In this bulletin:
1. PNG — PNG parliament to consider Bougainville region’s bid for independence
2. SOL — Wale visits fisheries surveillance centre ahead of regional talks
3. SAMOA — Peseta Noumea Simi steps down after 47 years of service to Samoa
4. W|PAPUA — West Papua National Committee stands against Indonesia’s registration of internally-displaced Papuans
5. FIJI — Fiji’s President added to PM appeal
6. SAMOA — Tuilaepa’s new defamation case adjourned to October as AG finalises charges
7. FIJI — Online safety laws under review
8. PACNEWS BIZ — ABG concludes regional Mining Safety Bill consultations
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Independent Group supports stronger legal framework for SIMHL and sovereign wealth fund
10. PACNEWS BIZ — FHTA welcomes TST exemption for existing bookings
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Australia is being urged to join a $41 trillion fight playing out in its backyard
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Where the palms bend, communities endure – resilience in the Pacific
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — FAO Director-General calls for science and technology to bridge digital, rural and gender divides
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — AUSTRAC strengthens Pacific capability to combat money laundering and organised crime
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Recycling Accountability Must Go Beyond Collection
PNG – INDEPENDENCE: REUTERS PACNEWS 3: Thu 27 Aug 2026
PNG parliament to consider Bougainville region’s bid for independence
PORT MORESBY, 27 AUGUST 2026 (REUTERS) — Papua New Guinea’s autonomous region of Bougainville moved a step closer to possible independence on Thursday as the country’s parliament prepared to consider the results of a non-binding referendum in which voters overwhelmingly backed secession.
Residents of Bougainville, which consists of two main islands and several smaller ones with a population of about 370,000 people, voted 97.7 percent in favour of independence in 2019.
But it has taken years of negotiations between the national and regional governments to get to the next step.
Papua New Guinea’s parliament must ratify the referendum result for it to take effect, and the two sides agreed this month that parliament would begin considering it on Thursday. No date for a vote has been announced.
Leaders on Bougainville, which has had an independence movement for decades, have targeted greater self-government in September 2027 and full sovereignty in 2030.
Bougainville’s push for independence stems largely from longstanding grievances over control of revenue from the now-closed Panguna copper and gold mine and a decade-long civil war that killed thousands.
A peace deal was reached in 2001 in the war and included an agreement to defer an independence referendum…. PACNEWS
SOL – FISHERIES: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 3: Thu 27 Aug 2026
Wale visits fisheries surveillance centre ahead of regional talks
HONIARA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale visited the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency’s Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre on Wednesday ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, touring the facility as regional authorities confront illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and transnational maritime crime across the vast Pacific Ocean.
Wale, who is the current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, met with FFA Officer-in-Charge and Fisheries Development Director Dr Chris Reid before touring the centre and hearing about its work supporting Solomon Islands and FFA’s other 16 members.
The visit gave Wale a first-hand look at how regional fisheries surveillance and intelligence support Pacific Island countries, including through vessel monitoring, satellite information, aerial surveillance, and intelligence and information from national authorities and regional partners.
For the Solomon Islands, the centre provides a regional layer of support that can help identify vessels of interest, check whether they are licensed and operating within the rules, and support national authorities when further action is needed.
The discussions focused on challenges facing fisheries enforcement and response, including the need to profile vessel compliance performance and beneficial ownership, identify the captains behind vessels and ensure accurate reporting.
The centre’s role is particularly significant for Pacific Island countries that must monitor fishing activity across one of the world’s largest ocean regions while protecting fisheries as a major economic resource.
FFA’s broader role is to help Pacific Island countries sustainably manage their fisheries and secure greater economic benefit from them.
“With such a vast ocean to cover, no country can do this alone,” the agency said in describing the regional approach, which relies on countries sharing information, expertise and resources and working together.
Wale is expected to deliver the keynote address at an FFA side event on the sidelines of the 55th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in Palau, scheduled for 30 August to 5 September.
The side event, scheduled for 31 August at the Ngarachamayong Culture Centre in Koror, will focus on the role and future of the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre under the theme: “Securing Our Blue Pacific: Integrated Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) and the Future of the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC).”
The event will examine how integrated monitoring, control and surveillance can help Pacific countries respond to fisheries threats, strengthen compliance, and protect the region’s valuable marine resources…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – POLITICS: SAMOA GLOBAL NEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 27 Aug 2026
Peseta Noumea Simi steps down after 47 years of service to Samoa
APIA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (SAMOA GLOBAL NEWS) — Peseta Noumea Simi has stepped down from her role as Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) following a distinguished public service career that spans close to 47 years.
Her journey in the public sector began in 1979 when she joined the Prime Minister’s Office.
Over the decades, she took on critical roles across government sectors, most notably serving as the Assistant Secretary for Aid and Economic Coordination within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1988 to 2003, followed by an extended period leading the Aid Coordination unit within the Ministry of Finance.
Educated in Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia, Peseta holds a Master of Business Administration, an Advanced Diploma of Business Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Management from the University of New England in Australia.
In 2015, her vast experience culminated in her appointment as the CEO of MFAT, cementing her status as Samoa’s top diplomat. In this capacity, she oversaw the nation’s global diplomatic positions and became a pivotal figure in regional Pacific diplomacy.
