In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Expert says one year after landmark climate ruling, Pacific children still waiting for change
2. PACIFIC — Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations discusses Indo-Pacific Security at East-West Centre
3. SOL — Calls to revoke Solomons MPs pay rise
4. PACIFIC — New Pacific paper calls land a growing fault line for peace and security
5. SOL — Acting PM Lilo receives Communist Party of China delegation in courtesy visit
6. FIJI— Work to begin on removing first set of derelict vessels from Suva Harbour
7. PACNEWS BIZ — Energy crisis could cost Tonga budget up to TOP50 million
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji PM joins IFAD at launch of new US$24 million programme to boost rural incomes and restore ecosystems
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Proposed Bill gives Commission wider search powers
10. PACNEWS DIGEST — The Nakamal Agreement has been signed, but at what cost?
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — How Pacific practices are shaping climate education for future generations
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PMN PACNEWS 1: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Expert says one year after landmark climate ruling, Pacific children still waiting for change
AUCKLAND, 27 JULY 2026 (PMN)—A year after the world’s highest court confirmed countries have a legal duty to protect the climate, Save the Children New Zealand (STC) says Pacific children are still living with the daily impacts of a crisis they did little to create.
The landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 23 July 2025 was driven by Pacific leadership after a campaign launched by 27 law students at the University of the South Pacific and championed by the Vanuatu government.
The ICJ confirmed that protecting the climate system is a binding legal obligation under customary international law.
Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Heather Campbell, the Chief Executive of STC New Zealand, said the ruling was a major step forward but it has not yet changed life for many children across the Pacific.
“The ICJ ruling confirmed that protecting the climate isn’t optional for countries. That it’s not a matter of goodwill or ‘maybe we should do something’, but that absolutely governments have an obligation to act and protect children,” Campbell says.
“What has changed is a growing international recognition of that obligation. We’ve seen organisations like the UN endorse that decision.
“On the other hand, the reality for children is that climate change and climate crisis hasn’t paused for an international legal ruling.”
Campbell said the effects of climate change continue to disrupt children’s education and wellbeing across the region.
In Vanuatu, where communities regularly face cyclones, earthquakes, floods and volcanic activity, schools can remain damaged for months.
Campbell said some children are forced to learn in tents because permanent classrooms cannot be rebuilt before another disaster strikes.
She said legal victories must now be matched by practical action and investment to help communities adapt.
One example is Vanuatu’s first climate-resilient container classroom, built at a cost of NZ$100,000(US$57,000) to withstand Category 5 cyclones and provide a safer place for children to continue learning after disasters.
The anniversary of the ICJ ruling has also prompted renewed calls from Pacific leaders to turn legal recognition into action.
Speaking during a webinar hosted by Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), Vanuatu’s High Commissioner Viranria Brown said communities were not waiting for global processes and were already drawing on traditional knowledge and local innovation to build resilience.
Alofipo So’oalo Fleur Ramsay, an international human rights lawyer, says the success of the advisory opinion by the ICJ would ultimately be measured by its impact on frontline communities.
“The influence of the ICJ [Advisory Opinion] on climate litigation is still being shaped. My concern for the ICJ advisory opinion is that it be used in a way which does not undermine this course correction,” Alofipo says.
She says legal campaigns must reflect the actual lived experience of Pacific communities that have already suffered severe and irreversible harm for decades at temperatures well below 1.5 degrees.
Vishal Prasad, the Director of PISFCC, says the ICJ ruling would only make a lasting difference if governments were held accountable.
Prasad says youth across the Blue Pacific would continue pushing world leaders to turn to the world court’s landmark decision into meaningful protection for frontline island communities.
Fiji’s Environment Permanent Secretary, Dr Sivendra Michael, says the advisory opinion gives the region structural legal power, establishing the 1.5 degree temperature guardrail as settled law.
“The Pacific no longer negotiates on the basis of a moral appeal, vulnerability or charity. We negotiate on the basis of the law,” Michael says.
Professor Jane Kelsey, a legal scholar, warns that policy choices in New Zealand threaten to undermine these international breakthroughs.
In an analysis on proposed domestic legislation granting emissions immunity to major polluters, Kelsey points out the stark contradiction of passing regressive environmental laws while endorsing international court rulings.
She warns that attempting to insulate domestic emitters from legal accountability risks damaging New Zealand’s international credibility and puts key trade relationships with the European Union in jeopardy.
