Opposition Member of Parliament Faiyaz Koya

Opposition Member of Parliament Faiyaz Koya has expressed concerns and disappointment with the recent statement made by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during his state visit to Australia.

Koya says Rabuka’s suggestion of ‘a realistic’ approach towards coal mining and gas production not only raises serious questions but also demonstrates a concerning lack of urgency and empathy for the escalating climate emergency in the Pacific.

He states that at a time when the Sixth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change unequivocally calls for an end to all new coal, oil, and gas projects globally, Rabuka’s stance appears tone-deaf to the dire reality faced by Pacific nations.

Koya stresses it is crucial to underline that Rabuka does not speak for the entire Pacific or for the nation of Fiji.

He adds the Opposition is supporting the urgent actions required to combat climate change and hopes that Rabuka and the Fiji government will reconsider their stance and embrace a more progressive and empathetic approach in alignment with the best interests of the Pacific region and the world as a whole.

Koya says neighbouring low-lying atoll countries are already enduring immeasurable suffering due to the consequences of the climate crisis.

He states they are engaged in a battle for their survival, their dignity, their homes, and for the future generations of our region.

Koya says while the Pacific region is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, some leaders are prioritizing short-term economic gains over the long-term well-being of their people.

Koya says Fiji’s PM cannot be allowed to betray and sell out the very future of Pacific Islanders on his very first official visit to Australia.

During a meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese last week, Rabuka had said he recognizes the importance of fossil fuel income, taxes and royalties to the Australian economy, and by extension the federal government’s ability to assist poorer nations.

Rabuka had suggested a more ‘realistic’ tone from the Pacific over Australian coal mining and gas production, saying fossil fuel industries and exports cannot be shut down immediately, despite the impact on climate change.

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