AUSTRALIA is committed to listening to the Pacific on their priorities, including ensuring projects, supporting local jobs and skills. Pacific Affairs Minister Pat Conroy said Australia would work as a trusted partner to ensure projects in the region are delivered on national priorities and were fit for purpose, of high quality, sustainable. Speaking at the Pacific Infrastructure Conference here today (Tuesday), Conroy reinforced Australia’s commitment to addressing climate change. “Pacific leaders have rightly declared that climate change is the number one threat to the security of their people. The Australian Government is committed to working to address climate change,” he said. “It’s why we’ve established the $AUD350 million Pacific climate infrastructure financing partnership.’’ Conroy said Australia wanted to help countries and communities adapt to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and expand access to clean energy. More than 300 cabinet ministers, government officials, businesspeople, donor agencies, and financiers have gathered in Brisbane for the two-day event. He said Australia listened to the priorities of Pacific partners and acted on them. ‘’We provide support that is based on and responsive to partner authorities, which is climate-resilient, is inclusive in design, and promotes high quality construction,’’ Conroy said Australia’s infrastructure financing facility for the Pacific has committed almost $AUD2 billion to projects across the Pacific, including Timor Leste. Projects range from small-scale renewal engines and projects for rural and remote communities to much larger investments.