For Save the Children, the message one year on is simple: the legal victory has been won, but Pacific children are still waiting for that victory to be felt where it matters most – in their classrooms, their communities and their future……PACNEWS
PAC – SECURITY MEET: EAST WEST CENTRE PACNEWS 1: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations discusses Indo-Pacific Security at East-West Centre
HONOLULU, 27 JULY 2026 (EAST WEST CENTRE) —- Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations, spoke at a roundtable discussion at the East-West Centre during a visit to Honolulu for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026.
Australian Consul-General in Honolulu Greg Wilcock moderated the discussion, which brought together defence, diplomatic, academic, industry, and regional leaders to discuss the future of Indo-Pacific security, Pacific engagement, leadership development, and strategic dialogue.
“Security, economic resilience, emerging technologies, critical infrastructure, and disaster preparedness are interconnected challenges that require cross-disciplinary solutions,” said East-West Centre President Celeste Connors during her opening remarks.
“At the East-West Centre, we often speak about economic security as a foundation for regional stability. Today’s conversation is an important reminder that security and prosperity are mutually reinforcing, and that neither can be achieved without strong partnerships.”
Vice Admiral Jones described the Pacific region as Australia’s primary area of military interest within its global theater with hundreds of operations, activities, and other investments. He discussed the importance of an “integrated defence” not just between the Australian Navy, Army, and Air Force, but also Australian public servants and private contractors.
“Defence needs to be seen more as a whole-of-government endeavor rather than just something the Department of Defence does,” said Jones.
He went on to describe deterrence as “changing the calculus of adversaries such that they believe that investment in war or other activities is not worth the initial outlay.”
While he noted that establishing credibility and capability are central to the idea, Jones underscored the importance of the ‘cognitive’ aspects of deterrence. That is, viewing issues through the mindset of target audiences, adversaries, and competitors can inform strategic action to shift perceptions as necessary.
In turn, he noted that messaging around exercises like RIMPAC should emphasise not only the convening power of the United States, the U.S Pacific Command (PACOM), and the Pacific Fleet, but also the collective power of a coalition of 30 nations with more than 40,000 personnel coming together to rehearse warfighting functions—a dramatic evolution from the six nations involved during Jones’s first RIMPAC in 1990.
He further discussed how other joint exercises like Talisman Sabre have similarly evolved over his career to be designed around training objectives set by the now 19 participating nations, asserting that these coalitions of allies and like-minded partners are valuable in deterrence messaging.
“Our National Defence Strategy has made it very clear that a defining feature of our environment is U.S-China competition,” said Jones. “We are on the periphery of that as an ally of the US and a contributor and participant in the region.”
Jones acknowledged Australian commentary questioning the country’s involvement in the South China Sea, noting that 60 percent of Australia’s trade moves through that region. Thus, he argued that it is in Australia’s interest to contribute to “the global good that is maritime security” to protect Australia’s economy and prosperity.
In addition to highlighting strong relationships with Southeast Asia and Japan, Jones discussed how Australia’s bilateral arrangements with various Pacific Island countries have also been designed to be mutually beneficial.
He highlighted Operation Solania, which coordinates with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency on maritime surveillance and patrol operations. These operations aim to detect and deter illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing activity, thus protecting and supporting the economic development of Pacific Island countries.
“We see no credibility in an Australia-centred Pacific region. When we talk about security arrangements in the region – ‘Pacific solutions to Pacific security problems’ channeled through the Pacific Islands Forum – we mean it, because we see that as much more sustainable over the long term,” said Jones.
“Australia might be providing a good deal of the ‘software’ and occasionally the ‘hardware,’ but we want that collectively to be owned by the Pacific Island countries.”
Jones went on to discuss how Australia cooperates with Pacific Island countries on shared challenges related to natural disasters in the region via the Pacific Response Group formed in 2024 by the South Pacific Defence Ministers Meeting.
He described the Pacific Response Group as a body of people from militaries across the region, particularly in the southwest Pacific, designed to rapidly deploy as a planning team in the event of a natural disaster. Initially hosted and led by Australia and now New Zealand, he noted that the hope would be to hand leadership over to the Pacific to ensure that it remains Pacific-centric and responsive to the needs of Pacific nations.
“One thing that gives me confidence is everything I see here at RIMPAC,” said Jones.
