Australian Police put brakes on ‘drug superhighway’ in $44m bust
Police say they will not let organised crime turn the Pacific into an “illicit drug superhighway” after two men were allegedly caught with 110kg of cocaine in Queensland’s remote north. The men – both
The World Bank head has thoughts on the Pacific – and needs Australia’s help
The president of the World Bank is due in Australia this week offering to be a force-multiplier for good in the Pacific Island states, and expecting some federal funding to do so. In the first visit by a World Bank
Researchers awarded grant for pioneering AI tools to monitor waves
University of Wollongong researchers have been given a grant from the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organization to develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools for monitoring oceanic internal waves using satellite
Australian partnership to strengthen Pacific football
A new partnership will see Australian and Pacific national teams play regular international matches. The Australian Government and Football Australia have signed a new four-year investment through the PacificAus Sports
New Caledonia requests Australian aid for riot rebuild
New Caledonia is looking to Australia for aid to help rebuild its capital city after deadly riots. The French territory was marred by civil unrest and riots that left 10 dead in May after controversial voting reforms
Australia’s Pacific Engagement Visa: What’s Next?
On August 2, ballots for the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) closed for eight participating countries, with the exception of the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau who each received a two-week extension. Whether
New Zealand refugee resettlement deal likely to wind up
New Zealand is set to walk away from its agreement to resettle refugees from Australia, with about half the places on offer unfilled. In 2022, the governments agreed a deal for 450 people in Australian offshore
Weightlifter Cikamatana in tears after finishing fourth
Eileen Cikamatana was in tears and her coach Paul Coffa is reconsidering retirement after she fell short of their lofty Olympic weightlifting goals. Coffa had confidently predicted the 24-year-old would win a medal, but
Economic diplomacy: Banking on the Pacific
Rebuilding regional banking is unlikely to pay dividends without an underlying business revival. Australia’s oldest bank changed its name from the Bank of New South Wales to Westpac in 1982, reflecting apparent
U.S Military eyes Australian Island for Pacific Deterrence Initiative
The Cocos Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste are among a handful of locations outlined in a new Pacific Deterrence Initiative multiple award construction contract published by the U.S Navy. The contract,
Foreign Minister Wong announces new digital cable centre to limit China’s influence in Indo-Pacific
Australia is stepping up its attempts to limit China’s influence in the Pacific, with the establishment of a new “cable connectivity and resilience centre” designed to boost connectivity for Pacific nations. The
Fiji replaces Vanuatu as top PALM sending country
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme has been transformed over the last five years. In June 2019, there were 5,886 PALM visa holders in Australia. Five years later, in May 2024, there were 32,513, an
Pacific children left behind and vulnerable due to regional labour mobility schemes
Pacific Islands children are being left behind by their parents, who are taking up opportunities presented by regional labour mobility schemes, increasing concerns about child abuse. This was a key issue brought up at
ANZ says in talks with Australian govt about shoring up Pacific Islands business
ANZ bank is in talks with the Australian government about ways to make its business in the Pacific Islands more viable as an exodus of Western financial services fuels concern about rising Chinese influence, its CEO
Superannuation is sitting in Australia as PALM workers report barriers, delays in claiming their money
Tevita Kofutu’a has plans for the $10,000 in superannuation he earned over five years of seasonal work in Australia. He’ll use it to buy a vehicle and pay a deposit on some land in Tonga where he and his
Four-try hero Miller, Wallaroos blow away Fijiana in Sydney
Desiree Miller crossed for four tries in the weekend as the Wallaroos thumped Fijiana 64-5 at Allianz Stadium. It was a repeat of the Super Rugby Final as Miller proved unstoppable in space, scoring a hat-trick in just
PNG minister steps down after woman’s alleged assault in Bondi
One of Papua New Guinea’s most senior ministers have stepped down from his post after being arrested for the alleged assault of a 31-year-old woman in Bondi. Jimmy Maladina, who was the country’s Minister for
Australia to strike new funding deal with PNG to manage transferred asylum seekers
The Albanese government will strike a new funding deal with Papua New Guinea to support asylum seekers after the country threatened to send them back to Australia unless a fresh agreement was signed. In December 2021
‘Very early stages’ of talks on viability of Nauru Airlines’ direct Australia-Guam route
Visiting Nauru Airline officials on Tuesday met with Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and other local officials on the possibility of adding Guam to Nauru Airlines’ route, as it once did in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Future of New Zealand’s Nauru resettlement deal unclear
New Zealand is unlikely to resettle its full quota of refugees from Nauru under its 2022 agreement with Australia, and faces choices on the future of the pact. A deal struck by previous governments on both sides of the
Qantas and Jetstar launch direct flights to Vanuatu
Qantas and Jetstar have announced they will commence operating up to nine return flights each week between Australia and Vanuatu, with the new seats going on sale across both carriers this week. Starting on 10 September
Vanuatu’s Citizenship Commission defends granting citizenship to convicted Australian entrepreneur
Vanuatu’s Citizenship Commission says convicted Australian entrepreneur cleared the necessary checks before he was granted citizenship and given a Vanuatu passport. Andrew Spira was granted citizenship
Opinion: Samoa should make the most of the Pacific Engagement Visa
When presented with an opportunity like Australia’s Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) scheme, don’t demur. Grab it with both hands and be grateful. Other Pacific countries including Fiji are all ready to sign