Her capability and leadership earned her successive reappointments by the Samoan Cabinet over the years. Her latest reappointment came in August 2025 to lead the ministry for a fourth consecutive three-year term.
Her sudden departure cuts short a contract that was initially slated to run until 2028, bringing a close to one of the most impactful careers in Samoa’s modern public service.
Sources from the Ministry told Samoa Global News, that Peseta informed the staff last week that she would be stepping down from her position, following a directive from the Prime Minister and Cabinet, asking for her resignation.
The reasons behind Peseta’s decision to resign is not clear. At press time, a response from the Government Press had not yet been received.
However, according to sources, Peseta had stood her ground in relation to the selection of overseas consular posts.
“Prime Minister and Cabinet want to appoint diaspora to those positions in Canberra, Sydney and others…,” said the source.
Government of Samoa currently has vacant overseas diplomatic posts in Canberra Australia, Fiji and Japan. Heads of Missions are ACEO level positions within the Government, and report to the CEO of MFAT…. PACNEWS
W|PAPUA – CONFLICT: NIT PACNEWS 3: Thu 27 Aug 2026
West Papua National Committee stands against Indonesia’s registration of internally displaced Papuans
MANIKWARI, 27 AUGUST 2026 (NIT) — A proposal from the Indonesian government to conduct a new registration of internally-displaced Papuans across their conflict-affected territory has been condemned by the West Papua National Committee.
The Committee, whose objective is to advance the right of their ethnically-diverse people to self-determination, fears the data collection would serve the political interests of Jakarta rather than address the root cause of Indigenous displacement, colonialism.
That concern was raised Monday by the Papuan pro-independence political movement chairman, Agus Kossay, following an announcement from the Indonesian Human Rights Minister, Natalius Pigai – an Indigenous Papuan – about the government’s alleged motives for the territory.
“The West Papua National Committee firmly rejects the state plan to register internally displaced people through government institutions as comparative data on displacement in (West) Papua because it is intended to strengthen the Jakarta government’s position under the pretext of development and improving the welfare of Papuans,” Kossay said.
Kossay said the committee’s position is based on data compiled from Papuan churches and human rights workers, which have allegedly counted that 125,931 people have been internally displaced by the ongoing armed conflict in the territory that Papuans historically claim as their own.
The organisation, which says it speaks for Papuan people that are under the control of Indonesia, also rejected the involvement of individuals claiming to represent their committee or other Papuans in any cooperation with the Indonesian Ministry of Human Rights or the new Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Papua’s Development on the issue of internal displacement.
The latest executive committee was created by the Indonesian government in October 2025 as a body to ostensibly coordinate and accelerate development under Indonesia’s special autonomy framework. But the West Papua National Committee have previously claimed the 10 Indigenous Papuans appointed by Jakarta are “collaborators” serving only the Indonesian state.
Kossay also referred to previous statements from Pigai and executive committee chairman, Velix Wanggai, who previously said Indonesia intended to open dialogue with strategic organisations including the West Papua National Committee, the West Papua National Liberation Army and the United Liberation Movement of West Papua to end violence and achieve lasting peace.
However, Kossay said his committee, on behalf of the Papuan people, rejected the proposal that did not address what has caused civilian casualties and mass displacement of Papuan people in Western New Guinea.
According to Kossay, the conflict stems from the 1962 New York agreement and Indonesia’s Trikora military operation of West Papua, which he said undermined the United Nations mechanism towards the 1969 Act of Free Choice and the West Papuan people’s right to self-determination.
“This has been the main source of conflict in Papua for the past 65 years,” he said.
“The central government’s offer of development and welfare is not a framework for resolving the root causes of the Papua conflict. It is a framework for maintaining Indonesia’s illegal occupation of Papua.”
Kossay argued the Indonesian government and the Papuan people should agree on a conflict resolution process to be mediated by a neutral international party.
He also advocated for a review of what the committee described as legal and political violations surrounding the Papuan people’s right to self-determination under the agreement.
The committee has also called on political leaders from the Pacific, African and Caribbean nations to urge Indonesia to grant access to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Committee of the Red Cross to assess internally-displaced Papuans in conflict areas and to investigate alleged human rights abuses from the militarisation…. PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 27 Aug 2026
Fiji’s President added to PM appeal
SUVA. 27 AUGUST 2026 (FBC NEWS) — The President has been officially added as a respondent in the Prime Minister’s appeal over the High Court ruling on the unlawful dismissal of former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali.
The Prime Minister had filed an appeal and a stay application against the February High Court decision.
In court, lawyer Aaron Sen appeared for the Prime Minister, while Samuela Savu represented Malimali.
Senior Legal Officer Grace Henao appeared for the State.
Savu told the court there was no objection to the President being added as a party to the proceedings.
However, he said they object to the Prime Minister’s stay application, but not the substantive appeal.
The State has also asked for the Attorney-General’s Office to be added as a party.
Justice Chandana Prematilaka told the State it must provide the request in writing before a decision can be made.
The State has been directed to file amended summons seeking to add the Attorney-General’s Office.
The parties have until the 24th of next month to file their responses.
The matter will return to court on 5th October for mention…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – COURT: SAMOA GLOBAL NEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 27 Aug 2026
Tuilaepa’s new defamation case adjourned to October as AG finalises charges
APIA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (SAMOA GLOBAL NEWS) — Former Samoan Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, will have to wait until October to enter a plea to four new charges of defamation and one charge of harassment using electronic communications relating to comments allegedly made about Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt.
