Picking fruit is work, not benevolence, and doesn't absolve Australia of climate responsibility | Victoria Stead

The deputy prime minister's comments about the Pacific were both insulting and wrong

Australia's diplomatic performance throughout the Pacific Islands Forum has evoked a colonial arrogance that many hoped was in the past. While Pacific Island states raised understandable concerns about the climate emergency and rising sea levels, Australia's response was to insist on the removal of references to coal from the official communique.

The deputy PM, Michael McCormack, who was left in charge of the government while Morrison was busy dismissing our neighbours' concerns in Tuvalu, continued the insults at home.