he will sail through the picturesque turquoise lagoon with other leaders as the group discusses issues at a leaders’ retreat.

Nuclear concerns were among the main issues discussed at the meeting as Pacific leaders showed their determination to keep the region nuclear-free.

The opposition comes from a legacy of the region’s painful history, with nuclear weapons testing by the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

There are many concerns about Australia’s AUKUS deal to obtain nuclear-powered submarines.

Leaders from Kiribati, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Fiji have already expressed reservations on different fronts, including the extravagant cost, which exceeds the total annual GDP of PIF members except Australia and New Zealand. Zeeland.

PIF Chairman and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has suggested that now may be the time to “reinvigorate” the Treaty of Rarotonga, the nuclear-weapon-free pact signed during the Cold War.

Mr Albanese was less forthcoming about the need for reform, refusing to answer questions asking whether he supported Mr Brown’s calls.

“We support the Treaty of Rarotonga. It’s a good document. It has stood the test of time, all the arrangements that have been put in place, we have been consistent with that and it retains our support,” he said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dances before receiving a gift during a welcome ceremony at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Aitutaki, Cook Islands,

Ongoing negotiations at the forum were overshadowed by the abrupt departure of Nauru President David Adeang, who walked out of the summit on Thursday when the controversial choice for the next Pacific Islands Forum secretary-general, Baron Waqa, was evoked.

Attempts to convince Mr Adeang to return failed and the Nauru delegation left the Cook Islands on Friday morning.