PM defends taking $80,000 flight
WELLINGTON: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has defended having a Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 fly back from Nauru after dropping off Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters to collect her and deliver her to the Pacific Islands Forum on the island for one day.
The round trip comes at a cost of $80,000 on fuel alone.
While Mr Peters and a contingent flew to Nauru — about five and ahalf hours’ from New Zealand — yesterday, Ms Ardern will fly to the leaders’ retreat tomorrow.
The Prime Minister is still breastfeeding her 11weekold daughter Neve, who does not have immunity to visit an environment such as that on Nauru.
‘‘I spent quite a lot of time deliberating over whether or not I would attend the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru . . .’’ Ms Ardern said yesterday.
‘‘The other option was for me not [to] attend at all but, given the importance that we place on the relationships with the Pacific Islands in the reset, that equally didn’t feel like an option.
‘‘When weighing up the logistics I asked officials to check the extra costs I would be imposing on the Crown if I were travelling separately.
‘‘On balance, I decided it was worth me travelling for the full day on the Wednesday to fulfil my obligations as prime minister.’’
Ms Ardern said it was a unique situation and she did not anticipate it happening again.
Asked whether she thought the cost was a good use of taxpayer money, Ardern said she asked officials and was told the 757 had to leave Nauru, and that it needed to clock up a certain number of flying hours anyway.
‘‘I never had anything that suggested to me that it was such a significant spend that that was of concern.’’
Ms Ardern said she would be raising the issue of refugees and asylumseekers in detention on Nauru while she was there and still hoped to visit people in detention centres. — NZME
CANBERRA: Foreign Minister Marise Payne says Pacific leaders aren’t being snubbed, despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison skipping a major regional meeting.
Morrison will not go to the September 35 Pacific Islands Forum on Nauru, despite concerns about the rising influence of China in the region.
‘‘I am attending this meeting and participating in it fully with my counterparts and colleagues from across the region,’’ Senator Payne told ABC radio yesterday.
‘‘We have absolutely reinforced the Pacific is a key priority of Australia’s foreign policy.’’
Pacific leaders are also concerned about climate change, which has again torn apart the Liberal party as it seeks a new energy policy.
Payne said she was not surprised by the attitudes of Pacific leaders, because climate change had been raised in previous Pacific Island Forum declarations.
‘‘We absolutely recognise it’s in our national interest to take action on climate change.
‘‘It is absolutely a top priority for the region and a top priority for Australia.’’
Other issues on the forum leaders’ agenda include sustainable development, fisheries management, and health. — AAP