Senator Eric Abetz

The announcement, with much fanfare, of the appointment of Duncan Kerr as Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Islander Affairs, indicating the "seriousness" with which Labor treats our Pacific Island neighbours, seems to have dissipated with Mr Kerr's retirement from the position.

It's now apparent Mr Kerr was given a lap of honour prior to his retirement with the single task of getting the Prime Minister an international position as Chair of the Pacific Forum.

Once obtained, the Pacific Island nations now no longer need a Parliamentary Secretary, as the Prime Minister's new ministerial arrangement tabled today indicates.

The Prime Minister's treatment of the Pacific islands has been transparent and hollow.

This is just another example of Kevin Rudd's personal obsession with grandstanding on the world stage.