The Australian prime minister will arrive in Tonga late on Tuesday, joining other leaders from the 18-nation bloc after two days of the summit.
In his place, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy has flown Australia's flag on a challenging day one.
"We experienced yesterday the crises we're facing in the Pacific ... a torrential downpour and then a 6.8 Richter scale earthquake in one day," he told the ABC.
For the most part, leaders displayed the regional unity that organisers have craved after a tumultuous few years.
However, on the hot-button issue of the New Caledonia, France appears on the outer.
The future of the Melanesian nation remains clouded, months after mass pro-independence protests over voting reforms from its colonial power produced deaths and widespread damage in the capital Noumea.
The future of New Caledonia is a knotty issue to be discussed by leaders in Tonga. (AP PHOTO)
In Nuku'alofa, France's Pacific Ambassador Veronique Roger-Lacan has tread on Pacific sensibilities.
Ms Roger-Lacan told leaders that PIF appeared divided on whether a fact-finding mission involving PIF leaders should go ahead, provoking New Zealand deputy prime minister Winston Peters into a sharp response.
"I suggest that the ambassador get in contact with her boss now and again when she's making those sort of comments, because they're not helpful," Mr Peters said.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said the sub-regional Melanesian Spearhead Group - which includes New Caledonia - would meet on Tuesday afternoon to consider their position.
The MSG has been a proponent of an independent New Caledonia, led by its Indigenous Kanak people.
Moetai Brotherson, president of another another overseas French territory, French Polynesia, also sounded attacked France's handling of the crisis.
"France has always had problems with decolonisation and the road to self-determination," he said.
"They definitely have to change the way they read the situation ... they have to trust the voices of the Pacific about those issues more than their own diplomacy."
New PIF chair Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni also supports further talks before leaders discuss their troubled member more fully at their retreat on Thursday.
Mr Albanese arrives in time for that all-day, closed-door gathering but he will miss United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is leaving as the Australian leader arrives.Â
Alongside Mr Albanese, two other heavyweight leaders are arriving late: Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon.
Solomon Islands PM Jeremiah Manele is reportedly seeking to exclude Taiwan from PIF summits. (Ben McKay/AAP PHOTOS)
Both are attending their first PIF summits - though Mr Manele has been foreign minister previously - and both have been linked to controversy.
Mr Manele is reportedly seeking to exclude Taiwan, a dialogue partner, from future meetings.
The Australian reports Mr Manele, who will host the next year's meeting in Honiara and become PIF chair, is doing so under pressure from China.
That move is destined to fail as three members maintain diplomatic ties with Taipei, and PIF decisions are made by consensus.
Mr Luxon, the Kiwi leader elected in 2023, has set off alarm bells in the Pacific with his push to reopen New Zealand waters to oil and gas exploration.
On Monday, he announced plans to pass legislation to make this legal by year's end.
Pacific leaders are unsupportive of plans by any country to expand their fossil fuel footprint.
"I'm sure New Zealand will not be ignorant of the fact New Zealand need to be responsive to the climate change issues," Mr Marape said.
"They live in the Pacific like we live in the Pacific."
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