In New Caledonia, Australia urges Pacific island unity amid China, U.S competition
Australia’s foreign minister urged Pacific island countries on Thursday to stay united in the face of great power competition as she visited New Caledonia, where the president raised concerns about
Questions about Australian aid to fund the 2023 Pacific Games
The 2023 Pacific Games will be held in Solomon Islands at the end of the year. Australia’s support for the games of $17 million (US$11.4 million) was announced by the Minister for International Development and the
Mapou to welcome Australia’s foreign minister to New Caledonia
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is scheduled to travel to New Caledonia this week, to meet with President Louis Mapou, the first Kanak independence leader to head the Government of New Caledonia in forty years.
Geostrategic competition in the Indo-Pacific calls for smarter development financing
A former Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) official and Asian Development Bank senior economist has authored a report that warns Australia and the European Union (EU) must address the “long-standing”
Albanese government faces decisions on coalmines
The Albanese government could have to make decisions on whether to approve up to 28 coalmine developments that would make it harder to meet targets set under its newly approved climate policy, according to a new
New Zealand may join AUKUS pact’s non-nuclear component
New Zealand’s government has confirmed it is discussing joining the non-nuclear part of the AUKUS alliance founded by Australia, the UK and U.S. “We have been offered the opportunity to talk about whether we could
Eight suspects arrested over PNG meth flight
A Papua New Guinea police officer, a Defence Force soldier from Igam Barracks, and a second Chinese national are among seven more men arrested in Lae over the weekend and are being questioned in relation to the
Super Rugby: Highlanders beat Drua
The injury-hit Highlanders conceded the first try of the match, then scored five of their own in the first half on the way to a 57-24 win over the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby Pacific. Brilliant scrumhalf Frank Lomani
‘Health crisis’ amongst children from Nauru offshore camp
Nearly nine in 10 children brought from offshore processing on Nauru to Australia were suffering physical health conditions, including malnutrition and dental disease, while almost 80 percent reported one or more mental
Five charged over PNG meth flight
Five alleged criminal syndicate members accused of orchestrating a black flight from Papua New Guinea to Australia with 52kg of methamphetamine on board have been charged under an AFP-led investigation. Four of the five
Tonga heads to PacificAus Netball Series in April
Tala, Tonga’s National Netball Team will head into the 2023 PacificAus Sports Netball Series in Gold Coast, Australia from 24-29 April, as reigning champions. In 2022, the national netball team finished both the
Virgin Australia makes its long-awaited return to Samoa
Samoa’s harbourside capital of Apia is once again on the departures board for Virgin Australia, as the airline’s twice-weekly flight from Sydney returns to the sky from today, with Brisbane primed to restart on
Samoa PM pushes for Pacific voices to be better heard
Samoa’s prime minister says small Pacific nations need to be listened to and consulted more over regional security issues as bigger players crowd the region. In her first official visit to Australia, Fiamē Naomi
Fiji backs AUKUS as Canberra soothes regional tension
One of the Pacific’s key leaders has told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese he supports the AUKUS agreement during a whistle-stop meeting on Wednesday as the PM continued diplomatic efforts to reassure
Australian PM mounts diplomatic blitz to calm AUKUS fears, visit Fiji tomorrow
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Fiji on his way home from the United States, capping off a huge diplomatic offensive to calm regional concerns about the AUKUS security pact, and push back against a
Australia Foreign Minister Wong backing Waqa as PIF secretary general
Australia will stand behind Baron Waqa, the controversial pick as Pacific Islands Forum leader, despite his chequered record as Nauru president. The 63-year-old has been nominated by Micronesian nations to be the next
Australian Coalition to oppose Pacific visa lottery
The Australian federal opposition has ruled out backing a new Pacific visa lottery scheme, labelling it as arbitrary and patronising to the Pacific community at home and abroad. Last month, the government announced
Australia and NZ sending cyclone relief to Vanuatu
Australia and New Zealand are sending humanitarian supplies to Vanuatu after the nation was hit by two cyclones within days of each other. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced the departure of a Royal New
Physicality, comradery and challenge: Liz Patu
Liz Patu is a former Australia Wallaroos captain and the most- capped Test player in the team’s history, with 33 international Test matches. The tight-head prop shares some highlights of her journey as she paved the
PNG, Australia sign agreement to review forestry sector
Papua New Guinea’s Forest Authority (PNGFA) has successfully signed a cooperative memorandum of understanding with the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to review and reform the forestry
K100,000 paid for trio’s release: Tsiamalili MP
A ransom of K100,000 (US$28,000) was paid to armed bandits to secure the release of Australian-based Professor Bryce Barker and two local female researchers on Sunday, says Papua New Guinea Internal Security Minister
Answers needed on the Pacific Engagement Visa
Beyond practicalities, it’s unclear whether this is a genuine “Pacific family” partnership or geopolitical convenience? After a recent ministerial meeting, Australia agreed to expedite visa applications from Papua
Researchers held hostage in PNG released
Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has said all hostages taken by a Papua New Guinean criminal gang have been released, including an Australian academic, and will be reunited with their families.
