PINA

Despite Kiribati's withdrawal from the Pacific Islands Forum- the Australian government still considers the island nation as a ‘valued family’ of the Forum. The statement was made by Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles while visiting Fiji, when asked whether diplomatic efforts have been made to bring Kiribati back into the fold. “Kiribati is a very important country...

Australia will set aside AUD$46 million (US$29 million) to fund police deployments in Solomon Islands in next week's budget, part of an increase in spending in the Pacific intended to shore up its standing in the region as China seeks greater influence. China's increasing presence in the Pacific, including entering a security pact with Solomon Islands in April, has raised...

Australia says it continues to value its relationship with Fiji. Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles is currently on a tour to Fiji and spoke to journalists earlier today. He said the meeting with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama today will discuss the inroads made in cooperation and defense and the flourishing Vuvale partnership. “I really want to reiterate to the Prime Minister...

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and defence minister Richard Marles says his government’s foreign policy on Bougainville remains unchanged. Marles made the clarification after Ishmael Toroama, President of the Autonomous Bougainville government (ABG) accused the Australian Minister of “veiled threats” and “intimidation” over comments made during his recent visit to Papua New Guinea. Toroama accused Australia of supporting PNG over Bougainville aspiration...

Pacific civil society representatives signed the Kioa Climate Emergency Declaration on 19 October, uplifting demands for swift decarbonisation, recognition of loss and damage, community-informed migration strategies and accessible climate finance. The three-day consultations on Kioa Island in Fiji saw CSO representatives of the Pacific and Oceania, frontline and indigenous communities, grassroots organisations, youth networks, and faith-based organisations make a united...

Advancement of governance agenda in the Pacific finds a new and powerful youth voice. Over 1,000 Pacific youth leaders, students and young professionals convened at the Pacific Youth Summit 2022 to highlight the connections between anti-corruption and sustainable development and boost the ambitions of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent to address regional disaster risk reduction efforts and...

The Albanese government will pour an extra $1 billion (US$628 million) into aid and security assistance in the Pacific - almost double what Labor promised at the election - as it urgently tries to counter China’s growing influence in the region. The government’s first budget, to be unveiled on Tuesday, will include the biggest increase in aid spending in a...

A Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was signed Thursday between the Fijian and Australian Government at the Blackrock peacekeeping camp in Nadi. Fijian Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing, Inia Seruiratu and the Deputy Prime Minister for Australia, Richard Marles signed the SOFA agreement. Both leaders agreed that the agreement marked an important milestone in defence relations between Fiji...

Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has started providing medical humanitarian assistance in Kiribati, as climate change exacerbates health risks in the country. On 19 October, 2022, MSF signed a memorandum of understanding with Kiribati to provide medical care focusing on maternal and neonatal health. Speaking at MSF’s Sydney office, Kiribati Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Tinte...

Oceania National Olympic Committee President (ONOC) Dr Robin Mitchell has been elected unopposed as President of the Association of National Olympic Committees following a vote at the organisation’s General Assembly in Seoul. The Fijian official takes on the permanent role after holding the position on an interim basis for the past four years. He succeeds Kuwait's Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who...