Malielegaoi’s case was called before District Court Judge Talasa Lumepa Atoa Sa‘aga on Tuesday 25 August, where it was adjourned without plea until 6 October 2026 to allow the Attorney General’s Office time to finalise the charges.
The five charges — four counts of defamation and one count of harassment using means of electronic communication — stem from comments allegedly made by Tuilaepa during a televised press conference with local media at the HRPP headquarters on 6 August 2026.
Malielegaoi was arrested and charged a week later, on Thursday 13 August.
Defence counsel Faimalomatumua Meleisea Mathew Lemisio questioned why Malielegaoi could not enter a plea to the charges already before the Court while Police prepared to transfer the prosecution file to the Attorney General’s Office.
“They finalised the charges, and for our client to enter a plea, he’s now in the position. He has received instructions to enter a plea, so I do not know why they insisted on delaying him entering his plea,” Lemisio told the Court.
The defence submitted that the file could still be transferred to the Attorney General with a notation recording that Malielegaoi had already entered his plea.
The Court was told the file remained with Police while arrangements concerning the prosecution were being finalised.
Judge Sa‘aga initially suggested an adjournment of two weeks. However, the defence reminded the Court that Malielegaoi had already been granted a variation to his bail conditions allowing him to travel overseas and was due to return at the end of September.
The matter was adjourned to 6 October.
“This matter is adjourned without plea through to the 6th of October for the Attorney General’s Office to finalise charges against the defendant,” Judge Sa‘aga said.
Malielegaoi did not personally appear in Court on Tuesday.
Earlier in the proceedings, the defence referred to medical documentation relating to an eye operation undergone by the former Prime Minister.
When the matter was recalled, Judge Sa‘aga confirmed she had received a letter from Dr Naseri explaining Malielegaoi’s absence.
Prosecutor Muliagatele Tauanu‘u Raewyn Nansen-Fong advised the Court that the prosecution did not take issue with his non-appearance.
The August charges are separate from earlier criminal defamation proceedings already before the District Court involving complaints by Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa and Minister of Education and Culture Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma.
In those earlier proceedings, the District Court imposed restrictions preventing Malielegaoi from publicly discussing the matters while they remain before the Court…. PACNEWS
FIJI – ONLINE SAFETY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 3: Thu 27 Aug 2026
Online safety laws under review
SUVA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Fiji’s legal framework for dealing with cyber harm is being reviewed as the country responds to the growing challenges created by an increasingly digital society.
Justice Minister and Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga told Parliament on Wednesday last week that the Fiji Law Reform Commission was advancing its review of the Online Safety Act 2018.
The review has recently completed its final validation workshop, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback on an interim final report and draft Bill.
Turaga said the review was aimed at strengthening Fiji’s legal response to harmful activity online.
“Its objective is very clear – to strengthen Fiji’s legal framework to better address cyber harm and challenges created by the increase in digital society,” he said.
“The final package is now being prepared for handover to my office this month.”
The review is one of several major law reform projects being undertaken by the commission, which also included the Mining Act 1965, Quarries Act, Security Industry Act 2010, Human Trafficking Laws and court rules.
Turaga said the commission’s work reflected the need for laws to keep pace with technological and social change.
“Law reform is not simply about changing legislation for the sake of change – it is about asking more important questions.
“Are our laws still serving the people, the institutions and society they were created to serve?”
He said consultation remained a critical part of the process, with the people affected by legislation needing an opportunity to understand, question and contribute to its development.
“Good laws cannot be developed in isolation from the people who live under them,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
B/VILLE – MINING SAFETY BILL: ABG GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 27 Aug 2026
ABG concludes regional Mining Safety Bill consultations
BUKA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (ABG GOVT) — The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), through the Department of Mining and Petroleum (DMP), has completed regional stakeholder consultations in Central and South Bougainville on the proposed Bougainville Mining (Occupational Health and Safety) Bill 2026.
The consultations commenced in Buin on Monday for South Bougainville and continued in Arawa for Central Bougainville, providing an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to learn about the proposed Bill, ask questions and provide their views and recommendations.
ABG President and Minister for Mining and Petroleum, Ishmael Toroama, personally officiated at both the South Bougainville consultation in Buin and the Central Bougainville consultation in Arawa.
President Toroama said the ABG remained committed to strengthening the institutions, laws, revenue systems and administrative capacity required for Bougainville to effectively govern itself and deliver services to its people.
He reminded participants at both consultations that their responsibility was to contribute their views so that the Government could develop strong legislation that protects the wider public interests of Bougainville.
He said the development of strong laws and institutions was an important part of Bougainville’s preparations for its political and economic future and encouraged people throughout Bougainville to participate in Government consultation processes.
The proposed Bougainville Mining (Occupational Health and Safety) Bill 2026 seeks to establish a modern, Bougainville-specific legislative framework for occupational health and safety across the mining sector. The Bill provides for mine safety and health management systems, prevention and management of workplace hazards and risks, worker participation, competency requirements, incident reporting and investigations, mine inspections, compliance and enforcement, and stronger regulatory oversight of mining operations. It also seeks to align Bougainville’s mining safety framework with recognised international practice while taking into account Bougainville’s own circumstances and the need to protect workers, landowners and surrounding communities.
