Scott Hook

Beautiful start to the day! Wonderful colours prior to sunrise. Looking out to Moreton Bay.

@effiezahos Wanted to tell you that I called my health insurer (Medibank), and they refused. Thanks for the advice but some just don't respond. Will change when these offers come around again.

A while ago I shared an health insurance hack that's wasn't so well known. Feedback has been good - most are getting the discount. Those "switching" deals ie up to 12 weeks free aren't just for new customers. Ask you you may just receive. One call saved me $588.

@ForumSEC Good luck to the team! Wish I there to contribute.

The Fiji Government is hosting the Pacific Resilience Meeting at @ForumSEC The meeting allows leaders/stakeholders to strengthen collective efforts in building resilience to #climatechange DPM Prasad Remarks: bit.ly/47yUGLx ASG Nayasi Remarks: bit.ly/3ZBJonE

@ZarakFJ @ForumSEC @USTreasury @dfat @BaronWaqa @PacificTweet @AndrewCumpston @WBPacificCD @AaronBattenADB Hey Zarak, let's catch up if you are in town this week.

@ForumSEC team is pleased to support @USTreasury @dfat who have done an excellent job co-hosting the inaugural 2024 #Pacific Banking Forum in Brisbane. #PBF2024 brings together Pacific Leaders, Ministers, Senior Officials, CEOs of commercial banks, US & Pacific regulators, Pacific Central Bank Governors & other key stakeholders to address correspondent banking relationship (CBR) challenges & the de-banking crisis facing Pacific countries. CBR issues are impacting trade & investment flows, cost of remittances & access to basic services in the region. CBR involves the ability of banks in the Pacific to access correspondent bank payments in USD, Euro & other currencies to facilitate international payments. PBF will discuss opportunities for enhanced coordination, identifying sustainable, practical & meaningful regional solutions to CBR withdrawals & halting the shifting of goal posts on these critical issues. We acknowledge the strong partnership of @WB_AsiaPacific in developing the critical US$125m Strengthening CBR Initiative to support Pacific countries to be coordinated through @ForumSEC & World Bank Sydney Office. We also recognise the ongoing support from @ADB_HQ in addressing #KYC requirements in the region. We continue to advocate on these issues to support our Pacific countries as financial services are bread & butter issues for our people having a direct correlation with cost of living & growth opportunities. Deepening engagement with our partners & allies will bolster investments in developing innovative solutions to the CBR & de-banking challenges facing the Pacific.

CEO and Emerging Leaders Breakfast on Thursday held in the beautiful Brisbane Town Hall. The keynote was Josh Richard's, who has had an interesting life as a soldier, science advisor, artist, and Mars One project. Showing humility and willingness to review, reflect, and reorient.

@MaclellanNic Gosh Nic, really? I mean death is death, and it is no contest. We and NZ honour our dead, and I watched the Turks honour their dead. No winners, the French are also thankful for those sons and daughters from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India and Africa that died.

On Anzac Day, 25 April, it’s always worth recalling that more French soldiers died at Gallipoli than Australians, and many of the allied troops were African and Indian. Myth making doesn’t help us understand the past (or the present). insidestory.org.au/gallipoli-and-…

@elonmusk How poorly informed you remain and how much drama you wish to generate for a legimate and legal activity. I guess you don't want to undertake any critical thinking.

This is insane!

There has to be an end to the killing and destruction.

@wtmpacific @TNCPacific Interesting Wes. It appears to show Australia playing it safe by using agreed wording from prior international commitments. It's better than rejecting the concept, but we need a timeline.

Breaking: Pacific Islands Forum leaders "aspire to a just and equitable transition to a fossil fuel free Pacific". Leaders "committed to a transition away from coal, oil and gas in our energy systems in line with IPCC pathways for limiting global average temperatures to 1.5ºC".

@PacificElders @RRegenvanu @ClimateHome Action is happening but not fast enough for the Pacific region. Commitments to zero emissions have to occur way before 2050. Moving away from coal and gas relies on the social cost of carbon being made explicit in decisions for energy, transport, and the environment.

Hon @RRegenvanu with a powerful piece in @ClimateHome - Australia’s bid to host climate talks is welcome but its words must be matched with action climatechangenews.com/2023/11/04/aus…

@wtmpacific @ConversationEDU Thanks Wes for the timely piece and analysis. Transparency in subsidies is vital. I think it is happening with specific commitments by the Commonwealth and plans being made by the States to move to reduce emissions and ultimately transform their economies away from fossil fuels.

Prime minister Albanese is now in the Cook Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum. My latest piece explains that he has a chance to repair a rift in relations with Pacific island nations that started there a quarter of a century ago. #BluePacific theconversation.com/26-years-ago-h…

Minister Conroy speaking on development. Interesting speech, while adding some extra funds last year, nothing extra promised, says that Australia is putting the Pacific first. He also stated that development is shaped not by prosperity and strategic but also shaped by ethics.

Pleased to witness UNDP Multi-Country Programme for 14 Pacific countries and territories (2023-2027) be adopted by UNDP Executive Broad just now. Thanks delegates from 🇫🇲, 🇻🇺, 🇳🇷, 🇫🇯 for taking floor to support @UNDP ‘s plans in the blue Pacific for next 5 years.

A-P Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction Great to be here and following the role of resilience in supporting infrastructure. The Pacific family is well represented and highlighting their actions and finance needed. #resilience @UNDP_Pacific #APMCDRR2022

@CollinBeck @jemimagar Well done my brother! This is a great opportunity. You have been a hard working, highly effective advocate for the Pacific in the climate change/DRM space and a good friend and trusted adviser. We will be sad to lose you.

Congratulations to Exsley Taloiburi Program Advisor of the Climate Finance with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat for the last 11 years. Exsley will be moving on to take on Climate and Resilience position with the Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific in Brussels.

Consultation on Resilient Infrastructure. Great to participate in these discussions and learn more about ongoing work in refining and making resilience real and practical lessons from communities and projects. @undrr_pacific @cdri_world #ResilientPacific #FRDP @UNDP_Pacific

I am deeply honoured to serve as Australia’s Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, I want to bring people together and lead a government that is as courageous, hard-working and caring as the Australian people. That work starts today.

UNDP Deputy Rep @Yemesrach16 at the @ForumSEC #PublicFinanceManagement Symposium today, "We need to continue investing in institutional oversight and accountability mechanisms leaders can rely on for real time feedback and information during crisis." Illustration: Ruben Vulawalu

SA Victory is a good result for the ALP with a win and a good result but not much of a change as SA has always been a forward thinking state. We need changes in NSW and a forward thinking QLD govt to make proper changes for Australia. Bring the Federal vote!

Booms and rumbling being felt in Suva right now just after 9pm FT.