Australia and the Pacific

Green transition: Supercharging a sustainable future for the Asia‑Pacific
Green transition: Supercharging a sustainable future for the Asia‑Pacific
The Asia-Pacific region, a beacon of economic growth, is projected to contribute an astonishing 60% to global GDP growth by 2024. At the heart of this region’s transformation is…
A “climate defence force” for the Pacific
A “climate defence force” for the Pacific
During the summer political slumber, Australian Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh indicated that Canberra was considering permitting recruitment from Pacific Island Countries …
State of play for Pacific women in 2024
State of play for Pacific women in 2024
As 2024 rang in, an historical vote was taking place in the Pacific. Hilda Heine, former president of the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) and first ever female head of state in…
The bigger political game in the Pacific
The bigger political game in the Pacific
Nic Maclellan’s critique of our Lowy Institute policy brief, Geopolitics in the Pacific Islands: Playing for advantage, offers not so much of an alternative argument, but…
The state of play in PNG: A momentous start to 2024
The state of play in PNG: A momentous start to 2024
In his first international engagement for the year, James Marape has made history as the first prime minister from Papua New Guinea (or any Pacific Island State) to address the…
Gains, pains, and dubious claims from the Pacific Labour Mobility Survey
Gains, pains, and dubious claims from the Pacific Labour Mobility Survey
The World Bank’s new report, The Gains and Pains of Working Away from Home, makes the extraordinary claim that migrant workers and their communities experience “net positive”…
China is steadily building an alternative world order
Commentary
China is steadily building an alternative world order
Originally published in the Australian Financial Review on 29 September 2023.
Infrastructure for influence: Pacific Islands building spree
Infrastructure for influence: Pacific Islands building spree
There is a building spree going on in our neighbourhood as Pacific Island countries leverage geopolitical rivalries to fill a huge gap. A rough estimate is that the region needs…
Pacific aid enters a new era
Pacific aid enters a new era
Development priorities across the Pacific are changing, with new players and new financial instruments emerging to increase the scope and magnitude of funding required. The latest…
Empowering women in the Pacific: A collaborative effort to confront online abuse
Empowering women in the Pacific: A collaborative effort to confront online abuse
Technology has brought huge benefits to the Pacific, creating new ways to connect across vast distances. As in other parts of the world, however, it has also brought risks,…