The Department also presented on proposed amendments to the Bougainville Mining Act 2015 relating to the prosecution provisions of the Act. The proposed amendments are intended to strengthen the legal framework for the investigation and prosecution of offences and improve the Department’s ability to effectively enforce Bougainville’s mining laws.
The consultations were attended by chiefs, women, youth, veterans, public servants, community representatives and members of the general public. The Central Bougainville consultation also included representatives of mining and exploration companies operating or proposing mineral related activities in the region.
Consultations on the proposed Bill will continue in North Bougainville next week.
The Department of Mining and Petroleum is also inviting interested stakeholders and members of the public to provide written submissions on the proposed Bill no later than Friday, 4 September 2026, via email: cgerio.domer@abg.gov.pg
Feedback received through the regional consultations and written submissions will be considered in finalising the proposed Bill before it progresses through the Government’s legislative process…. PACNEWS
SOL – ECONOMY: SIBC NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 27 Aug 2026
Independent Group supports stronger legal framework for SIMHL and sovereign wealth fund
HONIARA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (SIBC NEWS) — The Parliamentary Independent Group has welcomed steps by the Minister for Finance and Treasury to regularise Solomon Islands Mineral Holding Limited (SIMHL), while calling for the company to be established through an Act of Parliament.
Leader of the Independent Group, Peter Shanel Agovaka, acknowledged the Minister’s efforts to rectify the incorporation and ownership arrangements of SIMHL and bring the company into compliance with the State-Owned Enterprises Act and the Companies Act.
He also welcomed the Minister’s commitment to bring the necessary corrective measures before Cabinet for collective consideration and decision.
Agovaka said the steps are important towards ensuring proper governance, accountability and transparency in the management of State assets and the country’s mineral resources.
The Independent Group also supports the proposal raised by the Minister for Finance and Treasury in Parliament to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund through a constitutional amendment.
Agovaka said the proposal presents an important opportunity for Solomon Islands to establish a permanent constitutional framework for managing the country’s mineral and other natural-resource wealth for the long-term benefit of its people.
However, he said the GREAT Government should consider going a step further by using the Sovereign Wealth Fund as the constitutional foundation upon which SIMHL is established and governed.
“Rather than relying solely on incorporation under the Companies Act, consideration should be given to establishing Solomon Islands Mineral Holding Limited through an Act of Parliament,” Agovaka said.
He said establishing SIMHL by statute would provide a stronger legal foundation for the State’s ownership and management of mineral interests.
Under such an arrangement, the proposed constitutional amendment could establish the overarching framework for the Sovereign Wealth Fund, while an Act of Parliament could establish the Mineral Holding Company as a statutory institution operating within that framework.
The Independent Group said such legislation could clearly define the ownership of the State’s mineral interests, the relationship between the Sovereign Wealth Fund and the Mineral Holding Company, and the powers and functions of the company.
It could also set out how mineral revenues and returns are managed, the appointment, qualifications and responsibilities of directors, and strict conflict-of-interest and integrity requirements.
The legislation could further provide for financial reporting and independent auditing, parliamentary scrutiny and reporting obligations, Cabinet’s policy role and clear limitations on political interference.
Agovaka said it should also establish mechanisms to protect the assets of the people of Solomon Islands and appropriate safeguards against the disposal or encumbrance of strategic national assets without proper parliamentary authority.
“Most importantly, the Mineral Holding Company should be directly accountable to Parliament for the stewardship of the mineral assets and interests entrusted to it,” he said.
Agovaka said the fundamental principle must be that Solomon Islands’ mineral resources are national assets and are managed for the long-term benefit of the people.
“Our mineral resources must not be managed for the benefit of any individual, political interest or government of the day. These are national assets that must be protected for our people and future generations,” he said.
The Independent Group believes the proposed constitutional amendment establishing a Sovereign Wealth Fund provides an opportunity to create a durable framework that can endure beyond changes in government and political cycles.
It said a Mineral Holding Company established by law within that constitutional framework could become the institutional vehicle through which the people of Solomon Islands retain and benefit from the country’s mineral wealth.
The Independent Group therefore calls the GREAT Government to consider establishing SIMHL by statute alongside the proposed constitutional amendment establishing the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
“This would provide Solomon Islands with stronger constitutional protection, statutory governance, parliamentary accountability and intergenerational stewardship of our mineral wealth,” Agovaka said.
“The objective is simple. Our mineral wealth must belong to the people, be protected by law and be managed transparently for the benefit of present and future generations of Solomon Islanders,” he said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – TOURISM TAX: FBC NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 27 Aug 2026
FHTA welcomes TST exemption for existing bookings
SUVA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (FBC NEWS) — The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association has welcomed the government’s confirmation that the Tourism Services Tax will now apply only to bookings made on or after 1 September exempting existing bookings from the tax.
FHTA chief executive officer Fantasha Lockington says this is they have been asking for since consultations began after the announcement of the tax.
She says this removes the risk that visitors who booked and paid for a Fiji holiday months ago would face an unexpected charge on arrival.
“This is a genuinely welcome result, and the right one. It restores fairness for visitors who planned their holiday in good faith, and it removes a real source of confusion and the higher risk of booking cancellations for the industry. We also acknowledge Government’s advised commitment to listening to industry and working collaboratively on policies that support sustainable economic growth.”
