Why the Voice vote matters in the Pacific
Australia’s Indigenous Voice referendum could also be seen as a referendum on how the nation will be perceived by its Pacific neighbours. Pacific nations have put Australia on notice as it prepares to vote in the
Fiji rugby want more. Will they get it?
Fiji rugby finds itself at a pivotal juncture in its storied 110-year history. In recent years, the nation's beloved sport has been making a steady drive towards international success, each successive phase taking
De-banking having a ‘severe impact’ on Pacific Islanders
The region’s economic ministers say the expiry of correspondent banking relationships (CBR) is having a severe impact on the lives of Pacific Islanders, including seasonal workers, micro, small, and medium
Voice. Treaty. Truth
Across Australia this month, voters will decide whether to change the Constitution and create a Voice to Parliament – a body to advise the Australian government on laws and policies that affect Aboriginal and Torres
More asylum seekers sent to Nauru
A group of asylum seekers who attempted to arrive in Australia by boat has been sent to Nauru just months after the last people were removed from immigration detention on the Pacific nation. Guardian Australia
French criticism of nuclear ban treaty highlights Canberra’s dilemma
Can Australia rebuild a strategic military partnership with France at the same time as independence movements claim Pacific support? On 28 September, the Assembly of French Polynesia unanimously passed a resolution
Australia says it has no duty to asylum seekers in PNG
The Australian government says it is not responsible for 70 asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea who have been evicted from temporary accommodation. The asylum seekers have been in limbo since the 2017 closure of the
RWC 2023: Wales conquers Wallabies, Samoa go down to Argentina
The Wallabies are set to make their earliest exit in Rugby World Cup history after a humiliating 40-6 loss to Wales in Lyon. Never before have the Wallabies been bundled out of the tournament in the pool stage, but
Conference to address sustainable infrastructure for the Pacific
An upcoming conference will be looking into the future of getting better quality infrastructure for Pacific Island countries. Organised by the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council (APIBC) in collaboration with the
Fiji shock Australia 22-15 in biggest upset of 2023 Rugby World Cup
Fiji have pulled off a major upset and created history with a 22-15 win over the Wallabies in Saint Etienne. It’s their first win over the Wallabies since 1954 as they kept their World Cup hopes alive. They started
Fowler: more than a star Matilda
Matilda’s forward Mary Fowler says she's a better player for her first Women's World Cup experience. "I have definitely improved. I've been fortunate to play so many minutes at this tournament," Fowler told
Australian police to stay in Solomon Islands until 2024 election
Australian police will stay in the Solomon Islands to provide security for a regional sporting event in November and national elections in 2024, the Pacific Island nation’s government has said. The number of
A ‘new’ development policy? Or did Australia just miss its moment?
A new development policy for Australia presented an opportunity to reinvigorate a program that has lost its way amid the ambivalence, and occasional outright hostility, shown towards aid by successive conservative
Palau and PNG sign Air Service Agreement
Palau and Papua New Guinea governments signed a bilateral Air Service Agreement on Wednesday, 23 August, 2023. PNG Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation, Walter Schnaubelt, and Charles Obichang, Minister of Public
Fiji and Australian Business Councils to address post COVID recovery
Government and business professionals from Fiji and Australia will convene at the 27th Australia-Fiji Business Forum in Sydney next week. After a two-year hiatus, the Australia-Fiji Business Forum will be held for the
Fisheries app to cross ocean divide
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has launched a free app to help fisheries officials around the Pacific overcome the language barrier while inspecting foreign fishing vessels at sea and in port.
Fijian aged care worker awarded 2023 HealthX carer of the year
Fijian aged care worker, Tupou Dilagi Naikidi (Dee), has been awarded the HealthX Carer of the Year Award for 2023. Dee is one of many Fijians recruited by the HealthX group under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility
Can Women’s World Cup have spin-offs across the Pacific?
The Women’s World Cup being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia is showcasing the two countries to the world. With games played in excellent stadiums with the world’s best players on show, there are clear
Pentagon eyes missile testing role for Australia
Australia could be a testing ground for U.S. hypersonic and other long-range precision weapons under the AUKUS pact, a top Pentagon official told AFP on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said
Opinion: Pacific labour mobility over the last year: continued growth
Following the reopening of borders across the Pacific region in mid-2022 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a quick recovery in temporary labour migration flows to Australia and New Zealand. A
Pacific aid to enforce climate, gender equality targets
Australia will push to create local employment and boost the domestic economies of its Pacific island neighbours while keeping an eye on climate change and gender equality. The latest international development policy is
‘PacTow Involved in PNG Port Upgrades’
29 July, 2023 New Guinean marine services company Pacific Towing (PacTow) is assisting Australia’s Pacific Marine Group (PMG) with the upgrade of two major PNG ports. PacTow’s commercial dive team completed work at
PNG, Fiji, Tonga participate in large-scale military exercise in Australia
This year’s military exercise in Australia marked the first-time participation from countries as far away as Germany and by South Pacific countries including Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga. For the next week,
