Rudd signs first of Pacific development agreements

Aug 20, 2008

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has signed the first of a series of development agreements with Pacific Island nations.

Together for the Pacific Islands Forum in Niue, Mr Rudd and Papua New Guinea's Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare put their signatures to an agreement which Mr Rudd says will bring significant benefits to the country.

However, he also says Australia needs to see progress from all countries he will sign agreements with.

"This recasts our entire development assistance relationship with these countries on one core principle - mutual responsibility," he said.

"We'll continue to support these countries in a co-operative framework but on the condition that we see measurable improvement over time in the key development indicators...

This afternoon Mr Rudd will sign a similar agreement with Samoa and says he is working his way through six more agreements with countries in the region.