In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Australia, Solomon Islands back Pacific-led security and stronger Forum cooperation
2. PACIFIC — Pacific Women leaders push for stronger voice on energy, violence and inclusion
3. PACIFIC — Newsrooms facing challenges: Pacific Media officials
4. PACIFIC — Digital disruption hits Pacific media
5. PACIFIC — Pacific broadcasters commit to stronger regional media partnership
6. FIJI — One Nation seeks political party and Proposed Liberation of Fiji Party applies for registration
7. VAN — Vanuatu moves to strengthen disaster recovery systems
8. AUST — ‘You guys have no idea’: Air Force blasted on planes
9. PACNEWS BIZ — No empty promises in upcoming national budget, Fuel tax revenue remains a priority: Fiji PM Rabuka
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Invest in PNG sustainably, Marape tells EU
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Rising debt leave Fiji exposed to fuel crisis
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — When the Quad Comes Calling: Multilateral Architecture and Fiji’s Embedded Alignment
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Nauru launches new phase of governance partnership to strengthen services for its people
PACIFIC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 04 Jun 2026
Australia, Solomon Islands back Pacific-led security and stronger Forum cooperation
CANBERRA, 04 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)—Australia and Solomon Islands have reaffirmed their commitment to Pacific-led solutions on regional security, climate action and transnational crime, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale pledging closer cooperation through the Pacific Islands Forum.
The regional agenda featured prominently during talks between the two leaders in Canberra on Wednesday, with both sides stressing the importance of Pacific unity at a time of growing global and regional challenges.
In their joint statement, the leaders reaffirmed the central role of the Pacific Islands Forum in shaping the region’s future.
“Leaders reiterated Australia and Solomon Islands are proud members of the Pacific Islands Forum and committed to work closely and energetically with other PIF members to strengthen the Pacific’s premier regional organisation.”
The commitment comes as Pacific leaders continue to push for greater regional cooperation on climate change, security and economic development through the Forum process.
Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Wale also reaffirmed their support for the Pacific-led approach to regional peace and security, a position strongly endorsed by Forum leaders in recent years.
“Leaders reiterated their support for the view of Pacific leaders, as expressed most recently in the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration, that Pacific peace and security is best led and handled by the Pacific.”
The statement reinforces a long-standing position among Pacific leaders that regional challenges should be addressed through Pacific-owned solutions and institutions.
The two leaders discussed the growing pressures facing Pacific Island countries, including climate change, rising energy costs and transnational crime, while recognising the Forum’s role in coordinating regional responses.
“Prime Minister Albanese consulted Prime Minister Wale, as current Pacific Islands Forum Chair, on the difficult global circumstances facing the Pacific, including climate change and rising energy prices, and the critical role the Pacific Islands Forum plays in bringing the region together to find shared solutions, including on maritime transnational crime.”
The discussions come at a time when Pacific nations are increasingly seeking stronger international action on climate change while dealing with economic pressures linked to global market volatility and rising fuel prices.
Climate change remained a key issue during the talks, with both leaders acknowledging the importance of 2026 in advancing the Pacific’s climate agenda on the international stage.
“Leaders noted 2026 is an important year to amplify Pacific voices on climate action, with the Pre-COP Leaders’ Event to be held in the Pacific.”
The event is expected to provide Pacific leaders with an opportunity to present a united regional position ahead of global climate negotiations and to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change continues to have on island nations.
Regional security cooperation was another major focus of the meeting, with both leaders expressing support for collective approaches to addressing security challenges across the Pacific.
“Leaders expressed their commitment to shared responsibilities and contributions to regional security including through the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI).”
The Pacific Policing Initiative has become a key regional mechanism aimed at strengthening policing cooperation and improving the Pacific’s capacity to respond to security threats, emergencies and requests for assistance from Forum member countries.
Prime Minister Albanese welcomed Solomon Islands’ decision to formally join an important component of the initiative under the leadership of Prime Minister Wale.
“They welcomed that Solomon Islands, under Prime Minister Wale’s leadership, signed the PPI Memoranda of Understanding to enable Royal Solomon Islands Police Force participation in the Pacific Police Support Group, which deploys at the request of other PIF members.”
The agreement allows officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force to participate in regional deployments when requested by Pacific Islands Forum member countries, further strengthening regional security cooperation.
The leaders’ discussions highlighted a shared commitment to reinforcing Pacific institutions, supporting regional security arrangements and ensuring Pacific voices remain central in international discussions on climate change and development.
The regional commitments outlined in the joint statement build on broader agreements reached during Prime Minister Wale’s first official overseas visit since taking office on 15 May 2026 and signal continued cooperation between Australia and Solomon Islands on key Pacific priorities.
By backing Pacific-led security arrangements, strengthening support for the Pacific Islands Forum and promoting a united regional voice on climate action, both governments have positioned regional cooperation as a cornerstone of their evolving partnership….PACNEWS
PAC – WOMEN LEADERS MEET: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 04 Jun 2026
Pacific Women leaders push for stronger voice on energy, violence and inclusion
SUVA, 04 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)—Pacific women leaders have gathered for the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting (PIFWLM), with ministers and senior representatives focusing on strengthening women’s influence in decision-making and ensuring regional policies deliver tangible benefits for women, youth, persons with disabilities and vulnerable communities.
The meeting, which begins today, follows the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Ministerial Retreat, where Forum Ministers responsible for Women reflected on the future of leadership in the Blue Pacific under the theme “Leading Together: Strengthening Collective Voice, Agency, and Connection.”
