Registrations open for Pacific Infrastructure Conference 2025
Registrations are now open for the Pacific Infrastructure Conference 2025, the region’s premier platform for collaboration on sustainable infrastructure development across the Pacific
Australia
Concern over Cooks mining talks
Cook Islander Helena Keenan-Williams is calling for greater transparency and genuine consultation over the government’s controversial seabed mining
Elders slam Aust gas project
The Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV) has condemned the Australian Government’s decision to extend the Woodside North West Shelf gas project until 2070, calling it a direct threat to the survival of Pacific Island nations
Fiji adopts security strategy
Fiji’s Cabinet has approved the National Security Strategy (NSS) 2025–2029, a key policy document aimed at addressing the country’s evolving security threats and guiding future government
Cook Islands supports Australia’s proposal to host Pacific COP
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signalled the Cook Islands’ full support for Australia’s proposal to host a future Pacific COP (Conference of the Parties), a regional climate summit that would foreground
Flag fall
From Australia to New Caledonia, conservative politicians are arguing about flags, opposing public display of symbols of indigenous
Cook Islands seabed minerals consultations under fire for excluding environment groups again
Environmental groups are again raising red flags as the second round of overseas public consultations on seabed mining gets underway in Queensland, Australia, citing the Cook Islands government’s refusal to allow
Australia green-lights Woodside carbon bomb, despite climate concerns and Pacific plea
Australia on Wednesday approved a 40-year extension to a major liquefied gas plant, brushing off protests from Pacific Island neighbours fearful it will inflame climate
Australia renews health commitment to Fiji
Australia has pledged FJ$5.7 million to support Fiji's national HIV Response Plan, extending its support for the country’s health sector.
Fiji, Australia and SPC break ground on regional development facility
The Governments of Fiji and Australia, in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC), celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday for a new regional SPC
Labour hire companies exploiting slavery rule gaps
Frontline workers including police need better training to recognise signs of modern slavery as migrant workers are targeted in regional and rural parts of
Nauru and Australia finalise long-term funding for refugee processing
Nauru's President David Adeang has announced the conclusion of negotiations with Australia on long-term funding for the Regional Processing
Australian Coalition plans Pacific labour review, unclear on aid
Major change is on the way for Pacific seasonal workers and, possibly, the government's flagship Pacific visa should Peter Dutton take office on 03 May.
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
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
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