“Nations working together in like-minded coalitions give me a lot of confidence that we’re absolutely on the right track and working with the right people that are invested in the security of our region, which is to everyone’s benefit,” said Jones……PACNEWS
SOL – PAY HIKE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Calls to revoke Solomons MPs pay rise
HONIARA, 27 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —A civil society organisation in Solomon Islands has called for a pay raise for Members of Parliament to be revoked.
Transparency Solomon Islands said the decisions to increase salaries for MPs failed to reflect the economic challenges facing ordinary Solomon Islanders.
InDepth Solomons reported that Transparency Solomon Islands described the increase as placing an unfair burden on taxpayers at a time when families across the country continued to struggle with rising costs.
Prime Minister Matthew Wale, who was a fierce critic of government spending when he was in the Opposition, also received a salary rise.
On his election earlier this year, Wale said MPs were servants of the people, not their masters. But Transparency Solomon Islands said the pay rise did not reflect this position.
MPs have defended the raise, saying it was approved by the Public Emoluments Committee which had powers to make these changes. But critics have described the explanation as insufficient.
“Just because they have the power doesn’t mean they should do it,” one critic said.
This is the second pay rise for Solomon Islands MPs in two years…PACNEWS
PAC – PEACE /SECURITY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Mon 27 Jul 2026
New Pacific paper calls land a growing fault line for peace and security
CANBERRA, 27N JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Land governance must return to the centre of Pacific security policy as climate change, displacement and pressure on arable land intensify risks to social cohesion and sovereignty.
The paper from the Pacific Security College was authored by Dr Anna Naupa, Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
Titled “Land: a fault line for Pacific peace and security?”, the paper argues that land has been sidelined in regional security debates even as rising seas, changing coastlines and food insecurity make it a growing source of instability.
“Land is becoming a critical security issue,” said Naupa, who was a Senior Research and Engagement Fellow at the Pacific Security College.
“It underpins identity, livelihoods, governance and community cohesion, yet it has become increasingly absent from regional security discussions.”
Naupa said the omission had created “a vacuum in regard to regional land policy” and called for land governance to be restored as a core part of peace and security planning in the Pacific.
Her paper urged regional leaders to refocus on land as central to Pacific identity and belonging, reintroduce land governance into peace and security discussions, and use the proposed Regional Peace and Security Action Plan to formally recognise plural land governance systems.
It also called for the Pacific Security Outlook Report to spotlight land policy concerns more regularly.
The report includes commentary from four regional experts, who warn that climate stress, urbanisation, tourism development and population growth are putting increasing pressure on land and food systems.
Karen Mapusua, director of the Land Resources Division at the Pacific Community, said donor agencies and policy makers often treat land as an economic asset rather than a foundation of identity.
“Pacific peoples, however, have long understood land as something far more elemental: not as an asset to be exploited, but the very ground of identity and belonging,” she said.
Mapusua also warned that food insecurity can fuel instability. “Food insecurity and hunger are drivers of social unrest,” she said.
“When people cannot feed themselves, and cannot afford healthy imported alternatives, the crisis is real.”
George Hoa’au, permanent secretary of Solomon Islands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, said regional policy makers should draw more heavily on national land policies already in place across the Pacific.
“We need more regional knowledge exchange so we can learn from each other,” he said. “They are not abstract practices; they are already happening. But our regional security efforts must catch up.”
Vehia Wheeler, a Ma’ohi Nui scholar and environmental and cultural consultant at Sustainable Oceania Solutions, pointed to the legacy of nuclear testing and displacement in parts of the region.
“Without secure, healthy land and ocean space for people to practice traditional management, agriculture and fishing, we create vulnerable societies,” Wheeler said.
Dr Akka Rimon, a senior research fellow at the Pacific Security College, said land remained “the spiritual, relational and cultural foundation of society.”
Rimon said that as climate impacts deepened and mobility pressures rose, the region faced “mounting challenges of land scarcity, contested tenure and undermined sovereignty.”
“Naupa’s call to foreground land-rooted security is therefore both timely and urgent,” she said…..PACNEWS
SOL – DIPLOMACY: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 1: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Acting PM Lilo receives Communist Party of China delegation in courtesy visit
HONIARA, 27 JULY 2026 (SOL GOVT) —Solomon Islands Acting Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo received a delegation from the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) last Friday.
