Australian Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy says strategic competition with China in the Pacific is a permanent feature of the region’s future, while stressing that Pacific countries retain the right to determine their own paths.
Speaking in an interview in Canberra, Conroy said Australia is responding by using every available tool to strengthen its relationships across the Pacific.
“Well, it’s about maximum effort in using every lever. We’ve got some great advantages in our relationships that we intend to build on,” he said.
Conroy said development assistance remains a key part of Australia’s engagement, but not the only element.
“We’re the biggest development partner in the region. And the way we approach it actually responds to priorities of other countries,” he said
He said Australia focuses on infrastructure investment, local content and supporting Pacific businesses.
“I announced I think it was about a SBD$60 million (US$7.44 million) – road partnership with the Solomon Islands. It was specified in the contract that every single dollar should go to a Solomon Islands company so that they could build their capability,” said Conroy.
Conroy said the approach delivers benefits beyond infrastructure projects.
“We do that so they get the double dividend of the infrastructure but also the skills development, the payroll, income tax dividend,” he explained.
He said Australia also supports the Pacific through labour mobility programmes, migration pathways, policing cooperation and defence partnerships.
“We’ve got the Pacific labour scheme where every month workers are on average sending back $1500(US$1, 035) Australian lifting families and communities out of poverty,” he said.
Conroy said the Australian Federal Police is working closely with Pacific countries through the Pacific Policing Initiative, while defence ties continue to grow through initiatives such as the Guardian-class patrol boat programme.
“The ADF is a great asset.”
He also pointed to cultural and sporting links as important parts of Australia’s engagement with the region.
“The cultural connections are important via things like shared cultural past but also love of sport, whether it’s rugby league in PNG, soccer in Vanuatu, rugby union in Fiji,” Conroy said.
