Fiji back in forum if elections go well
Fiji will be welcomed back into the Pacific island fold as long is its September election goes well.
Leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau said positive reports from independent observers of the Fijian elections would lead to the end of the country's suspension from the group.
Fiji was suspended in 2009 after a military coup.
Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, who represented Australia in place of Tony Abbott, said the forum's decision this week reflected Australia's efforts to normalise relations with Fiji.
Australia wanted to further strengthen its partnership with Fiji on a broad range of bilateral and regional issues, he said, after attending the summit.
The 45th PIF summit focused on oceans and fishery conservation.
Australia has pledged to spend $2 billion patrolling fisheries in the Pacific amid concerns about the rapid decline in tuna stocks.
Mr Truss also announced plans for aerial patrols, the secondment of regional personnel to a fisheries agency and the doubling of Australian support for Pacific regional fisheries organisations to $40 million by the end of 2018.
Leaders from the 15-member grouping will ask fisheries ministers to urgently strengthen sustainable fisheries plans and measures to reduce catches based on current and accurate data.
They also warned that entire island countries would disappear under the waves unless action was taken to address climate change.
Australia joined all forum members in issuing a call to action on global warming, saying there was no excuse not to act to curb climate change.
This week, PIF appointed its first ever female secretary general, Dame Meg Taylor from Papua New Guinea.
It also supported New Zealand's bid for a United Nations Security Council seat.