Led by Zhao Hongtao, Deputy Director General of the CPC International Department, the delegation is in the country to enhance political party exchanges between the Solomon Islands and China.
During discussions, both leaders reaffirmed their desire to share experiences and success stories in party development and to strengthen party collaboration.
They acknowledged differences in party systems, ideologies and practices between the two countries, but noted shared interests in learning from each other’s successes.
Acting Prime Minister Lilo said the Solomon Islands operates a multi-party system, in contrast to China’s single-party system.
“What matters is that Solomon Islands parties can learn from the success of the CPC in governing and building China into one of the successful and strong nations in the world today,” Lilo said.
“I have read some literature about the rise of China, and I truly admire the philosophies and strategies that it took to build China into one of the successful and strong nations in the world now.”
Beyond the party system, Lilo said the Solomon Islands is a friend of China and is willing to learn from China’s economic growth and its achievements in lifting millions of people out of poverty.
He reaffirmed the Solomon Islands’ commitment to respect and uphold the One China Principle, stating that China’s territorial integrity must be respected and upheld.
Deputy Director General Zhao Hongtao shared the CPC’s experiences and successes, and highlighted the Party’s willingness to collaborate and support party development in the Solomon Islands.
Zhao acknowledged and appreciates different context of both countries party system and reaffirm deep respect on Solomon Islands multi-party system.
He said the success of the CPC is defined by its long-term political stability and its ability to engineer an unprecedented economic and social transformation, transitioning China from an impoverished agrarian society into the world’s second-largest economy.
“Our vision is to share our experience and success to help others succeed in their aspirations and to contribute towards building a harmonious world for everyone,” Zhao said……PACNEWS
FIJI – DERELICT VESSELS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Work to begin on removing first set of derelict vessels from Suva Harbour
SUVA, 27 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Work will soon begin to remove the first three of 17 derelict vessels from Suva Harbour after the Fiji Derelict Vessel Removal Project Governance Committee approved the next phase of the long-awaited clean-up.
The decision follows a meeting of the Governance Committee last week, paving the way for the first removals under the Captain Johnathan Smith Fund as part of a coordinated effort to restore the harbour.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Dr Lesikimacuata Korovavala said the committee had ensured the necessary planning and preparations were completed before work began.
“This has been a long time coming, but we had to ensure the right foundation was laid for such an undertaking to stand on,” Dr Korovavala said.
“The Captain Johnathan Smith Fund is carrying on the legacy of an esteemed member of our society, in the hope that the future will be a bit brighter for those who watch the sunlight reflecting on the Suva Harbour,” Dr Korovavala added.
The committee meeting followed the finalisation of an operational agreement outlining how the clean-up will be managed by the Government of Fiji, the Joint Maritime Environment Committee, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited, the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, the Waitt Institute and Blue Prosperity Fiji.
Fiji Ports Corporation Limited will lead all operational aspects of the project, including overseeing approved contractors responsible for cleaning and scuttling the vessels in accordance with Fiji’s legal requirements.
Under established protocols, vessels will only be scuttled after meeting strict cleaning and safety standards jointly certified by the Department of Environment and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji. The scuttling sites must also be approved by MSAF.
The removal programme will be carried out in stages, with vessels prioritised according to safety and operational feasibility.
The Fiji Government will oversee and coordinate the project through the Joint Maritime Environment Committee, while the Waitt Foundation has contributed US$1 million to establish the Captain Johnathan Smith Fund.
Blue Prosperity Fiji is supporting coordination among partners and linking the initiative to Fiji’s broader ocean management and Marine Spatial Planning goals.
Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael said the project would deliver environmental and public safety benefits.
“For far too long, these abandoned vessels have posed risks to traditional custodians, marine ecosystems, navigation and public safety, and their removal is helping to restore the ecological integrity,” Dr Michael said……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
TONGA – ENERGY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Energy crisis could cost Tonga budget up to TOP50 million
NUKU’ALOFA, 27 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Middle East tensions could cost Tonga’s national budget between TOP40 million and TOP50 million, as higher fuel prices and possible supply disruptions put fresh pressure on the economy.
The warning is contained in the National Budget Statement FY2027, which says rising fuel prices, temporary fuel management measures and possible supply disruptions are expected to affect activity across several sectors, particularly transport and other fuel-dependent industries.
