Opinion: What do Pacific workers think about Australia’s Engagement Visa?
The new Australia Pacific Engagement Visa has sparked great interest from Pacific workers in Australia, however there is a need for clarification around the details of the scheme, Akka Rimon writes. A major policy of
Opinion: Don’t blame Pacific Island cultures for queer fear, blame colonisation
Six of the seven players who refused to wear the Manly Sea Eagles rainbow jersey in their match on Thursday night are from a Pasifika heritage. I’ve been working alongside wellbeing and education with the NRL since
PNG’s election a violent event
Bitter experience should have been a warning that elections need to be properly planned and administered. Violence is a mainstay of Papua New Guinea’s elections. As I write this article, tensions are high in the PNG
PICTA in the slow lane
My article published in this magazine in June 2021 was entitled ‘Fast-tracking PICTA’. This was a reference to the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) intended for the Pacific
Partners in the Blue Pacific’ initiative rides roughshod over established regional processes
On June 24, the White House announced the establishment of the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP), an initiative by Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States “for more effective and
PNG elections and the economy: Marape vs O’Neill
It is often said that PNG elections are fought on local issues, and this is no doubt the case. However, national issues have certainly featured prominently in this year’s election campaign in the run-up to voting,
The future of Pacific ocean science
The Pacific can learn from the Indian Ocean when it comes to ocean science. Last week’s UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon devoted a full day to the role of the scientific community. Strong engagement of stakeholders
Opinion: This year’s Pacific elections marginalise and isolate too many
As 2022 Pacific elections unfold, it is evident that a global decline in democracy is disadvantaging the most vulnerable. By Mere Nailatikau Election season is in the air. With Australia’s ballots counted,
Opinion: Penny Wong dives deep into the audacity of the Oceanic Pacific
Nurturing relationships is paramount to break down unequal power dynamics – especially in working for women rights. By ‘Ofa-ki-Levuka (‘Ofa) Guttenbeil-Likiliki From the 1990s to the early 2000s, Oceanic writer
The false Pacific dilemma of choosing between U.S. and China
For some observers, the signing of the China-Solomon Islands Treaty has opened a can of geostrategic worms for the Pacific (Australia, NZ and FICs), presenting a false dilemma that FICs ought to choose who is to be
Comment: Making Sense of Multi-layered Security Frameworks
Security is a priority in the region. It has been so since 1971, when the earlier version of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) – the South Pacific Forum (SPF) first met in Wellington on 5-7 August that year. At that