The retreat examined how inclusive and values-based leadership can help advance the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and strengthen regional efforts to achieve gender equality and social inclusion.
Ministers used the retreat to share experiences, discuss barriers facing women in leadership, and identify practical measures to increase women’s participation and influence across national, regional and international decision-making platforms.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of intergenerational leadership, mentorship and collaboration, with leaders stressing the need to ensure women’s voices remain central to shaping the region’s future.
The annual Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting serves as a key platform bringing together women leaders and male champions from Forum Island countries to address regional priorities and provide direct advice to Pacific leaders.
This year’s meeting will be chaired by John Maneniaru.
The PIFWLM has become an important mechanism within the Pacific Islands Forum architecture, providing a direct channel for women leaders to influence regional policy discussions and strengthen outcomes for women and girls across the Pacific.
Its mandate includes discussing regional policy and development issues, strengthening regional standards on gender equality, addressing gender-related challenges affecting Forum priorities, and supporting the implementation of international commitments.
The meeting also complements the Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the Meeting of Ministers for Women by providing a more regular avenue for engagement with Forum Leaders.
Heads of State, ministers and government representatives from Forum member countries are attending the meeting, alongside representatives from associated Pacific Islands Forum members and the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP).
A major focus of this year’s discussions will be strengthening economic resilience as Pacific countries continue to deal with the impacts of the global energy crisis.
Leaders will examine ways to ensure regional responses reach those most affected, including women, young people, persons with disabilities and communities in Smaller Island States, in line with commitments made under the revitalised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration (PLGED).
Delegates are also expected to focus on moving beyond policy commitments towards more targeted action and results-driven decision-making.
Priority discussions will include improving prevention and responses to gender-based violence, enhancing women’s health outcomes, strengthening disability inclusion across regional programmes, and advancing gender equality and social inclusion mainstreaming throughout government and regional institutions.
The meeting comes as Pacific governments face increasing pressure to address persistent gender gaps in political representation, economic participation and access to essential services, while also responding to emerging challenges linked to climate change, economic shocks and social inequality.
Forum officials say the gathering provides an opportunity for leaders to collectively identify solutions and strengthen regional cooperation on issues affecting women and girls across the Pacific.
As discussions get underway, leaders are expected to reinforce the message that gender equality is not a standalone issue but a critical component of achieving the broader development ambitions outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
The outcomes of the meeting are expected to inform broader Pacific Islands Forum discussions and provide recommendations aimed at strengthening gender equality, social inclusion and leadership opportunities across the region….PACNEWS
PAC – ABU MEET: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Thu 04 Jun 2026
Newsrooms facing challenges: Pacific Media officials
PORT MORESBY, 04 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Citizen journalism and advancing technology are posing major challenges to traditional newsrooms in Papua New Guinea, according to National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) managing director Kora Nou.
“One of the biggest challenges the newsrooms faced is the effect of advance technology and social media,” he said.
Nou made the remarks during the Pacific Media Partnership Conference in Port Moresby this week.
“For NBC, we go to great lengths to have in place our social media and editorial guidelines which not only helped us to write stories but also try to inform audience about the real issues and help them to understand what is being put on social media,” he said.
Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) chief executive officer Francis Herman highlighted that while VBTC tried to adjust and adopt to the rapid technology changes, one of their challenges internally is that they have staff who were used to the traditional ways of reporting news, who are now struggling to make that transition.
“The digital technology and the transformation that’s upon us right now has forced us to relook at our business plans, relook at our budgets and shift the focus away from the traditional platform to something which is a lot more attractive,” he said.
Herman further highlighted that their other challenges with the technology changes is how they could reach their audiences.
“In our case, the 70 per ent of people who live in rural Vanuatu, and whose use of the technology is inhibited by the high data rates imposed by the telecommunications companies that exist, so unless and until the cost of data comes down, it’s going to still be a luxury, but it’s a lovely luxury to have,” he said….PACNEWS
PAC – ABU MEET: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 04 Jun 2026
Digital disruption hits Pacific media
PORT MORESBY, 04 JUNE 2026 (FBC NEWS)—Rising operational costs and rapid digital disruption are placing significant pressure on Pacific broadcasters as global platforms continue to reshape how audiences access and consume news and entertainment.
Speaking at the Pacific Media Partnership Conference 2026 in Port Moresby, ABC International Development Director of Engagement and Programmes Aaron Kearney says the industry is now facing challenges driven largely by external forces, including algorithm changes, big tech dominance, fragmented audiences and artificial intelligence.
He said broadcasters can no longer afford to see each other as competitors, stressing that collaboration across the region is now critical for survival in an increasingly competitive media environment.
Kearney said evidence from other regions, including Southeast Asia, shows that media organisations working together are performing better than those operating in isolation, particularly in content production and distribution.
He added that Pacific broadcasters hold a unique advantage through their deep understanding of local cultures, communities and audiences, but must be clear about their value when entering partnerships to ensure fair and sustainable outcomes.
EMTV TV Production Head Patricia Popei also called for stronger cooperation across the sector, saying rising costs of international content are forcing broadcasters to rethink operations and focus more on local programming.
She says partnerships are no longer optional but necessary for survival, warning that without collaboration, some stations may struggle to remain viable in the changing media landscape….PACNEWS
PAC – ABU MEET: NBC PNG NEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 04 Jun 2026
Pacific broadcasters commit to stronger regional media partnership
PORT MORESBY, 04 JUNE 2026 (NBC PNG NEWS) —Media leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region signed a communique in Port Moresby Wednesday, marking the official close of the 16th Pacific Media Partnership Conference.
