Tuvalu threatens to exit Australia's seasonal worker program after deputy PM's comments

PM Enele Sopoaga responds to Michael McCormack's belief that Pacific islands will survive climate crisis because they 'pick our fruit'

The prime minister of Tuvalu is considering pulling his country out of Australia's seasonal worker program, after comments by Australia's deputy prime minister that Pacific islanders threatened by climate change would survive because "many of their workers come here and pick our fruit".

"I thought the Australian labour scheme was determined on mutual respect, that Australia was also benefiting," Enele Sopoaga told RNZ.