NATALIE BARR, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has embraced political challenges in the Pacific, moving quickly to mend broken relationships in the region during his trip to Fiji. With all eyes on a bilateral meeting with the Solomons Islands, he hugged his counterpart with open arms. It comes after Australia with a controversial security pact the nation signed with Beijing. In a push to counter China’s growing influence, the United States has announced it'll spend almost $1 billion to support Pacific nations. That's been welcomed by Mr Albanese, but he's also offered to work together with Beijing on development programs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins me now from Suva in Fiji.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Nat.
BARR: Well, everyone is doing cash at the Pacific Island nations. How confident are you feeling about Australia's relationship with the Pacific and the steps being taken to counter China's influence?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm very confident, as part of the Pacific family, that Australia can continue to be the security partner of choice, but we can also work with our friends in the Pacific on areas like infrastructure development, on maritime, protecting their fishing stocks, but also, of course, taking action on climate change. And our position has been very much welcomed.
BARR: Is that $1 billion from the US enough to stop China?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's important that the United States has indicated they are going to be re-engaged in this region in a stronger way than they have perhaps in the recent period, and that's important. The US, of course, is a Pacific nation as well, and it's a good thing that the us is involved more. We welcome it. It arose and was discussed at the Quad Leaders’ meeting that I attended straight after the election. We need to reassure our pacific friends that we're concerned about their development, that we're concerned about the issues that they're confronting, particularly climate change, which is a threat to their very existence, and that our support comes without strings attached. It's part of our responsibility as good neighbours.
BARR: Back home, now. COVID cases are rising right across the country. People without sick leave are facing time off without pay or going into work sick. What's your Government going to do about that?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, there are real challenges there. And certainly, when I return to Australia, we'll continue to address those issues. But we inherited those cut-offs across a range of decisions from the former Government
BARR: But you don't have to keep them, do you?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we also inherited $1 trillion of debt, Nat. That's the problem here. We have added three months of health funding for the state and territory governments, almost $1 billion of additional funding, to make sure because the pandemic continues to have an impact. We're, of course, out there as well, running an education campaign about making sure people, if they are eligible for a booster, they go out there and get it. We've made the fourth shot available to those over the age of 30. I had my fourth shot just on Tuesday of this week, before I headed to the forum here. We are encouraging, along with state and territory governments, rules to be applied where common sense applies. If you can't socially distance, then people should consider wearing a mask, it's important. And we will continue to engage through the states and territories. I'm in constant contact with them. And I will continue to do so. And we will continue to take the health advice.
BARR: Onto another big one. The detection of foot-and-mouth in Bali. It's got Australia's agriculture industry on edge. Do biosecurity measures need to be stepped up here? Will you consider a flight ban to Bali or quarantine for returned travellers?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have my Minister, Murray Watt, is in Indonesia, as we speak, dealing with this. We've already stepped up screening, we stepped up a range of measures, be it for people coming back or freight coming in. This is a very serious issue and we are taking action, not just at this end in Australia, but taking action at the other end as well, in Bali and in Indonesia, to make sure that we need to stop this disease getting into Australia, because it will have a catastrophic consequence if it does.
BARR: Now, you watched the State of Origin last night. You are a New South Welshman, as we know. What did you think of the game?
PRIME MINISTER: It was a cracker of a game. The best team won, that's the truth. Queensland showed enormous guts to carry on with just 15 players. And New South Wales, of course, had 16. Cameron Murray didn't make it through the first minute. It was an extraordinary game. And I watched it with the Pacific leaders, most of whom were supporting Queensland, so they were pretty happy. It was NRL diplomacy happening here from Suva last night.
BARR: That's good to hear. You are on the forefront of that, we can tell. Thank you very much, Prime Minister, for your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Nat.