Lockington says FHTA is awaiting the updated Standard Interpretation Guidelines and further guidance from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, which will be issued ahead of 1 September.
She says that guidance will ensure clarity is provided for the scope and application of the new tax rules correctly.
“While not complete in terms of the clarity around the application, we are absolutely delighted with the outcome. Members still need clear, practical answers before 1 September and we will continue working with FRCS to get that guidance despite the ever-shortening time left to load systems that will support correct implementation.”
The 5 percent TST is applicable from 1st of next month to a specific list of tourism businesses with turnovers of $2million (US$1 million) and above, for specific tourism services, for a period of 12 months…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Australia is being urged to join a $41 trillion fight playing out in its backyard
By Samantha Jonscher
CANBERRA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (SBS NEWS) — Sitting at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean are vast deposits of the critical minerals that could drive a potential green transition.
The race to start mining these deposits has begun, and experts say what happens next could impact Australia’s relationship with once-reliable Pacific allies.
Commercial deep-sea mining in the Pacific has been on the cards for many years, but the not-yet-existent industry had been on pause while a United Nations agency responsible for the ocean floor develops guidelines for extraction.
That changed last year when United States President Donald Trump’s administration took the controversial step of issuing an executive order allowing U.S companies to apply for licences in its Pacific territories, sidestepping international law.
One U.S company has publicly committed to start operations as soon as 2027, and in August the U.S shocked Pacific Island communities by announcing it planned to auction off a maritime territory near American Samoa for deep-sea mining.
In 2025, China signed a deal with the Cook Islands to co-operate on seabed mineral development and research and is reportedly considering a similar partnership with Kiribati.
Now the U.S and China are locked in a geopolitical battle in the Pacific to corner the industry — valued at up to US$30 trillion ($41.88 trillion) — before it’s even begun.
The subject has starkly divided Pacific nations. Some want to cash in on the new mining boom, while others worry the largely untested industry could wreak havoc on the environment.
Experts warn this division could leave the region vulnerable to exploitation and damage Australia’s relations with its closest regional partners.
What is deep-sea mining?
Deep-sea mining as an industry does not yet exist, but the technology behind it does, and countries have been surveying the ocean floor for years to understand what kinds of deposits lie at the bottom of the ocean.
These deposits come in several forms, but extracting so-called ‘polymetallic nodules’ forms the backbone of existing deep-sea mining technology.
Formed layer by layer, over millions of years, these potato-sized forms are found between 3,500 and 6,500 metres beneath the surface.
To extract these deposits, a large harvesting vehicle drives across the pitch-black ocean floor, vacuuming up the deposits and the surface layer of sediment before pumping the material to the surface via a pipe for sorting.
What does this have to do with Australia?
The Lowy Institute’s Connor Graham told SBS News Australia has two key reasons to be concerned about deep-sea mining in the Pacific.
The first is political.
The issue has starkly divided Pacific nations. Naoero (formally Nauru), the Cook Islands, Tonga and Kiribati support the emerging industry, while the remaining members of the Pacific Islands Forum have come out in strong opposition.
“If deep-sea mining divides the Pacific into two camps, then we will see a breakdown in that unity that has historically defined the Pacific, and that could be a destabilising force that could leave Pacific nations vulnerable to external influences,” Graham said.
“Say Kiribati signs a deal with China to mine. They become aligned with Beijing. They’re still a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, but now more influenced by Beijing than they currently are.”
Graham said Australia should play “moderator” and advocate for a Pacific-led governance framework for deep-sea mining that would provide all Pacific nations with clear, baseline standards for any deep-sea exploration.
“It would outline minimum expectations for environmental protections, remediation and revenue sharing,” he said.
“At the moment, nothing like that exists, leaving these countries vulnerable to bad deals — companies will go wherever governance is weakest. A strong framework protects all countries equally.”
He said the second issue was environmental.
What are the environmental concerns?
Graham said scientists were “very concerned” that deep-sea mining could have “profound” impacts on the delicate and largely mysterious ecosystems at the bottom of the ocean. Scientists believe they have only described 5 per cent of the life at depths where this mining would take place.
The potato-shaped nodules are the only solid forms on the sea floor, and are home to sponges, corals, crustaceans and worms, which would lose their only habitats if they were removed. The consequences of this are not fully understood.
The mining process also involves pumping sediment from the sea floor to the surface and then pumping it back into water 1,000m below the surface — moving nutrients and fine particles with it.
“There are pretty big concerns about how much this will impact the fisheries in the Pacific — these plumes won’t care about the borders of your exclusive economic zone. It could just sort of float around off into next door and impact fisheries in a massive area,” Graham said.
He said this environmental impact could further destabilise the region.
“If one country’s deep-sea mining ruined another fishery, which would have a serious political consequence,” he said.
Graham said deep-sea mining also raised questions about carbon storage. Scientists are concerned disruptions to deep-sea algae could change how much carbon they can store and disturbing them could accelerate climate change.
All about politics
Susan Park is an international relations expert from the University of Sydney.
She told SBS News it was important to situate deep-sea mining in the broader geopolitical race for the Pacific.
Deep-sea mining operations would bring infrastructure and political relationships with the countries that host them.