The communique outlines key actions agreed on during the two-day conference and sets the direction for future cooperation among broadcasters in the region.
The actions focus on strengthening media partnerships, promoting trusted journalism, supporting sustainable broadcasting, and improving reporting on climate change and emerging technologies.
More than 100 delegates attended the conference, including broadcasters, journalists and media executives from across the Pacific and Asia-Pacific region.
NBC Managing Director Kora Nou thanked all participants for their active involvement and valuable contributions during the conference.
‘I really appreciate you all for the meaningful discussions and I want us to work together and have stronger partnerships amongst broadcasters including development partners.
“I appreciate the commitment and efforts put in by everyone. Let us working together to address common challenges facing the media industry going forward,” Nou said.
Representing the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, ABU Head of Radio Andrew Davis thanked the National Broadcasting Corporation for successfully hosting the conference.
Davis said NBC had done an excellent job in bringing broadcasters together to share ideas, discuss challenges and build stronger regional cooperation.
He said the conference demonstrated the importance of working together to strengthen public broadcasting across the Pacific and Asia-Pacific region.
The signing of the communique officially concluded the conference, with delegates committing to implement the agreed action points in their respective organisations.
The conference will now move to its next host nation for the 17th Pacific Media Partnership Conference….PACNEWS
FIJI – ELECTION/POLITICS: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Thu 04 Jun 2026
One Nation seeks political party and Proposed Liberation of Fiji Party applies for registration
SUVA, 04 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—A new political movement, One Nation, has formally entered Fiji’s political arena after submitting an application to register as a political party with the Fijian Elections Office.
Documents lodged as part of the application reveal a platform centred on constitutional governance, equal citizenship, national unity and the protection of Fiji’s sovereignty.
The party’s constitution describes One Nation as “a national movement dedicated to the service of our nation and putting its interests first.”
According to the founding document, the movement aims to uphold and implement the Fijian Constitution, promote common and equal citizenship, protect the rights and dignity of all people in Fiji, and foster a fair, just and tolerant society.
The application identifies prominent lawyer and former National Federation Party leader Roko Tupou Draunidalo as the proposed President of the party.
Former FijiFirst MP Faiyaz Koya is listed as a founding member, while Ravindran Kumaran is named as General Secretary.
Adi Selai Adimaitoga has been nominated as Vice-President and Sanjay Salend Kirpal as Treasurer.
The registration forms show all listed office bearers and founding members declared they are not undischarged bankrupts and have not been convicted of offences carrying prison sentences exceeding six months, requirements under Fiji’s political party laws.
Under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, the application must now be published in the Gazette and local newspapers before a public objections period can commence.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to submit objections to the proposed registration, after which the Registrar of Political Parties will assess compliance with all statutory requirements before determining whether the party can be officially registered.
If approved, One Nation would become the latest political party to join Fiji’s increasingly competitive political landscape ahead of the next general election.
Meanwhile, the Proposed Liberation of Fiji Party has officially submitted its application for registration to the Registrar of Political Parties, marking the latest step in Fiji’s evolving political landscape ahead of the next general election.
The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) confirmed that the application was lodged with the Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa today.
Mataiciwa said the FEO is now preparing to publish the party’s application in a newspaper and the Gazette, as required under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
“Once the publication is made, the objections period will officially open,” she said.
She explained that members of the public will have the opportunity to submit written objections to the proposed party’s registration during the designated objections period.
“Any person may submit a written objection to the FEO regarding the party’s application for registration during the objections period,” Mataiciwa said.
She added that the FEO would assess and respond to all objections within seven days of receiving them, after first giving the proposed political party an opportunity to respond.
“We will assess and respond to all objections within seven days of receipt, after giving the proposed party an opportunity to respond, and afterwards inform both the objectors and the applicant party of the decision.”
The Registrar said the proposed party will be notified whether its application has been approved or rejected once the process is completed.
She stressed that the final decision would only be made after a thorough review of the party’s compliance with all requirements outlined in the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
The FEO said transparency and public participation remain critical components of the political party registration process.
According to the office, the process is designed to ensure all proposed political parties meet legal requirements while providing the public with an opportunity to engage meaningfully before a registration decision is made.
The application comes as Fiji’s political landscape continues to evolve ahead of the country’s next general election, with the FEO overseeing compliance and registration requirements for political parties seeking official recognition….PACNEWS
VAN – DISASTER RESPONSE: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 2: Thu 04 Jun 2026
Vanuatu moves to strengthen disaster recovery systems
PORT VILA, 04 JUNE 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) —As disasters continue to cost Vanuatu an estimated six percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year, government agencies, development partners and technical experts met in Port Vila last week to review new housing, energy and disaster financing frameworks aimed at strengthening the country’s recovery systems.
The national consultation workshop was convened by the Department of Strategic Policy, Planning and Aid Coordination (DSPPAC), through the Disaster Recovery Coordination Unit (DRCU), in partnership with the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP), the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the Department of Energy (DOE).
The workshop focused on three key recovery instruments developed under the Strengthening Recovery Capacities Vanuatu Project, supported through the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) global initiative on Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance and Recovery Capacities, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The workshop reviewed and refined:
• The Housing Sector Recovery Guideline
• The Energy Sector Recovery Guideline
• The Disaster Financing Strategy and Recovery Financing Architecture
The initiative comes as Vanuatu continues to face increasing climate and disaster-related risks, with disasters estimated to cost about six percent of the country’s GDP each year. Recent events, including Tropical Cyclones (TCs) Judy and Kevin and the 2024 Port Vila earthquake, have reinforced the need for stronger recovery governance systems and practical recovery tools.
