Australia is enjoying the highest standing ever in the Pacific

We should not be afraid to assist tourist dependent nations like Fiji and Vanuatu to strengthen tourism infrastructure and training.

This is not a complete list of priorities. But it would help build on an excellent start.

I appreciate the need for junior ministers like a Minister for the Pacific.

But the greater the foreign minister's direct engagement the better!

Our regional neighbours are too courteous to complain, but they are irritated when it is left to a junior minister to engage with them.

Penny Wong has the balance about right. May it continue!

So far so good. There will be challenges such as the future of Bougainville but for now our standing is excellent.