MATTHEW WALE, PRIME MINISTER OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS: Prime Minister, welcome, and the honorary Minister and your esteemed delegation. We are extremely pleased so soon after I visited that you were able to come, and of course, we are hoping you'll come again before the year is out. We have much to transact, so we look forward to great conversations going forward. Thank you.

Governor-General Reverend Sir David Tiva Kapu.

Prime Minister the Honourable Matthew Wale.

Honourable Ministers and Members of Parliament

Distinguished guests

Church and community leaders

Ladies and gentlemen

On behalf of the people of Australia, it is my great honour to congratulate you and your country on 48 years of independence.

We gather today to commemorate those whose vision made independence possible, half a century ago.

I acknowledge Prime Minister Rabuka.

Ministers and Members of Parliament.

Chair of the Great Council of Chiefs.

Members of the Diplomatic Corps.

And Ms Djapirri Mununggirritj, a senior Yolŋu woman from the Gumatj clan from North East Arnhem Land.

First Nations Australians and Fijian communities share a deeply historic and cultural connection.

One that is shaped by resilience, community leadership, and relationships with land and sea.

Ladies and gentlemen –

SITIVENI RABUKA, PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI: Well, we've had a great morning, Prime Minister Albanese and I, and it has been my honour to warmly welcome again to Fiji my colleague and friend Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Prime Minister of Australia, welcome back to the Pacific. I believe you are now beginning to feel that it is really your Pacific home. Today represents a very defining moment in our relationship - Fiji-Australia relationship.

Thank you, Minister Tuisawau for hosting me here today.

It’s a great pleasure to be here in Fiji to officially launch Australia’s new regional skills program in Fiji – Pacific Australia Skills – and to open the refurbished Vuvale Union Skills Hub.

These facilities are an example of the great things that can happen when Australia and Fiji work together.

The best investment any nation can make is in its people.

That is why investment in education and skills are a foundational part of the Vuvale Union that Prime Minister Rabuka and I signed this morning.

Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, signed two historic treaties in Suva today – the Vuvale Union and Ocean of Peace Alliance.

These treaties represent one of the most significant endeavours Australia has undertaken with any country. They will transform Australia and Fiji’s relationship, underpinning the region’s prosperity, security and resilience for generations to come.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, to Australia from 8 to 10 July 2026.

The leaders will meet in Melbourne for the Australia–India Annual Leaders’ Summit.

As the world’s fourth largest and fastest growing economy, India is a critical economic partner for Australia.

Our relationship is underpinned by our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and supported by deep economic and cultural connections.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

I acknowledge the Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns and state parliamentary colleagues.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen.

His Excellency Mirna Khawly, Ambassador of Lebanon.

And I thank Vitex Executive Chairman Dr Elie Chami and his son, CEO Dr Aniss Chami, for welcoming us so warmly today.

It is a pleasure to be with you to celebrate both the legacy and the future vision of Vitex.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Suva, Fiji and Honiara, Solomon Islands from 5 to 7 July 2026 to reaffirm Australia’s enduring commitment to the Pacific and regional security.

The Prime Minister will be joined on the visit to Fiji and Solomon Islands by Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong.

In Suva, Prime Minister Albanese will meet Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji to discuss deepening the Fiji–Australia Vuvale Partnership and greater cooperation.

CHRISTOPHER BROWN, CHAIR OF WESTERN SYDNEY LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE: Hey, boss.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be here.