Opening the workshop, the Manager of the Disaster Recovery Coordination Unit, speaking on behalf of the Director of DSPPAC, spoke of the need to move beyond rebuilding and focus on recovery systems that better protect communities and safeguard national development gains.
“Recovery cannot simply mean rebuilding what was lost. Recovery must strengthen resilience, reduce future risk and support long term sustainable development,” the manager said.
The manager added that while Vanuatu already has several national frameworks, including the National Sustainable Development Plan, the National Disaster Recovery Framework, the National Energy Road Map, the New Housing Policy and the National Disaster Risk Financing Policy, the challenge remains turning those frameworks into practical operational guidance.
Speaking on behalf of UNDP, Sherryl Mahina, Vanuatu Area Coordinator for the UNDP Pacific Multi-Country Office, spoke of the importance of nationally led recovery systems grounded in local realities and capable of responding to increasingly complex disaster risks.
“Small Island Developing States such as Vanuatu remain at the frontline of climate and disaster related challenges. Recovery is not only about restoring infrastructure and services. It is about strengthening governance systems, restoring livelihoods, reducing future risks, protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring communities emerge stronger after disasters,” she said.
Mahina said the workshop sought to bridge the gap between policy and implementation by strengthening practical, sector specific recovery guidance for housing, energy and recovery financing.
The housing sector session focused on reviewing the practicality and usability of the proposed Housing Sector Recovery Guideline, including building standards, data collection systems, resilience measures, insurance mechanisms and technical support for self-builders at community level.
Energy sector discussions examined recovery-planning approaches aligned with the National Energy Road Map (NERM), resilience standards, coordination mechanisms and implementation systems needed to restore and strengthen energy infrastructure after disasters.
Matthew Tasale, Director of Energy at the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and National Disaster Management, spoke of the role resilient energy systems play in national recovery efforts.
“After disasters, energy systems are among the first priorities for recovery. Electricity is essential for healthcare services, communications, water supply, education, livelihoods and emergency coordination. Strengthening energy recovery planning helps communities recover faster and more safely while reducing future risks,” he said.
Tasale added that stronger recovery planning in the energy sector is particularly important for remote and outer island communities, where prolonged disruptions can have a major impact on essential services and local economies.
The final session focused on consultation of Vanuatu’s proposed Disaster Financing Strategy and Recovery Financing Architecture. Discussions covered financing instruments, resource mobilisation, institutional arrangements and the feasibility of establishing disaster reserve financing mechanisms to support future recovery efforts.
Throughout the workshop, participants took part in group discussions and technical review sessions aimed at strengthening institutional coordination, improving implementation mechanisms, integrating Build Back Better principles and ensuring the guidelines remain practical and operational at national, provincial and community levels.
The workshop concluded with a consolidated list of technical recommendations, governance improvements and priority actions that will be incorporated into the final versions of the guidelines and financing strategy before endorsement and implementation.
The Strengthening Recovery Capacities Vanuatu Project forms part of the ACP-EU global programme on Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance and Recovery Capacities. The programme supports countries to strengthen disaster preparedness, recovery systems and long-term resilience in line with the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals…. PACNEWS
AUST – DEFENCE: AAP PACNEWS 2: Thu 04 Jun 2026
‘You guys have no idea’: Air Force blasted on planes
CANBERRA, 04 JUNE 2026 (AAP)—The Australian Defence Force has been criticised for its phase out of planes it has operated for only a decade in favour of commercial replacements.
“You guys don’t really actually have a plan, do you? You have no idea,” independent senator Jacqui Lambie told senior Air Force officials at a federal budget inquiry on Wednesday.
“It’s really embarrassing for me who wore that uniform.”
The Royal Australia Air Force will phase out C-27J Spartan planes just 11 years after the first one landed in Australia, but it is yet to disclose a detailed replacement plan.
The Spartans – which are small enough to land on short, soft runways but can carry troops and equipment – is being phased out just over a decade after they were first brought in.
The fleet of 10 cost Australia about $1.4 billion,(US$990 million) with the first plane arriving in early 2015.
But Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell told the ABC in May that circumstances had changed “drastically” since the decision to acquire the C-27Js, such as relationship shifts in the Pacific.
Commercial planes are now “part of the option set” the Air Force will consider when replacing the Spartans, Air Marshal Chappell said on Wednesday.
“There will not be a capacity gap (during the phase out). How we will fill that capacity will be a combination of C-27s over at least the next couple of years … and maybe one or more (commercial) option,” he said.
The defence force will shuffle $5 billion(US$3.56 million) from the $425 billion(US$302 billion) Integrated Investment Program, designed to increase military capability to 2036.
Some of that figure will account for the phasing out of Spartans, but opposition defence spokesman James Paterson estimated that would only account for a maximum of $1 billion(US$710 million), leaving a $4 billion(US$2.85 billion) shortfall.
“In the figures I have in front of me, that’s a reasonable estimate,” Air Marshal Chappell said.
Defence officials were tight-lipped in the Senate inquiry when asked about where the rest of the savings would be made…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – BUDGET/FUEL TAX: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 04 Jun 2026
No empty promises in upcoming national budget, Fuel tax revenue remains a priority: Fiji PM Rabuka
SUVA, 04 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji should prepare for a realistic national budget that cuts out empty promises in the face of rising global fuel prices.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shared this blunt warning while speaking on what people can expect from the upcoming budget announcement.