“China and the U.S want to maintain their control and influence in the Pacific — it’s about shipping lanes and access,” Park said.
Park also pointed out that while these critical minerals were extremely important, geologists are “confident we have enough of them on the Earth’s surface”, raising further questions about the need to develop the new industry…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Where the palms bend, communities endure – resilience in the Pacific
By Steering Group for the Pacific CoP for Social Protection
CANBERRA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — Pacific people have long known how to look after their own. Across the region, extended families, churches and communities have sustained systems of mutual care and support for centuries. In 1985, Tongan theologian Sione ‘Amanaki Havea argued that Pacific people deserved a Christianity grown in local soil, one where the coconut, not imported bread and wine, was the symbol of life. His coconut theology sparked a wider movement of Pacific thinkers, theologians, scholars and community leaders asserting their right to interpret the world through their own frameworks.
That same spirit is working to develop the government-led social protection systems taking shape across the region today. Increasing pressures are bearing down on communities: climate change, severe weather events, rising energy costs and health crises, mostly generated far beyond Pacific shores. Vulnerable communities are often the hardest hit and the least responsible. The coconut again offers a powerful metaphor for the approaches being taken — deeply rooted in community, flexible in the face of shocks and able to sustain people through hardship. As governments look to further strengthen the resilience of communities in the face of these challenges, it’s a good time to recognise the value of further strengthening national social protection systems.
Papua New Guinea recently hosted the second in-person gathering of the Community of Practice for Social Protection in the Pacific. Government delegates from 12 countries met in Port Moresby to share insights on how their programmes and systems are responding to changing needs and reaching the people who need them most. The event provided a rare opportunity for Pacific policymakers and implementers to collectively examine not only what is working across the region, but importantly, how it is working. Three themes ran through the discussions: how social protection systems can help respond to the current energy crisis, how families with children can be best supported and how new technology is changing the game.
The current energy crisis has helped highlight that where social protection delivery systems already exist, governments are able to respond faster and protect vulnerable households more effectively. This message was reinforced during the Community of Practice meeting, which took place just days after the Pacific Islands Forum invoked the Biketawa Declaration to support a regional response to the crisis. Discussions highlighted how rising energy costs are placing widespread pressure on Pacific households — particularly low-income families, older persons and persons with disabilities — by increasing the cost of basic goods and reducing purchasing power. Fiji has used existing systems to deliver cash support, with a time-bound 50 percent increase in benefits across six social assistance schemes. In total, 130,000 beneficiaries — including rural pregnant women, vulnerable children, families living in hardship, persons with a disability and senior citizens — have received help as part of the government response.
Overall, the discussions reinforced key regional lessons: shocks disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, informal workers are often left out of support mechanisms, established outreach and delivery channels to provide timely support are critical during crisis responses, and adaptive social protection approaches are essential to improving resilience in the face of future shocks.
Child benefit programmes are increasingly being used in the region, not just as financial support, but as a foundation for improving child wellbeing, strengthening families and building long-term human capital.
Papua New Guinea’s Child Nutrition and Social Protection (CNSP) project is a strong example. The project targets pregnant women and children under five through a multi-sectoral model that combines cash transfers, nutrition services and community outreach to improve caregiving practices and household wellbeing. It is currently being rolled out across four pilot provinces, enhancing government systems and partnerships with non-government organisations (NGOs) and development partners. The programme supports children by improving nutrition, food security and access to basic services, while also promoting financial inclusion, as beneficiaries open bank or mobile money accounts to receive regular payments. More broadly, the CNSP is contributing to stronger household resilience and early childhood development outcomes, demonstrating how social protection can be used as an entry point to improve child wellbeing in resource-constrained settings.
Another example can be found in the Cook Islands, which has a well-established universal child benefit scheme that includes a twice-monthly payment for all children from birth to age 17. This is enhanced by additional child and family supports such as a one-off newborn allowance payment, parental leave (maternity and paternity), free healthcare for children up to 16, welfare clinics for mothers and children, NGO-led parenting support programmes and disability support assistance for children.
Effective community consultation and strong collaboration across ministries and partners are essential to the success of child benefit programmes. Well-designed programmes are linked to health, education and early childhood development services, making long-term investments in human development and more resilient communities.
For some Pacific countries, digital technology is enabling stronger social protection systems, helping governments deliver support faster, more efficiently and with greater accountability. Reliable digital registries, supported by birth registration, identity verification and cross-checking across databases, improve the accuracy of beneficiary data, reduce duplication and errors, and help programmes better identify and reach vulnerable populations. In times of crisis and disaster, these systems also support rapid emergency response through faster payments and safer delivery mechanisms, while reducing delays, exclusion and risks, particularly for women and children.
To give an example, we heard how Kiribati is currently expanding the use of digital payment options for its beneficiaries. Through the introduction of mobile money wallets and digital payment systems, Kiribati is improving the accessibility, safety and security of payments for its beneficiaries. Despite challenges with internet access and limited financial infrastructure on remote outer islands, Kiribati is looking to further expand payment options so more of its populations can receive payments efficiently in future.
It is important to emphasise that digital systems need to be sustainable and locally owned, with government control over system design and source code, and investment in local capacity to maintain them. Combined with strong monitoring and evaluation, integrated data, interoperability and flexibility during shocks, digital technology helps social protection systems become more adaptable and ready to respond when needed.
