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
Eileen Cikamatana aims to end weightlifting medal drought in Paris
Eileen Cikamatana had to wait for her Olympic debut and now she plans to make it count. The Fijian-born star will join Jacqueline Nichele and Kyle Bruce in Australia’s weightlifting team for Paris. All are
Pacific visa-free travel backed
Visa-free travel for business has been part of most bilateral talks Samoa’s prime minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has had with Australia and New Zealand. This is a concept that has received backing from the Pacific
Property owner to appeal emergency order after 40 fruit pickers from Vanuatu found living in one Tasmanian house
About 40 fruit pickers from Vanuatu were found living in a “cramped, hot and crowded” dwelling in north-west Tasmania where the fire safety risk was “obvious”. The kitchen had only one working burner, and some
Opinion: 2024 Australian aid spending and effectiveness update
Australian Foreign aid was increased by 4% over what had been projected last year to bring the 2024-25 aid budget to $4.961 billion, virtually unchanged from the (inflation-adjusted) 2023-24 level of $4.900 billion. The
Third boat arrival detected in a week, but no one taken to Nauru
Two boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted off the Australian coast are being kept at sea rather than being sent immediately for offshore processing in Nauru, prompting questions about whether the government is trying
Australian Foreign minister Wong to lead bipartisan trip to Tuvalu
Australian Foreign minister Penny Wong and opposition counterpart Simon Birmingham will travel to Tuvalu for talks on security and climate change. The foreign minister will lead the second bipartisan Pacific visit of
Australian officials scrambled to halt China-PNG policing deal
China’s top diplomat pushed for Papua New Guinea to sign a policing agreement with Beijing during a trip to Port Moresby last month, forcing Australian and PNG officials to scramble to prevent an embarrassment for
New flight route between Australia and Palau
A new non-stop flight service between Australia and Palau is being launched with the support of both countries’ governments. The Palau Paradise Express, operated by Nauru Airlines, will fly between Brisbane and
Opinion: Australia’s superannuation rules leave Pacific workers out of pocket
The government must reconsider its tax on the Pacific’s poorest. More than 40,000 Pacific Islanders working in Australia are being unfairly taxed on superannuation contributions – enforced savings payments that they
Opinion: Pacific elder excoriates Australia on AUKUS panel with Bob Carr
Former foreign minister Bob Carr recently described AUKUS as “fragrant, methane-wrapped bullshit”. This remark — tailor-made for the headlines — was covered by media outlets on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
Ni-Vanuatu workers in Australian prisons: Minister
Vanuatu’s Minister for Internal Affairs, Johnny Koanapo, has revealed that many Ni-Vanuatu citizens are currently in prisons in Australia for a wide range of offences, varying from what he described as “very
Opinion: The falling demand of seasonal workers
Evidence over nine months to the end of February 2024 shows a declining demand for Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme seasonal workers — those who used to be under the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP),
Australia pays controversial Chinese company millions for Nauru’s new port
Amid intensifying competition in the region, Australia is bankrolling a Chinese government-backed construction company with a chequered history to build Nauru’s new port. In January, the Chinese Communist Party’s