Rabuka is in Vanua Levu attending the Cakaudrove Provincial Council meeting.
The 2026-2027 National Budget is expected to be announced by the end of this month.
Rabuka said the Coalition Government would draft a “realistic” budget that ensures the country remains economically stable as it deals with the impact of ongoing tension in the Middle East.
“It is going to be a really realistic one,” he said, referring to the upcoming budget.
“We are not going to make promises because you cannot make promises at times like this. It is going to be tough; we’ll just have to be tough about it.”
However, he also reassured the public that there is no need for panic despite the increase in fuel prices, which have directly impacted businesses and households.
“They should not be worried until the announcements are made,” Rabuka said.
The upcoming budget is expected to reinforce what the Government has described as a balanced, targeted and fiscally responsible framework, with support focused on the most vulnerable sectors rather than broad-based relief measures.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has defended the Government’s decision to maintain fuel-related taxes, describing them as a critical source of revenue.
His comments follow a parliamentary update on the global fuel crisis last week by Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel, who warned that eliminating fuel taxes would result in significant revenue losses for the State.
The Government collects more than 90 cents (US$0.45cents) from every litre of fuel sold, including fuel tax of more than 40 cents (US$0.20cents) and value added tax (VAT) on the retail price.
The position has drawn criticism from the Opposition.
Opposition MP Premila Kumar accused the Coalition Government of benefiting from rising fuel prices while failing to provide meaningful relief to households and businesses struggling with increasing costs.
Independent Opposition MP Ketan Lal also called for the immediate removal of fuel taxes, warning that rising diesel prices would increase the cost of food, consumer goods and essential services.
However, Rabuka made it clear where his administration’s priorities lie.
“That is the Government priority which had been announced by the Minister for Finance,” Rabuka said.
He said revenue collected through taxation was ultimately reinvested in public services and national development…..PACNEWS
PNG – INVESTMENT: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 04 Jun 2026
Invest in PNG sustainably, Marape tells EU
PORT MORESBY, 04 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL)–Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has told European Union (EU) partners to use their global influence to invest in PNG in a sustainable and responsible way.
Marape told EU representatives at the 5th EU-PNG Business Forum in Port Moresby Tuesday about the importance of global cooperation on shared challenges.
He urged European businesses to focus on sustainability rather than using up all the country’s natural resources.
Marape explained that if businesses were not investing sustainably in PNG, there would be no resources left for the future.
He reminded the EU delegates that Europe was the gateway to the world and urged them to bring that business character and influence to PNG’s growing economy, in all sectors.
He referred them to PNG’s democratic systems and independent courts as a foundation for doing business in the country.
Minister for Planning and Monitoring Sir Ano Pala said opening up the European market was a new chapter for PNG.
Sir Ano said PNG had much to offer EU investors in terms of coffee, cocoa, fisheries, agriculture and minerals.
He said European businesses should bring their technology and expertise to help PNG unlock its potential, particularly in areas that are undeveloped.
“Your technology, your knowledge, in that field will be able to help us open up that potential,” he said.
Sir Ano said the forum was a foundation for the EU and PNG to explore trade and more to the next level of engagement.
Meanwhile, five Finnish companies involved in energy, minerals, communication networks and infrastructure, including Finnfund, are looking for partnerships in Papua New Guinea.
Finland Ambassador to Australia and PNG Arto Haapea told The National that the European Union-PNG Business Forum in Port Moresby was a “perfect avenue” for relationships and partnerships between Finland and PNG.
“This is a great momentum to increase the European Union presence in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“(Prime Minister James Marape) said it well in his speech that our regions are increasingly connected, and this is an important partnership for both the EU and PNG.
“To move forward, we need our businesses to deliver the solutions to enable sustainable development and help the PNG Government meet its targets.
“Against the volatile geopolitical situation, we want to work more closely with the PNG Government.
“I am very pleased to see the biggest business delegation in the room from Finland-five Finnish companies from energy to minerals and from communication networks to infrastructure, as well as Finnfund, the development financier and impact investor from Finland, are all here looking for partnerships in Papua New Guinea.
“Together with the PNG Government, I am very pleased to help strengthening existing connections and forge new ones.”..PACNEWS
FIJI – DEBT: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 04 Jun 2026
Rising debt leave Fiji exposed to fuel crisis
SUVA, 04 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji Opposition MP Premila Kumar has called on the Government to do more to shield Fijians from the worsening global fuel crisis, arguing that years of record revenue collection have not translated into stronger fiscal resilience.
In a statement issued today, Kumar said rising fuel prices are already increasing transport costs, food prices, freight charges and the overall cost of living, warning that the situation could deteriorate further if global fuel market pressures continue.
She said Fiji has entered the crisis with limited fiscal flexibility despite what she described as record levels of government revenue collected over the past three and a half years.
Kumar noted that since the Coalition Government took office, VAT was increased from 9 percent to 15 percent before later being reduced to 12.5 percent, while corporate tax rose from 20 percent to 25 percent. She said a range of duties, fees and charges had also been increased, contributing to government revenue collections exceeding $4 billion(US$2 billion) in the 2024–2025 financial year.
However, Kumar argued that public debt had continued to rise despite the higher revenue intake.
She claimed government debt had increased from approximately $9.1 billion (US$4.55 billion) to around $11 billion(US$5.5 billion) by April 2026, while spending on capital projects and productive investments had declined.
“The government is expected to borrow more than $2 billion(US$1 billion) by the end of July 2026. Yet there is little evidence of major new infrastructure projects, hospitals, roads, markets or other transformative developments that would justify borrowing on such a scale,” Kumar said.