When Reverend Havea argued that the coconut should replace bread and wine, he recognised that Pacific people have the wisdom, the frameworks and the authority to define what nourishment looks like in their own context. Government-led social protection systems rooted in the Pacific values of care, reciprocity and collective responsibility can help communities weather uncertainty and emerge stronger through the challenges ahead. The Community of Practice is a valuable mechanism for supporting Pacific countries as we design a response to our lived realities. The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent rightly recognises the importance of sustainable and inclusive national social protection systems that protect marginalised groups. Social protection is frequently portrayed as a safety net, but it is more than that. It is a practical investment in human development, inclusion and resilience. A coconut palm bending to share its fruit with us all…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
FAO Director-General calls for science and technology to bridge digital, rural and gender divides
ROME, 27 AUGUST 2026 (FAO) — The Asia-Pacific region must place science, technology and artificial intelligence at the centre of efforts to transform agrifood systems, while ensuring that innovation helps close – rather than widen – the digital, rural and gender divides, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu has said.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 11th APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting, the Director-General highlighted the region’s progress in reducing hunger while stressing the need for a new generation of agrifood systems that are more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.
Asia has made significant progress since the launch of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2025, the prevalence of undernourishment in the region was 25 percent lower than in 2015. Yet around 292 million people in Asia still face hunger, while nearly one third of the population cannot afford a healthy diet.
“This tells us something important: food security is about more than just producing enough food – it is about producing the right food, making it accessible and affordable, and doing so sustainably,” the Director-General said during panel session on high-quality agricultural and rural development in the Asia Pacific region.
He highlighted the potential of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, precision agriculture and smart machinery to open new frontiers in agriculture and rural development, while stressing that their benefits must reach rural communities and translate into better livelihoods, nutrition and resilience.
He called for diversified production, stronger local food systems, improved food safety and greater access to nutritious, affordable foods, alongside rural revitalisation through better infrastructure, digital connectivity, stronger value chains and greater opportunities for women and young people.
As the region undergoes rapid change, the Director-General called for stronger collaboration to connect science and knowledge with investment and practical solutions.
“FAO stands ready to contribute to this partnership through science, standards, data, policy expertise and practical experience from across the world,” he said.
Science, technology and inclusivity
During a second panel, focused on technological innovation and digital agriculture, the Director-General stressed that the transformation driven by science, technology and artificial intelligence must be inclusive.
“Science, technology and AI must not widen the triple divide – digital divide, rural divide, and gender divide – it must help close them,” he said.
He emphasised that the true measure of digital agriculture is not the sophistication of an algorithm, but whether innovation delivers tangible benefits for people and communities – enabling farmers to produce more with less, helping families access healthier food at affordable prices, strengthening rural communities against climate shocks and allowing agriculture to prosper without exhausting natural resources.
He called for AI to be harnessed as a “force multiplier”, turning vast amounts of data into practical decisions for producers and agrifood systems – from weather forecasting and early warning of pests and diseases to optimising irrigation and inputs, improving supply-chain efficiency and better matching supply with demand. “We can make use of AI, but we cannot eat AI,” he said.
The Director-General stressed that innovation should become a regional public good, with economies sharing data, knowledge, technologies, standards and good practices to accelerate adoption and bring solutions to scale. He also interpreted what “SMART” agriculture stands for, “s” for science driven, “m” for machine learning, “a” for AI, “r” for resilience and “t” for transformation of agrifood system.
His speeches came a day after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between FAO and Hunan Agricultural University, strengthening cooperation in food security, sustainable agricultural development, digital agriculture and South-South and Triangular cooperation…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
AUSTRAC strengthens Pacific capability to combat money laundering and organised crime
CANBERRA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (AUST GOVT) — AUSTRAC is strengthening the Pacific region’s ability to detect and disrupt money laundering and other serious financial crimes this month.
The two major training initiatives in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are supported by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The activities bring together financial intelligence practitioners from across the Pacific to build skills, strengthen cooperation and improve the use of financial intelligence to combat transnational crime.
The training forms part of AUSTRAC’s ongoing commitment to supporting Pacific partners to identify illicit financial flows, tackle emerging criminal threats and strengthen regional resilience against financial crime.
In Papua New Guinea, this work is being delivered under the Australia-PNG Bilateral Security Agreement as part of Australia’s broader efforts to support PNG’s responses to financial crime and anti-money laundering challenges.
AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said improving financial intelligence capabilities across the Pacific benefits both regional partners and Australia.
“Serious criminals do not respect borders,” Thomas said.
“By helping our Pacific partners strengthen their ability to detect and disrupt illicit financial activity, we’re making it harder for criminal networks to operate across the region.
“These programmes provide practical, real-world skills that help financial intelligence units and law enforcement agencies work together to identify criminal activity, follow the money and protect our communities.”
AUSTRAC delivered an intensive four-day International Financial Intelligence Tradecraft Training programme in Papua New Guinea from 3 to 6 August.
Using realistic, simulated case studies based on real-world money laundering typologies, the programme gave participants hands-on experience in analysing financial intelligence and presenting investigative findings. Analysts, police, prosecutors and anti-corruption agencies worked together to use financial intelligence across the country’s anti-money laundering regime.
The training supports PNG authorities to better detect, investigate and disrupt money laundering and other serious financial crimes.
