Fiji PM blames Aust for forum boycott

Fiji's prime minister has blamed Australia's inaction on climate change for his decision to boycott the Pacific Islands Forum in Papua New Guinea.

Frank Bainimarama instead sent along his Foreign Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, to represent Fiji at the official leaders summit and retreat in Port Moresby.

"I regret that I am unable to attend myself because of the refusal of Australia and New Zealand to step back and allow the Pacific island nations to determine their own futures free from outside interference," he said in a personal letter to PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

Mr Bainimarama said there was significant differences with Australia over its policies on climate change in particular that are "clearly not in the interests of the Pacific small island developing states".

He passed on his warmest greetings to PNG and reiterated Fiji's cooperation with the forum at ministerial and officials level.

Mr O'Neill told reporters in Port Moresby that he hadn't seen the letter and was unable to comment.

The Abbott government has announced a carbon emissions reduction target of 26-28 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 while New Zealand's target is a cut of 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Both have been criticised for lacking ambition.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrives in Port Moresby on Wednesday night.