Pacific islands will survive climate crisis because they 'pick our fruit', Australia's deputy PM says

Pacific island nations affected by the climate crisis will continue to survive “because many of their workers come here to pick our fruit”, Australia’s deputy prime minister has said.

Michael McCormack 'annoyed' at calls to end
coal so Pacific islands 'can survive'.

Michael McCormack’s comments were made after critical talks at the Pacific Islands Forum that almost collapsed over Australia’s positions on coal and climate change.

Fears are growing the situation might come at a diplomatic cost for Australia in a region where China has become increasingly influential.

Read the story from The Guardian by Ben Smee - “Pacific islands will survive climate crisis because they 'pick our fruit', Australia's deputy PM says.”