Right, this could be interesting. A host of Pacific Island diplomats are giving evidence at a parliamentary committee in Canberra. Focus on trade and economic ties between Australia and the Pacific. Follow along if interested 1/

Opening statements. Tonga's High Commissioner quite forceful. Praises @dfat and Australian diplomatic efforts but makes a clear pitch- "restrictions and strict specifications on our farmers along with limited technology (in Tonga) prevent us accessing the Australian market" 2/

The High Commissioner also spends quite a bit of time espousing the benefits of kava, urging Australia to lift regulations that block the commercial importation of kava (these are already under review by the Govt) 3/

Now NZ's High Commissioner to Australia. She runs through cooperation between Australia and NZ in the Pacific, praises bilateral r'ship etc. Interestingly she's holding two documents, including the NZ Defence Force report "Responding to the Climate Crisis." Seems pointed. 4/

Now Samoa's High Commissioner. She says many seasonal workers from Samoa have returned home because of covid but now cannot access their super in Aus, which is causing them financial distress. She's pressing the Australian Govt to help solve the problem. 5/

Now New Caledonia's rep in Canberra, based in the French Embassy. He says New Caledonia now has five reps based overseas - in Australia, NZ, Vanuatu, PNG and Fiji. Of course NC's second independence referendum is now only one month away 6/

Solomon Islands High Commissioner says covid-19 is a "black cloud that has descended on earth bringing death and destruction" but it has a silver lining - "it brings us closer than ever to our regional partners" including Australia 7/

Solomon Islands High Commissioner also pointed on climate: "lest we forget, climate change - not COVID-19, not even China - is the biggest threat to our security" 8/

(I'm not sure China would be entirely delighted by this framing just by the way. But I suppose that's besides the point) 9/

Right. Now to questions. Interesting. Right to brass tacks! Coalition MP Andrew Wallace says some critics have alleged Australia is "heavy-handed" and has "at times ridden roughshod" over Pacific countries. He says he's keen to "pressure test" those accusations 10/

This is, well, pretty direct. Wallace is basically asking Pacific diplomatic reps if they agree with Australian critics of the govt. "Do you share these concerns? Do you agree with them?" 11/

PNG's High Commissioner doesn't directly answer. He says Australia and PNG enjoy a close relationship and the "trust is there." He says some on Manus Island have "concerns" about the Lombrum naval base redevelopment but the PNG govt is working to address those 12/

Fascinating anecdote here. Solomon Islands HC says he doesn't believe Australia applies excessive pressure on his country. He gives an example: discussions on who should be the next Solomon Islands police commissioner (continued) 13/

The former commissioner was an Australian, Matt Varley. Apparently the Morrison Govt suggested another Australian candidate to follow him. But SI pushed back. HC indicates Aus gave way quickly: "we have our own local commissioner there wasn't much pressure from Australia" 14/

Several High Commissioners again press the Australian Govt over kava, which currently faces strict import controls. The Government's commercial import trial was paused due to COVID-19 but Pacific Island countries are clearly unhappy with the delay 15/

Pretty blunt summary from PNG's rep on investment woes. He says Australian investors are heavily focussed on the mining industry in PNG. Chinese companies are simply "cutting down the trees" and taking them overseas. He says PNG needs help developing downstream processing 16/

Back to this after being pulled into other stories. Vanuatu's HC gives a startling (and worrying) account of how some seasonal workers from his country are struggling- "during this lockdown a lot of our workers are drowning themselves in alcohol." Some have even been jailed 17/

The HC does not say how many workers have been jailed, or what laws they've broken. But he says some workers are struggling to get enough hours at work and need additional financial support from the Australian Govt 18/