Australia has assumed leadership of the G20 meeting in 2014 and invited New Zealand and Singapore to attend a forum of the world's leaders. The G20 meeting is expected to bring in 4,000 delegates and 3,000 media personnel in Brisbane.

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Queensland Premier Campbell Newman were in Brisbane on Dec. 1 to mark the country's G20 leadership. Mr Abbott said Australia will focus on asserting a strong economy led by private sectors. He said trade and banking will be on the agenda.

Singapore, Australia's "closest friend" is invited to attend the G20 meeting as a key member in the global economy.

New Zealand is not a member of the G20 because of its size, but Australia's invitation will be the first time the country has been invited to attend and contribute to a year of deliberations. As the host of the G20 meeting, Australia can invite other countries that it chooses and add more value to the forum.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said the Mr Abbott called him last Nov. 27 to extend the G20 invitation. Mr Abbott said New Zealand may be a small country but it has a significant role in the global economy so it is capable of providing valuable insight.

Mr Key said New Zealand can contribute by providing a small-economy perspective in the discussions which may be different from the issues that major trading economies face.

Climate change agenda not a priority in G20?

In a press conference on Nov 12, Prime Minister Tony Abbottsaid Australia accepts that climate change is happening and humans are contributing to it. He said Australia is ready to take a strong and effective action against climate change.

Contrary to his statements, the Coalition government has launched a legislation to repeal Labour's carbon tax, including its measures to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Mr Abbott has abolished the Climate Change Authority, Climate Commission and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia's chairing of the G20 in 2014 will give the country a chance to influence the global economic agenda and strengthen relationships with major economies in the world.

With Australia taking over the G20 leadership, observers fear that the G20 will not address climate change as aggressively as before.