She said more prudent management of public finances would have given Fiji greater capacity to respond to external shocks such as the current fuel crisis.
Kumar also highlighted what she described as growing expenditure pressures, including an annual wage bill of approximately $1.3 billion(US$650 million) for civil service salaries and allowances and debt servicing costs of around $534 million (US$267 million) a year.
She further criticised the size of the executive, describing the current administration as one of the largest in Fiji’s history with 35 Ministers and Assistant Ministers, while also questioning overseas travel expenditure by government officials.
“Citizens are being asked to tighten their belts, yet the government is not demonstrating the same discipline,” she said.
Kumar said while the Government had announced travel restrictions and cost-cutting measures, more decisive action was needed to provide relief to households and businesses struggling with rising fuel costs.
Among the measures she proposed were temporary reductions in fuel taxes, the removal or reduction of VAT on fuel, the introduction of a fuel price stabilisation mechanism, cuts to non-essential government spending, a review of Fiji’s overseas missions, suspension of taxpayer funding for political parties, targeted support for micro, small and medium enterprises, and temporary relief for market vendors and small traders.
“The fuel crisis requires decisive leadership and practical action. It is not enough for the government to merely manage the consequences while ordinary Fijians bear the burden,” Kumar said.
She said the Government must demonstrate leadership by reducing wasteful expenditure and providing meaningful relief to families and businesses facing mounting cost-of-living pressures….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
When the Quad Comes Calling: Multilateral Architecture and Fiji’s Embedded Alignment
On 25 May, the Vuvale union appeared on the Fiji Parliament’s order paper. The next day, the Quad named Fiji pilot for its first joint infrastructure project. The timing was coincidental; the architecture it exposed was not. They reveal how Fiji’s strategic position is being shaped, and by whom.
By Lanieta Tukana, Andrew Levula
Part I of II
SYDNEY/SUVA, 04 JUNE 2026 (THE FIJI POLITICAL REVIEW) —On 26 May 2026, the day after the Vuvale Union appeared on the order paper for Parliament, the foreign ministers of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India met in New Delhi and announced Fiji’s inclusion in a new multilateral port infrastructure project.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described it as “the strongest ever commitment from the Quad to the Pacific.” U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it would “serve as a model for other projects in the future.”
The timing was not planned as a single coordinated moment. The Quad meeting and the parliamentary sitting were both scheduled. But their coincidence within twenty-four hours is analytically useful precisely because it was not staged. It makes visible what is otherwise easy to obscure: that Fiji’s strategic position is being shaped simultaneously at the bilateral and multilateral levels. The two processes are distinct in their origins and their legal character. Their combined effect on Fiji’s strategic autonomy is not.
Fiji’s position in this architecture is not accidental. It is the most strategically significant nation in Melanesia, home to the University of the South Pacific, headquarters of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and a hub for regional trade, logistics, and disaster response across the Pacific. For Australia and the Quad nations, investment in Fiji’s port infrastructure serves simultaneous purposes: economic connectivity, maritime surveillance, customs enforcement, supply chain resilience, and a visible counter to China’s growing regional presence. Fiji’s own ports in Suva, Lautoka, and Levuka are ageing infrastructure that requires replacement regardless of the geopolitical context. The strategic logic of the investment is coherent. The question this piece examines is not whether the investment is welcome, but what it commits Fiji to, and whether those commitments have been made transparently, on Fijian terms, with Fijian consent.
What the Quad port announcement adds to an already documented architecture of Australian strategic investment in Fiji, what the combined structure means for non-alignment in practice, and what remains genuinely unconfirmed pending the release of the Vuvale Union text: the evidence that follows addresses each.
The Bilateral Foundation
What follows pre-dates the Quad entirely. It is Australian, bilateral, and a decade in the making.
Blackrock
In 2019, Australia committed AUD$100 million (US$71 million) to redevelop the Blackrock Peacekeeping and HADR Camp in Nadi, a reallocation outside normal budget cycles, while Fiji was simultaneously negotiating with China. The Lowy Institute reported at the time that the facility “is believed to be poised as the centre for Canberra’s proposed Australian Pacific Security College.” Australia’s bid prevailed over China’s because it was holistic rather than piecemeal. Blackrock is now a permanent Australian-funded facility on Fijian soil, training Pacific security personnel in Australian doctrine and accessible to Australian-aligned partners, not Chinese ones.
Bushmasters
Australia supplied ten Bushmaster vehicles to Fiji in 2017, executing the deal in two months from acceptance to full delivery. The official Australian Army account noted the transaction “fed into Australia’s larger geopolitical ambitions in the region insofar as potentially hostile states were denied the influence associated with such a project.” Russia, South Korea, and potentially China had competing offers. An additional fourteen Bushmasters followed by 2024, bringing Fiji’s fleet to twenty-four vehicles. Standardisation on an Australian platform creates dependency that is technical, not coercive: spare parts, training, and interoperability all point in one direction.
Pacific Security College
Launched at the Australian National University in 2019 with AUD$15 million (US$10.69 million) and extended through 2026 at AUD$4.2 million (US$2.99 million) annually, the Pacific Security College has trained more than 280 participants from fifteen Forum Island Countries. Its December 2019 Fiji National Security Strategy Implementation Workshop involved twenty-eight participants from essentially every Fijian security and governance agency: Defence, RFMF, Police, Immigration, Customs, Biosecurity, Maritime Safety Authority. This is not capacity-building for a single agency. It is the professional socialisation of an entire national security apparatus into Australian strategic frameworks.
