Australia, PNG announce security deal
Australia clinched a security deal with Papua New Guinea on Thursday, bolstering ties to a key Pacific neighbour that has been courted persistently by China. Canberra pushed for a more substantive treaty earlier this
French foreign minister says she is open to South Pacific resettlement requests due to rising seas
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Monday she was open to any resettlement request from tiny South Pacific nations threatened by rising sea levels, similar to Australia’s agreement with Tuvalu. Colonna
Tuvalu official raises concerns and opportunities in Australia’s climate refuge offer
The Pacific Islands Forum Programme Adviser for Resilient Development Finance, has shared his thoughts on Australia’s offer to provide refuge to Tuvalu citizens in the face of climate change. In a PACNEWS interview,
Opinion: Tuvalu’s parliament debates the Falepili Union
Over the week of 20 November 2023, Tuvalu held its last parliamentary session under the Natano government, which was elected in 2019 and officially dissolved on 27 November. Elections for the new parliament will be held
Opinion: Australia-Tuvalu ‘Falepili’
The Australia-Tuvalu ‘Falepili’ strategy is bullish and most alarming. The initiative was never consulted with the people of Tuvalu, nor was it ever raised in Parliament. It is not a climate change response. It is
Lautoka foreshore redevelopment deal signed
Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd and the Australian Government have signed a deal to look at redevelopment options for the Lautoka foreshore. The A$380,000 (FJ$558,000) grant will pay for a high-level feasibility study to
Opinion: Australia should listen to PNG not the IMF
In late 2021, following the first phase of a review of the 2000 Central Banking Act (CBA) by an independent advisory group, the Papua New Guinea parliament unanimously amended the CBA. Among other things, the amendments
Opinion: New data to inform big decisions around Pacific labour mobility
There has been much discussion about how the rapidly expanding labour mobility programmes in Australia and New Zealand have affected lives in the Pacific. Many have pointed to the significant economic benefits to
Australia’s deal with Tuvalu is not about climate justice, say experts
Australia’s offer to Tuvalu of 280 permanent residency visas every year as part of a new treaty between the two countries, is being criticised as an Australian strategic security initiative in the guise of climate
Australia has “resettlement edge” over China
In a report on Australia’s security/climate deal with Tuvalu, Indian news agency, Business Standard says Australia has scored a “significant win for influence” in the Pacific Islands region with a “trump card”
PM Albanese says Pacific backs Australian climate policy with ‘very positive’ feedback
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he’s had “nothing but positive feedback” about his country’s climate change policies as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is expected to test his
SOL23: Wallis & Futuna’s Chef De Mission leads the way, Australia sends 100 police officers
The Chef De Mission (CDM) for Team Wallis & Futuna, Polelei Valetino, has arrived in Solomon Islands ahead of his team. Valetino was welcomed by GOC PGA Team at the Henderson international airport. During an
Supporting Pacific cacao farmers
“We are chocolate and cacao manufacturers, but we call ourselves community cultural development practitioners which is what we all studied, none study chocolate making. The more beans we move, the more money goes into
COP28: German envoy has urged Australia to support an EU push to phase out fossil fuels
Germany’s international envoy on climate has called on Australia to support a push by Germany and the European Union for a phase-out of fossil fuels at the next UN climate summit, saying the world does not “have the
PNG military leader to serve as deputy commander of Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade in Townsville
A military leader from Papua New Guinea will become the second-in-command of one of Australia’s combat brigades in a historic move designed to shore up military ties between the two nations. It is the first time a
U.S. welcomes Pacific COP bid for Australia in 2026, confirms support for Resilience Facility
A long-running bid for global recognition of a Pacific-owned, initiated and led Resilience fund for disaster-proofing islands nations has received the nod from the United States and Australia. The Pacific Resilience
Labor accused of ‘outrageous secrecy’ as border force confirms 11 asylum seekers sent to Nauru
The Australian Border Force has confirmed it sent 11 asylum seekers to Nauru in September, the first transfer to immigration detention on the Pacific nation in nine years. The evidence to Senate estimates on Monday from
Albanese to urge Joe Biden to ‘step up’ in the Pacific
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will urge U.S. President Joe Biden to remain focused on the Indo-Pacific region as the war between Israel and Hamas intensifies. The prime minister flew out for Washington on
More Australians, Solomons, Vanuatu, return from Israel
About 200 Australians and their family members are back in the country after leaving Israel and arriving on a government-assisted flight. A Qantas flight landed in Sydney on Wednesday evening with 126 Australian
New Australian Pacific visa scheme gets green light
Thousands of Pacific islanders will be offered a path to Australian life after a government effort to boost regional employment and address shortages was given the green light. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles secured
Opinion: Pacific Engagement Visa legislation finally through
After months of uncertainty, yesterday the legislation required to implement the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) passed through the Australian Senate, with the Greens and other crossbenchers providing the numbers the
Pacific leaders disappointed over Australia’s Voice referendum outcome
Pacific leaders have expressed disappointment after Australia voted against altering its constitution to create an Indigenous voice to Parliament over the weekend. Had it won, the referendum would have established a
Australia’s PM Albanese takes share of blame for Indigenous referendum failure
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday he accepted his share of blame for the failure of a referendum question on Indigenous recognition that could weaken his authority. More than 60 percent of
