Australia has been accused of prioritising its economy over the lives of its Pacific neighbours.

Tuvalu's prime minister says Australia is concerned about saving its economy while the Pacific is fighting to save its people.

The Australian Government opposed a number of points in what was meant to be a joint climate statement from last week’s Pacific Island Forum - an inter-governmental summit that aims to enhance cooperation between countries and territories of the Pacific Ocean.

The leaders agreed to a final communique and a separate a statement on climate change, which called on G7 and G20 members to “rapidly implement their commitment to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies”.

There was some debate about the use of the word ‘coal’ specifically, with Australia eventually pushing to have the term “fossil fuels” used in its place.

The climate statement says the Pacific region “can only exist if the international community pursue efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, as set out in the Paris Agreement”.

“We stressed very strongly during our exchange, in fact, between me and Scott [Morrison], that you are concerned about saving your economy in your situation in Australia,” Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga told reporters.

“I'm concerned about saving my people in Tuvalu and likewise the leaders of other South Pacific small island countries.

“Please don't expect that we came and we bow down [to Australia], or that sort of atmosphere.”

He said some language during the debate became “flary” but there was no swearing.

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said the Australian Government had taken a “big step backwards” in its relations with the Pacific.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack told a business function in Wagga Wagga over the weekend that the Pacific nations would be fine.

“[I] get a little bit annoyed when we have people in those sorts of countries pointing the finger at Australia and say we should be shutting down all our resources sector so that they will continue to survive,” he said.

“They will continue to survive, there's no question they will continue to survive, they will continue to survive with large aid assistance from Australia.

“They will continue to survive because many of their workers come here and pick our fruit.”

Analysis dissecting the summit result is accessible here.