Personnel embedding
130 RFMF personnel are embedded in the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, described by the ADF as a “non-reciprocal rotational company,” the first of its kind with any Pacific defence force. Simultaneously, three ADF personnel are embedded in the RFMF: one in the Officer Training School, two at the Stanley Brown Naval Base. The arrangement is asymmetric. Fiji integrates into the Australian command architecture. Australia is not integrated into the Fijian command architecture.
The Multilateral Layer
The Quad Ports of the Future Partnership adds something new to this structure.
The Quad is not a tightly coordinated enforcement mechanism. It is a consultative forum that, by its own account, has until now struggled to move from dialogue to delivery. The Fiji port project is, explicitly, the Quad’s first joint infrastructure initiative anywhere. Japan and India’s Pacific engagement profiles differ substantially from Australia’s. There is no evidence that Japan or India have been party to bilateral security negotiations with Fiji to the same depth as those Australia has conducted.
What the Quad port project does do is multilateralise a logic that Australia has applied bilaterally. The mechanism is familiar from BlackRock: when major infrastructure is funded, designed, and built by Quad partners operating under Quad standards, it is trusted. Alternatives built to different standards, by different actors, are, by definition, not trusted. The practical effect (that Chinese-funded infrastructure becomes strategically inaccessible) is achieved without any directive requiring it. Rubio said the port project was “a practical demonstration of our collective ability to deliver high-quality, resilient infrastructure.”. The emphasis on quality and resilience is the standard-setting move. China is nowhere in the text. It is everywhere in the logic.
The Fiji port project was announced in the context of “deteriorating strategic circumstances in the Indo-Pacific” and the Quad’s declared commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” Fiji had previously explored port and shipbuilding modernisation deals with China under the Belt and Road Initiative. That option is now materially less viable: not because it has been prohibited, but because the Quad’s “trusted” infrastructure framework has been extended to cover the port itself.
The Democratic Legitimacy Contradiction
The Quad’s self-description at the New Delhi meeting was consistent: four leading democracies, committed to a rules-based order, opposing coercion. Wong called the port project the “strongest ever commitment from the Quad to the Pacific.” What was not mentioned in New Delhi is that the bilateral treaty underpinning Australia’s most consequential security commitment to Fiji, the Vuvale Union, has not received parliamentary approval, as required by Section 51 of Fiji’s Constitution.
Section 51 is unambiguous: a treaty binds Fiji only after Parliament approves it. Cabinet approved the Vuvale Union on 8 May 2026. Parliament has not voted. The treaty text has not been released. On 25 May 2026, Minister Ditoka addressed Parliament on the treaty, confirming that twelve ministries and agencies were involved in negotiations, but did not indicate when the text would be tabled or when a vote would occur.
The Quad’s claim to democratic legitimacy sits uncomfortably alongside this. Australia has said nothing publicly about Section 51. Its foreign minister described a Cabinet decision (not a parliamentary approval) as a “bedrock for generations to come.” The same minister in New Delhi described Quad infrastructure engagement in Fiji as a commitment by four democracies. Whether a treaty that Fiji’s Parliament has not approved can credibly be framed as a democratic partnership is a question the Quad’s own democratic rhetoric invites.
What Remains Unconfirmed
Analytical discipline requires distinguishing what the evidence establishes from what it suggests but does not confirm. On two points, the evidence is incomplete.
First, whether the Vuvale Union contains provisions that limit Fiji’s ability to enter into security arrangements with third parties. Comparable Australian agreements do contain such provisions. The Falepili Union with Tuvalu, Article 4(4), requires that Tuvalu “mutually agree with Australia any partnership, arrangement or engagement with any other state or entity on security and defence-related matters.” Equivalent provisions have been confirmed in the Nauru and PNG bilateral agreements. Vanuatu’s proposed Nakamal Agreement has been stalled since 2025, specifically due to concerns raised by the Vanuatu government about constraints on third-party engagement. Whether the Vuvale Union contains an analogous clause is the single most consequential unknown in assessing Fiji’s embedded alignment. The treaty text has not been released.
Second, the operational command implications of the RFMF embedding arrangement in a genuine security contingency. In exercises and training, the arrangements are clear. In a real contingency involving an attack on Australia or a regional crisis where Quad and non-Quad interests diverge, the chain of operational authority for an RFMF company embedded in the 7th Brigade is not established in any public document.
The Agency Question
Any systematic analysis of Fiji’s alignment must engage with an obvious counter-argument: Fiji’s elected government has actively sought and welcomed these partnerships. Rabuka proposed elevating the Vuvale Partnership to treaty level. The Cabinet approved it. These are the actions of a sovereign government making sovereign choices.
The accumulated dependency argument does not require Fiji’s government to be passive, coerced, or deceived. Accumulated dependency can coexist with genuinely expressed preference. The more precise claim (and the one the evidence supports) is different: that the accumulated architecture of Blackrock, Bushmasters, the Pacific Security College, personnel embedding, and now the Vuvale Union and the Quad port project creates conditions in which future strategic independence becomes progressively more costly, regardless of which government is in office.
A previous piece in this publication put the point: “development partnerships structured around dependency risk eroding the strategic autonomy that non-alignment is designed to protect.” The argument is not that Fiji’s current government has been captured. It is that the conditions taking shape constrain the choices available to any future Fijian government, including one that might, in different geopolitical circumstances, wish to exercise genuine non-alignment.
