Australia offers relocation of climate refugees from Tuvalu

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to offer thousands of Pacific Islanders the chance to live in Australia as climate change threatens their home.

The Australian government will offer refuge to Tuvalu residents as climate change threatens to wipe out their island home.

Tuvalu’s residents will be offered the chance to work, study and live in Australia to avoid the impacts of rising sea levels that threaten their way of life, with places in Australia to be staggered over years.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the new special visa arrangement between Australia and Tuvalu on Friday.

The new Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union will allow a dedicated intake of up to 280 people annually through a special mobility pathway, with a new visa category to be created for Tuvalu residents wishing to make their home in Australia.

The government has left the door open for this cap to be expanded in the future.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the new visa arrangements alongside Tuvalu’s PM Kausea Natano.

A collection of nine islands close to sea level, Tuvalu is one of the countries most at risk of becoming depopulated because of rising sea levels.

The treaty has been described as the most intimate ever made between Australia and a Pacific Island nation and will cover three areas -- climate change, human mobility and security.

Under the agreement, Australia has also committed to providing assistance to the island nation if it is threatened by natural disaster, health pandemics and military aggression.

Mr Albanese described the treaty as “groundbreaking”, saying it formalises Australia as Tuvalu‘s ”partner of choice”.

“It will be regarded as a significant day in which Australia acknowledged that we are part of the Pacific family that with that comes the responsibility to act, to gracious requests from Tuvalu and the relationship between our two nations,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is currently in the Cook Islands for the Pacific Island Forum. Picture: DFAT

Mr Natano said that the union is “framed around the local concept of Falepili, which describes our Pacific and traditional values of good neighborliness, care and mutual respect”.

“It is within this Falepili concept, in the face of climate change, and its unique geography and economy that the government of Tuvalu initiated and submitted a request to the government of Australia for a more elevated bilateral partnership,” he said.

Mr Albanese did not rule out entering into similar agreements with other Pacific Island nations impacted by climate change, saying that he would “make further announcements at an appropriate time...we’re open to approaches form other countries on how we can enhance our partnerships,” he said.

“Tuvalu is extremely vulnerable to the impact of climate change, especially rising sea levels and is trying to preserve its culture, traditions and land,” Mr Albanese said.

“I believe that developed nations have a responsibility to provide assistance and that is precisely what we are doing.”

Australia will also provide an additional $16.9m for the Tuvalu coastal adaptation project to expand the main island by approximately six per cent.

Originally published as Australia offers relocation of climate refugees from Tuvalu