In more severe scenarios, a prolonged disruption could cut economic output sharply, with Tonga’s GDP projected to contract by around 4.0 percent.
The budget says that would be deeper than the decline recorded during the COVID-19 period.
“The indicative fiscal envelope for the energy crisis is estimated to range from approximately TOP11.0 million (US$4.19 million) to near or over TOP120.0 million (US$50.31 million) depending on the severity and duration of the disruption, based on the latest GDP projections,” the budget stated.
Fuel prices have climbed sharply since April, squeezing household budgets and adding pressure to government finances.
Supply conditions also remain uncertain as geopolitical developments continue around the Strait of Hormuz.
Tonga’s domestic onshore fuel storage capacity is estimated to cover about two weeks of demand, while offshore reserves in Fiji provide an additional buffer of up to two months.
Excise tax collections are also expected to fall after two consecutive fuel price increases in April and May reduced demand. For FY2027, the central scenario estimates a full-year impact equivalent to a 10.0 percent decline in excise revenue compared with normal conditions.
In a worst-case scenario, the fall in excise tax collections could push the domestic revenue-to-GDP ratio close to, or potentially below, the benchmark level of 22.0 percent.
The energy crisis is also expected to cause an estimated TOP14 million (US$5.87 million) decline in government revenue in the 2026/2027 financial year, bringing the total cost to the national budget to between TOP40 million (US$16.77 million) and TOP50 million (US$20.6 million).
To manage the pressure, government may need to draw on development partner support, domestic borrowing, cash reserves and potentially a Supplementary Budget.
Government has allocated TOP31.8 millionUS$13.33 million) in targeted FY2027 funding measures to support its emergency response to fuel disruptions and other unforeseen events.
FY2027 carries a budget deficit of TOP38.1 million (US$15.97 million). It will be financed through TOP35 million in new domestic bond issuance and a TOP3.1 million (US$1.29 million) drawdown from government cash reserves.
The 2026/2027 Government Budget was passed by the Legislative Assembly of Tonga on 18 June. The total budget stands at TOP949.4 million (US$398 million), comprising TOP735.2 million (US$308 million) in cash and TOP214.2 million (US$89 million) in in-kind contributions committed by development partners…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AGRICULTURE: IFAD PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Fiji PM joins IFAD at launch of new US$24 million programme to boost rural incomes and restore ecosystems
SUVA, 27 JULY 2026 (IFAD)—The Fiji Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), launched the Fiji Blue Economy and Green Community Development Programme (BE-GREEN).
This US$24.26 million multi-phased adaptive investment programme will support rural communities across Vanua Levu – Fiji’s second-largest island – to move from subsistence farming to profitable, market-oriented businesses like agroforestry, seaweed farming, and eco-tourism, while actively restoring local ecosystems.
Speaking in the iTaukei language at the launch, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said: “The government’s National Development Plan 2025–2029 and Vision 2050 is anchored in a simple but powerful promise: to empower the people of Fiji through unity, opportunity and responsible leadership. That means growing the economy, protecting our environment, strengthening good governance, and ensuring that national development reaches the villages, settlements and islands where our people live and work. BE-GREEN is part of that promise being put into action.”
The launch marks an important milestone in Fiji’s partnership with IFAD and signals the start of a new phase of support for rural communities, farmers, fishers, women, youth and Indigenous Peoples.
IFAD’s Associate Vice President for the Department of Country Operations, Donal Brown, said: “IFAD is proud to partner with the Government of Fiji on BE-GREEN. This programme brings together investment in people, production, markets and ecosystems, and demonstrates how rural families can boost their incomes by restoring nature, ensuring that economic growth—from agriculture to agri-tourism—protects the forests, freshwater, and coastal reefs that Fijians rely on for their future.”
Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways & Sugar Industry, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and other national and local partners, BE-GREEN will focus on community-led business and environmental plans by providing economic incentives for activities such as restoring degraded forests, coastal mangroves, and abandoned sugarcane fields and developing profitable commercial supply chains for cocoa, root crops, beekeeping, and marine products like seaweed and sea grapes.
It will provide matching grants to help rural entrepreneurs and cooperatives invest in eco-tourism, primary processing, and value-added agricultural products. BE-GREEN will also test a pilot programme with the Reserve Bank of Fiji to help families turn migration remittances into productive rural savings and investments.