AUSTRAC developed the training specifically for international Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) counterparts.
“This training forms part of Australia’s support to Papua New Guinea under the Bilateral Security Agreement and supports PNG’s efforts to strengthen its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime,” Thomas said.
“By improving the use of financial intelligence in criminal investigations, it helps PNG authorities better detect, investigate and disrupt financial crime,”
Participants said the course was interactive, practical and directly relevant to their everyday work and that scenarios challenged them to think differently and strengthen their analytical skills.
They also said the course improved relationships across agencies and will help them work together more effectively in the future.
Last week AUSTRAC brought together representatives from 12 Pacific financial intelligence units in iara, Solomon Islands, for a five-day cryptocurrency tracing and intelligence-writing course.
The specialised training from 17 to 21 August helped participants identify and investigate illicit activity involving virtual assets, using open-source tools.
The Solomon Islands course is the first time AUSTRAC has delivered a formal structured training programme in the country and reflects the growing importance of regional cooperation in addressing emerging financial crime threats.
Thomas said the cryptocurrency course helped Pacific partners build capability in an increasingly important area of financial crime.
“The use of virtual assets is growing across the world, including in the Pacific, and criminal groups are increasingly looking for new ways to move and conceal illicit funds,” Thomas said.
“By equipping financial intelligence officers with the skills to trace cryptocurrency transactions, we’re helping ensure Pacific countries can respond to emerging threats and keep pace with rapidly changing technologies.”
The Solomon Islands programme builds on AUSTRAC’s broader training pathway for Pacific financial intelligence units, which starts with foundational financial intelligence skills and progresses to advanced and specialised capabilities.
Many of the participants attending the iara course previously completed AUSTRAC’s Financial Intelligence Analyst Course delivered in late 2025.
AUSTRAC delivers multiple training and capability-building activities across the region each year, helping strengthen regional cooperation and improve the collective response to money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious crime threats…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Recycling Accountability Must Go Beyond Collection
SUVA, 27 AUGUST 2026 (PACIFIC RECYCLING FOUNDATION) — The Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) is raising concerns about accountability across Fiji’s waste management and recycling sectors, particularly as reported cases of illegal dumping continue to raise questions about what happens to materials after they are collected.
As more businesses and organisations engage companies to collect their recyclables, PRF believes there must be greater transparency and accountability to ensure that materials presented for recycling are actually handled, processed and recovered through genuine recycling pathways.
PRF has observed a growing need for greater clarity between waste collection services and genuine recycling operations. Collecting and transporting recyclable materials does not, on its own, constitute recycling. PRF is therefore encouraging businesses and organisations to carry out due diligence when selecting recycling providers, including requesting evidence of their recycling track record, processing systems and what ultimately happens to the materials collected.
PRF Founder Amitesh Deo says it is concerning to see recycling being used as a description for services that may only involve the collection and transportation of materials.
He says if a company presents itself as a recycling organisation, there should be evidence to support that claim including a clear pathway showing what happens to the materials after they are collected.
“We cannot call something recycling if the material ultimately ends up being dumped up at landfills or disposed off illegally,” says Deo.
Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited (WRFL) Manager Operations and Strategic Growth, Vinil Prasad says we have been collecting and processing recyclables for more than 32 years. “Our work has always covered a wide range of materials, including different types of plastics, plastic containers, PET bottles, tin cans, cardboard, e-waste, scrap metal and many other recyclable materials.
Recycling is not simply about collecting something and taking it away, there needs to be a system and a pathway for what happens to that material afterwards,” says Prasad.
“In some instances, recyclable materials collected for recovery have reportedly ended up being illegally dumped, with evidence of such practices appearing on social media.”
PRF believes that genuine recycling must be understood as a complete chain:
Change in Behaviour → Accessibility to Programmes → Collection Systems → Actual and Real Recycling Processes → Social Justice and Economic Empowerment to CPRs → Data and Measured Changes
The organisation is also concerned that, as recycling becomes a growing part of Fiji’s waste management landscape, more waste management companies are increasingly presenting themselves as recyclers. While collection is an important part of the recycling process, PRF believes there is a need to distinguish between collecting recyclable materials and having the systems, experience and capacity to actually recycle them.
PRF is encouraging businesses and organisations to look beyond collection when selecting recycling providers and ask for evidence of their recycling track record — including what they process, where materials go and what happens after collection.
The question should not simply be, “Who can collect our recyclables?” but “Who can demonstrate what happens to them after collection?”
PRF Founder Amitesh Deo says accountability must extend across the entire recycling chain.
“If materials are collected for recycling, responsibility cannot end when they are taken away. There must be accountability for what happens next.”
The responsibility does not end at the gate
PRF is calling on businesses, resorts, institutions and government agencies to exercise due diligence when selecting recycling providers and ask where materials go, how they are processed and whether they actually enter a recycling pathway.
Recycling cannot mean moving the problem elsewhere
“Recycling should not mean moving materials from one place to another without knowing what happens to them,” Deo says. “We cannot call something recycling simply because a truck collected it.”
PRF encourages organisations to ask:
• Who is collecting our recyclables?
• Where do they go?
• How are they processed?
• Can the company prove they are actually being recycled?
Recycling is not simply about collection. It is about what happens next…. PACNEWS
