Australian Development Assistance

Labour mobility key to Pacific future
The issue of labour migration and seasonal work is back on the agenda of Pacific island governments and donor agencies. Pacific population is increasing by 177,100 each year and…
Solomon Islands flooding and Australian aid
On 5 April, the Solomon Islands was hit by extreme flooding, killing 23 people and leaving an estimated 50,000–60,000 people homeless. Lowy Institute Melanesia experts Jenny…
Pacific private sector engagement: Where to begin?
Suva, Fiji. A key facet of the Australian Government's aid and development policy for the Pacific island region is enhancing private sector engagement. However, the detail of…
Foreign aid hits record high
In what will come as a surprise to many, the OECD's 2013 aid figures reveal that foreign aid (ODA) from governments is actually increasing. This is despite ongoing budgetary…
Aid & development links: HIV in West Papua, Solomons floods, UK aid target and more
Bad news on global warming last week, with the latest IPCC report concluding that global warming is depleting fresh water and crops, destroying coral reefs and melting the Arctic…
Foreign aid: Parliamentary committees at 50 paces
In the wake of the Abbott Government's unforeseen but momentous decision last year to integrate the Australia's foreign aid agency, AusAID, into DFAT, the federal parliamentary…
Aid & development links: Sri Lanka, Ebola, climate change, Mongolia and more
The UN announced it will launch an inquiry into war crimes committed by Sri Lankan state forces and Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka. The move was not supported by Australia. The vote…
Abbott in PNG: Advice from the younger generation
Tonight, Tony Abbott flies into Port Moresby on his first visit to Papua New Guinea as prime minister. So far his foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has done the heavy lifting in…
Julie Bishop focuses on PNG's women
On her first visit to Papua New Guinea as Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop has reconfirmed the high priority the Australia-Papua New Guinea relationship has for…
Australian anxiety over China's South Pacific aid efforts is misplaced
Commentary
Australian anxiety over China's South Pacific aid efforts is misplaced
In this comment piece for the Guardian's global development blog Dr Philippa Brant explores Australia's ongoing dominance in the South Pacific and the opportunities…