The first phase of the programme is expected to directly benefit approximately 6,550 households, reaching around 39,300 people, with a strong focus on women, youth and iTaukei (indigenous Fijian) communities.
BE-GREEN is aligned with IFAD’s recently launched Pacific Islands Regional Strategic Opportunities Programme (RESOP), which guides IFAD’s investment and engagement to address shared challenges of rural poverty, food insecurity, climate vulnerability, and geographic isolation across 13 Pacific Island Countries through 2033.
IFAD has mobilised a total of US$557 million – including US$194 million financed through the Fund’s own loans and grants – through its four-decade engagement in the Pacific, reaching 1 million people across the region……PACNEWS
FIJI- COMPETITION & CONSUMER BILL: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Proposed Bill gives Commission wider search powers
SUVA, 27 JULY 2026 (FIJI TIMES) —The proposed Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission Bill 2026 would grant the Commission expanded powers to enter and search premises, seize evidence and access computers during investigations, as nationwide public consultations continue.
Under the draft legislation, Commission officers would be permitted to enter and search premises with the consent of the occupier, under a court-issued warrant, or without a warrant in urgent circumstances where there are reasonable grounds to believe evidence could be lost or destroyed.
The Bill would also allow Commission officers to search individuals in public places without a warrant if they reasonably believe it is urgently necessary to prevent the destruction or loss of documents or other evidence relating to an alleged breach of the law.
The proposed powers are designed to strengthen the Commission’s ability to investigate anti-competitive conduct and consumer protection offences.
During a search, Commission officers would be authorised to use reasonable force to enter premises where legally permitted, examine documents or other items, take photographs or video recordings, and undertake any action reasonably necessary to carry out the investigation.
The legislation would also require occupants to provide officers with full and unrestricted access while a lawful search is being conducted.
Anyone who obstructs or interferes with a Commission search could face significant penalties.
Individuals convicted of obstruction could be fined up to $50,000(US$25,000), jailed for up to 10 years, or both, while companies could face fines of up to $500,000(US$250,000).
The Bill also recognises the growing importance of digital evidence by giving Commission officers the authority to use computers and other electronic devices found during a search.
Where officers have reasonable grounds to believe it is necessary, they would be able to operate computers to locate, examine and copy electronic documents, provided doing so would not damage the equipment or stored information.
The proposed powers would also extend to documents that can be lawfully accessed through a computer, including records stored remotely at another location.
The nationwide consultation process, that starts today gives businesses, consumers, legal practitioners and other stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed legislation before it is finalised……PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Nakamal Agreement has been signed, but at what cost?
By Siobhan McDonnell
SYDNEY, 27 JULY 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) —In the last fortnight the Australian government has loudly celebrated the signing of two new security treaties in the Melanesian region. The first, the Nakamal Agreement, was signed with Vanuatu, with both prime ministers meeting before the assembled parliamentary press in Canberra on 29 June 2026.
The second, the Ocean of Peace Alliance, was signed with Fiji on 06 July. Australia’s motivation for signing these security agreements has always been clear: they reflect its broader strategic interest in maintaining its regional security role to the exclusion of other international players (read China). What has been less clear is the cost to Australia of pursuing these security agreements as its single-minded diplomatic strategy, when the complex geopolitics of the region is in play.
This was not the first signing, nor the first mention, of the Nakamal Agreement. Readers might remember the iconic August 2025 images of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles with Ministers Pat Conroy and Penny Wong on one side of the table on the slopes of the Mount Yasur volcano on the island of Tanna, and Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koanapo flanked by Ministers Ralph Regenvanu and Andrew Napuat. This was supposed to be the occasion of a provisional agreement on $500 million of Australian funding for Vanuatu over ten years, as reported by the ABC at the time. It turned out that the Vanuatu government was not ready to sign due to concerns about sovereignty and control over critical infrastructure, and negotiations between the countries continued.
Diplomatic relations became further strained in 2026, as the Australian government decided to apply additional pressure to Vanuatu to sign the Nakamal Agreement. In my role as an adviser to the Vanuatu government, senior government representatives have told me that Australia has withheld sectoral funding usually released as part of the budget cycle, along with funding for ongoing in-country placements and for a long-announced renewable energy program. The Australian government curtailed diplomatic relations, with the Australian High Commissioner no longer meeting Vanuatu government ministers. In addition, the announcement of the Australian Pacific Engagement Visa ballot listed the Pacific countries eligible for the visa but specifically excluded Vanuatu, a country that has long been a major contributor to the Pacific seasonal worker scheme.
