Dutton brushes off PNG minister’s Labor endorsement
The Pacific nation's foreign minister, Justin Tkatchenko, has given Anthony Albanese's government a rare election endorsement from an overseas
Australia
Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister wants Labor to win Australian election
PNG's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko say she hopes Labor wins the Australian election, stating the incumbent government had done “a tremendous job” of rebuilding relationships in the Pacific. n
Fresh details emerge on Australia’s new climate migration visa for Tuvalu residents. An expert explains
Australia has announced a new visa allowing Tuvaluan citizens to permanently migrate, as part of a 2023 treaty focused on shared security and climate
Littleproud says Coalition government would urge Pacific to be ‘more aggressive’ on China
David Littleproud urges Pacific pressure on China, sparking Labor criticism of Coalition's climate
Poll position: What Australia’s election holds for the Pacific
Australia’s policies toward the Pacific will continue to be primarily driven by China’s resurgence, no matter who is elected. Commentary by Tess Newton Cain When Solomon Islands and China signed a
Australia PM Albanese calls national election for 03 May
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday called a national election for 03 May, launching a five-week campaign that is set to be dominated by cost-of-living pressures. Albanese’s Labor party won a
From teaching to Tongpop: The artistic journey of Telly Tuita
For a few weeks in January, the ‘Thirsty Mile’ on Sydney’s harbour was a riot of colour and Tongan iconography. It was the work of Tongan Australian artist Telly Tuita, who brought his captivating show ‘The Tā
Risky business: Bridging the insurance gap
The insurance gap is not only a Pacific Island problem. Australia faces a massive insurance gap that leaves home and business owners increasingly vulnerable to either dealing with disasters without being fully insured
Australia pivots foreign aid to Pacific to cover U.S. cut
Pacific Island nations will get a larger chunk of Australia’s foreign aid as spending is refocused after the United States slashed its aid agency. Foreign Minister Penny Wong asked her department to compile a
Australia commits $72 million in budget support for Fiji
The Australian Government has committed an additional FJ$72 million (AU$50 million) in budget support to Fiji for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad and the
Australian Museum repatriates human remains to Papua New Guinea
16 human skulls were repatriated to Papua New Guinea by the Chau Chak Wing Museum in Sydney, Australia last week. The ancestral remains were returned to six village communities, including Gorendu and Bilibil, in
Australia tallies Pacific impact of U.S foreign aid cuts
Australia is racing to identify the South Pacific’s most pressing funding needs as the United States moves to slash its foreign aid budget, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Thursday. Crucial food, climate
‘Deplorable’ Nauru visa deal to face court challenge
A controversial Australian federal government bid to deport an immigration detainees to Nauru will face a High Court challenge after a legal not-for-profit launched proceeding. AAP reports that the man is one of three
Australia and PNG to begin negotiations on new defency treaty
Australia and Papua New Guinea are beginning negotiations on a defence treaty, in a move that could have major implications for national security and the Pacific’s strategic landscape. The announcement comes just
Australia to boot violent offenders in Nauru visa deal
Three violent offenders will be deported from Australia after being granted long-term visas by Nauru in a deal human rights activists have slammed as “Trumpian”. AAP reports that the Nauruans approached the federal
Peter Roberts is Australia’s new High Commissioner to Fiji
Peter Roberts is Australia’s new High Commissioner to Fiji. He will replace Ewen McDonald who is moving to Papua New Guinea. Roberts is currently the Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Tokyo. “Australia and
2025 PacificAus Sports Netball Series to start 5th edition of tournament
From today to Saturday the fifth edition of the PacificAus Sports Netball Series will be held at Nissan Arena in Brisbane. The series is hosted by Netball Australia and funded by the Australian Government. The five
Papua New Guinea’s Internal Revenue Commission hit in major cyber attack but public only told of ‘system outage’
Papua New Guinea’s tax office has been hit with a major cyber attack, pushing systems offline and potentially exposing sensitive data belonging to hundreds of thousands of people and businesses, including
Take them off: Concern over teen social media use
Australia’s bold move to ban social media for children under 16 years, a world-first law, has sparked a global debate. The policy is now a topic of conversation and consideration in many countries, including those in
Tonga unprepared for deportee crisis, lacks legislation says ministry leader
Tonga is unprepared for the increasing number of deportees arriving from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, says Reverend Semisi Kava, Chaplain for the Tonga Prison Service, warning that the lack of
Jetstar launches Sydney-Vanuatu service, and Qantas now flying to Palau
Jetstar has launched its first direct flights from Sydney to Port Vila, Vanuatu, offering up to four weekly services and connecting travellers to the South Pacific Island nation with more than 80,000 seats annually.
Australia gains effective veto over Nauru security pact
Australia will get an effective veto right over Nauru entering a security agreement with another country under a pact that will prop up the Pacific nation’s budget. AAP reports that the two countries will have to
Opinion: Trusted partner to the Pacific, or giant fossil fuel exporter? This week, Australia chose the latter
Australia has long tried to be two things at once – a trusted friend to Pacific nations in a bid to reduce China’s influence, and a giant exporter of fossil fuels. This diplomatic tightrope has become increasingly