There is a further dimension to the agency question. Rabuka’s government has endorsed the Vuvale Union without releasing its text to Parliament or the public. Whatever the motivations, the effect is that this alignment is being locked in before the people’s representatives have been given the instrument to examine. Section 51 exists precisely to ensure that consequential decisions of this kind pass through parliamentary scrutiny. Its application (or non-application) to the Vuvale Union is not merely a procedural question. It is a question about whose consent is required before Fiji’s strategic direction is set for generations.
The Cumulative Outcome Argument
What does the evidence, taken together, actually establish? Not a conspiracy. Not a deliberate sequential enforcement plan executed in lockstep by a unified Quad actor. The Quad’s Fiji port project is its first joint infrastructure initiative; the coordination is newer and shallower than its framing implies.
What the evidence does establish is this: a set of individually rational decisions, among them Fiji accepting Bushmasters because they were available; Blackrock because it was comprehensive; the Pacific Security College because training is beneficial; the 7th Brigade embedding because it improves capability; and the Vuvale Union because it formalises a relationship that already exists. Together, they have produced a cumulative outcome in which Fiji’s defence doctrine, infrastructure, officer culture, and treaty obligations are oriented toward a single strategic pole. The Quad port project extends that orientation to port infrastructure, under a partnership framework explicitly designed to exclude Chinese-built alternatives on standards grounds.
This is the cumulative outcome argument. It is more analytically defensible than the intentional-design argument and harder to refute. Governments do not need to plan for systemic domination for it to result from their individually rational choices. The accumulation is the mechanism.
The question Fiji’s Parliament, when it receives the Vuvale Union text, should ask is not whether Australia is a good partner. By most measures, it is. The question is what the treaty’s operative provisions commit Fiji to, in a contingency Fiji’s current government did not anticipate, under a government it may not be. That is precisely what Section 51 was designed to require Parliament to examine. It has not yet done so….PACNEWS
Associate Professor Andrew Levula’s career spans government, telecom, and academia. He is a proud iTaukei from Tamavua Village on Viti Levu, and he is actively engaged in research on GenAI, cybersecurity, and climate adaptation and resilience.
Lanieta Tukana is the founding editor of the Fiji Political Review. She writes on Fijian politics, constitutional reform and democratic governance.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Nauru launches new phase of governance partnership to strengthen services for its pPeople
YAREN, 04 JUNE 2026 (UNDP)—The Government of Nauru has launched Phase II of the Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance (NAIG-II) Project, reaffirming its commitment to building strong institutions that deliver better services, strengthen public trust, and create more opportunities for citizens to participate in national life.
Implemented in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, the programme takes a whole-of-government approach to governance, bringing together Parliament, the Electoral Commission, the justice sector, Births, Deaths and Marriages, and civil society organisations as part of a connected system working to serve the people of Nauru.
The launch marks the next chapter of a partnership that began in 2021 with support to Parliament and the Nauru Electoral Commission and has since evolved into a broader governance programme supporting five key institutions across the governance sector.
Speaking at the launch, Speaker of Parliament Marcus Stephen said the occasion was both a celebration of progress and a commitment to continue strengthening governance systems that serve the people of Nauru.
“Today is not only about launching a new phase, but also about celebrating what we have achieved together as partners for the NAIG Project.
When I first signed off on the Parliament component of the NAIG Project in 2021, the focus was on just two key institutions — Parliament and the Electoral Commission. Today, I am proud to note that this has expanded to five institutions now supported under the NAIG programme. This growth reflects not only the ambition of the Government of Nauru, but also the strength of our partnership with UNDP, Australia, and New Zealand.”
Among the achievements highlighted during the launch were support to the successful conduct of the 2022 and 2025 national elections, the first comprehensive review of Parliament’s Standing Orders since 1968, the hosting of the Presiding Officers’ and Clerks’ Conference, strengthened access to legal information through the RONLAW platform, and the digitisation of civil registration records.
UNDP Pacific Resident Representative Munkhtuya Altangerel said strong institutions remain central to Nauru’s long-term development aspirations.
“Strong governance institutions are the backbone of any country. They build public trust, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that services reach all citizens fairly and effectively.
Ultimately, our collective governance work is about improving the everyday lives of the people of Nauru — ensuring services are accessible, institutions are responsive, and no one is left behind.”
One of the programme’s most significant achievements has been support to the development of Nauru’s first digital Births, Deaths and Marriages system. More than 16,000 civil records have been cleaned and validated, creating a stronger foundation for legal identity, service delivery, and future digital government systems.
As Nauru continues to modernise public services, Phase II will place greater emphasis on strengthening governance systems, expanding digital solutions, supporting justice sector priorities, consolidating gains made in electoral administration, and creating more opportunities for civil society participation in public dialogue and national development.
Australian High Commissioner to Nauru, His Excellency Mathew Barclay, reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting Nauru’s governance priorities.
“Australia remains a committed partner, working alongside Nauru to deliver lasting impacts, ensuring the Nauruans of today and the Nauruans of tomorrow are served by effective governance institutions.”
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Unit Manager for Governance and Inclusion, Hannah Van Voorthuysen, highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and partnership in supporting Nauru’s governance journey.
“Since 2021, New Zealand has worked alongside the Government of Nauru, Australia and UNDP to support Nauru-led efforts to strengthen democratic governance. We look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting resilient governance systems that deliver lasting outcomes for the people of Nauru.”
The launch reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that governance systems continue to evolve alongside the needs of the people they serve. By investing in institutions today, Nauru is helping build the foundations for a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future for generations to come….PACNEWS
For more information please contact: Risiate Biudole I UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji I Communications Analyst I risiate.biudole@undp.org