Ultimately the strategy of making many aspects of the Australia-Vanuatu relationship contingent on the signing of the Nakamal Agreement appears to have worked, and the treaty has been signed. But this was a high-stakes approach, and while the Australian government may have gained a treaty, the question remains: when you strong-arm a country into a treaty, what is the geopolitical trade-off?
The term nakamal is defined in the treaty as “a traditional meeting place where community and its leaders discuss, consult, make decisions and resolve points of difference with mutual respect, trust and understanding”. Locally, nakamals are often called the house of the chief. To close a nakamal so that no meetings can occur inside and no one can enter, two large namale (cycad leaf fronds) are laid across the pathway to the door. It then becomes tabu (prohibited) to pass inside. The Vanuatu government’s naming of a parallel agreement with the Chinese government the “Namale Agreement” was no accident: it was a signal that the country’s sovereignty and its enduring commitment to geopolitical neutrality must be respected.
The most important clauses of the “Nakamal Agreement” are Article 7: Security and Stability and Article 8: Resilient Infrastructure. While the preamble to these articles speaks to “co-operation” and “equal partnership”, the operative clauses underneath effectively bind Vanuatu to act in a particular way, drafted in mandatory language requiring that Vanuatu “shall” act to do certain things. Article 7(3): “To reinforce Pacific collective security and sovereignty Vanuatu shall not permit its territory to be used for any foreign military base or infrastructure”. Article 7(4): “Vanuatu shall prioritise any policing request to Pacific Islands Forum members”. Article 8(2)(a): “Vanuatu agrees that its critical infrastructure shall remain free from militarisation, any form of foreign interference or unauthorised access”.
What becomes clear when reading these clauses is that all obligations are placed on Vanuatu and no reciprocal obligations are placed on Australia. So apparently “to reinforce Pacific collective security and sovereignty” Vanuatu “shall not” permit its territory to be used for any foreign military base or infrastructure. Australia meanwhile continues to allow United States joint military facilities at Pine Gap, Shoal Bay, Kojarena, North West Cape, RAAF Base Edinburgh and HMAS Harman. Similarly, the Australian government entered into the AUKUS agreement without any intention of alerting the Pacific leadership. These concepts of security are neo-colonial with very little reference to the concerns, or the agenda of Vanuatu or the broader “Pacific collective security” as named in the agreement.
In Vanuatu, the final and most controversial part of the Nakamal Agreement’s critical infrastructure clause has been the requirement that: “Vanuatu agrees to consult Australia on proposed third party engagement in Vanuatu’s critical infrastructure” and that “As part of consultations … Australia shall provide Vanuatu with technical advice and practical support”. While the clause does not expressly provide Australia with a veto, it has generated extensive domestic debate over the extent to which it could affect Vanuatu’s sovereign decision-making. These concerns have prompted Prime Minister Napat publicly to emphasise that the Agreement does not diminish Vanuatu’s sovereignty, arguing that: “Consultation does not mean permission. Consultation does not mean approval. At the end of the day, Vanuatu has the sovereign right to decide what is in its best interests.”
The Nakamal Agreement itself could have been something better. The Agreement has clauses that speak to other more relational, careful diplomatic practices that could have been pursued as a way to forge ties between Vanuatu and Australia, and to build rather than test concepts of “Pacific family”. Many of these priorities were adroitly identified by ni-Vanuatu scholar Anna Naupa in the lead-up to the release of the Nakamal Agreement, and include Indigenous engagement, economic transformation and climate cooperation, to which I would add humanitarian partnerships. On these fronts, nothing new has been delivered. The announced $500 million (US$349 million) over 10 years is a continuation, orin fact a real-terms reduction, of the current allocation: Australia’s bilateral Official Development Assistance to Vanuatu in 2024-25 was $50 million, and in 2025-26 and 2026-27 is again projected to be $50 million (US$34.96 million).
In relation to climate change, Article 4 of the Nakamal Agreement reiterates existing commitments and includes specific reference to the preservation of maritime zones and statehood “notwithstanding climate change-related sea level rise”. This clause, while seen as particularly important to Pacific atoll states, is also viewed as vital by Australia for preventing any further encroachment by China into maritime zones as sea levels rise.
Article 5 of the Agreement requires that Vanuatu shall seek the assistance of the France, Australia, New Zealand (FRANZ) trilateral cooperation arrangement in the context of a disaster before it can request assistance from a third party. I only hope that this process is managed in a timely manner, to ensure that the ni-Vanuatu are ensured the best available humanitarian support in the fastest possible timeframe.
In speaking to the Vanuatu public about the Nakamal Agreement, Prime Minister Napat said, “We do not take sides. We will always defend what is in the best interests of Vanuatu as a sovereign country.” Australia has rolled its diplomatic dice and secured the Nakamal Agreement. It is a high-stakes strategy and in the process it appears that Australia might have sacrificed a significant amount of goodwill for the sake of a single treaty. Time will tell whether the treaty is a worthwhile diplomatic outcome. But namale leaves may yet block the pathways to nakamals……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
How Pacific practices are shaping climate education for future generations
Through the Climate-Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI), UNESCO is supporting Pacific Island countries in strengthening climate education while building on the values and practices that have guided communities for generations.
SUVA, 27 JULY 2026 (UNESCO)—In Indigenous Fijian culture, curui refers to the practice of repairing a woven mat or a canoe sail. But curui is more than repair. It is a way of strengthening something for the future while preserving its original purpose and value. For Pacific educators, curui offers a powerful way to think about education, highlighting how learning systems can build on existing knowledge, cultural practices and community values to help learners navigate a changing climate.
These values are important because they make us who we are. Without these values woven into pedagogy, assessment and the content of what is taught in school, we will not be able to achieve the skills that we want our students to have.
Building on this, educators, curriculum specialists and policymakers from across the Pacific Islands are working together to explore how climate education and life skills can help learners respond to the challenges facing their communities.
Preparing learners for a changing climate
Across the Pacific, climate change is creating new challenges for education systems. According to UNICEF, 3.8 million school-aged children in the region are at risk of missing out on education because of climate change. As countries seek to prepare young people for these realities, educators are exploring how climate education can help learners develop the knowledge, skills and values needed to thrive in a changing world.
Through the Climate-Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI), funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), UNESCO supports countries in integrating climate change and education for sustainable development into curricula, pedagogy and teacher training. By engaging in curriculum mapping, peer exchange and action planning, countries are identifying practical ways to strengthen climate education within their own contexts.
Rooted in Pacific values and practices
In the Pacific, this work is closely linked to the Pacific Employability, Transferable and All-Life Skills (PETALS) framework, which promotes the development of skills and competencies grounded in Pacific values. These include respect, reciprocity, humility, integrity, unity, spirituality, resourcefulness and empathy.
By grounding education in these values and ensuring that children carry them with them, we help them survive and thrive in whatever context they choose to live and work in later in life.
The initiative also draws on Pacific approaches to learning and collaboration. Through concepts such as curui and veitalanoa, participants shared experiences, reflected on common challenges and explored ways to strengthen climate education within their own contexts.
From regional dialogue to local action
For many education stakeholders, the focus is now on turning these ideas into action. In Tonga, these discussions are contributing to efforts to explicitly integrate climate change into teacher education programmes. In Vanuatu, the accreditation review of the Vanuatu Institute of Technology is providing an opportunity to strengthen the integration of climate education and life skills into policies, curricula and learning programmes.
“Aligning climate education with our curriculum can help us achieve the learning outcomes we want for our students and help them become resilient in their communities.
As countries continue to strengthen climate education, curui remains a powerful reminder that meaningful transformation does not always require starting anew. By building on existing knowledge, values and practices, Pacific educators are helping prepare future generations for a changing climate while remaining grounded in the identities and traditions that shape their communities.
About the Climate-Smart Education Systems Initiative
The Climate-Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) is a global programme funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), and intended to strengthen the institutional capacity of Ministries of Education to integrate climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability into national education sector plans, budgets, and strategies, curriculum and teaching. It also enhances the Ministry’s capacity for cross-sectoral coordination on climate and environment-related policy and programming.
This initiative is globally implemented by UNESCO, including through its International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), and Save the Children. Since the project inception in 2024 in Cambodia, UNESCO has been supporting the development of evidence-based policies and plans, strengthening climate data for education planning, and integrating climate change into curricula, pedagogy, and teacher training…. PACNEWS
