Delivering for a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific

The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP
Media Release

Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Defence
The Hon Richard Marles MP

Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Senator the Hon Penny Wong

Attorney-General
Cabinet Secretary
The Hon Mark Dreyfus MP

Minister for International Development and the Pacific
Minister for Defence Industry
The Hon Pat Conroy MP

Joint media release

The Albanese Government is delivering a transformational package of support to the Pacific to respond to Pacific priorities and ensure our shared interests in a peaceful, prosperous and resilient region.

Building on our longstanding contributions to regional stability, we are deepening connections between our people and enhancing cooperation across labour mobility, maritime security, policing, responding to and preparing for humanitarian disasters, media and sport.

In our first 12 months, Albanese Government Ministers have visited every Pacific Islands Forum member to renew our Pacific partnerships, listen to Pacific priorities and deliver for our collective interests. This Budget will enhance our capacity to respond by funding additional diplomatic staff across the Pacific, further demonstrating our commitment to the region as a whole.

We will further expand and improve the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme to maximise its economic contributions to Pacific economies and to workforce shortages in Australia. Our new investments will deliver more skills development and community liaison officers for Pacific workers and strengthened worker protections and compliance operations in Australia.

We are supporting the key regional body, the Pacific Islands Forum, to ensure it is equipped to respond collectively to shared challenges and opportunities for our region and deliver the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

We are boosting our contribution to Pacific security priorities with $1.4 billion over four years to support the Pacific family first approach agreed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, and the peace and security commitments under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

This includes:

  • Supporting delivery of infrastructure, maritime security capability and sustainment, including under the Pacific Maritime Security Program.
  • One of the most significant increases to the AFP's partnership with the Pacific family, to support Pacific law enforcement efforts and criminal justice initiatives.
  • Additional support for cyber resilience and other Pacific security priorities.

As climate change continues to threaten Pacific communities, Australia will take a regional approach to humanitarian relief and strengthen support for disaster preparedness, working closely with the Pacific family to support their responses to crises.

We will leverage Australia's strengths, including through media and sport. We will expand the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy, boosting media connections and enabling more Pacific Islands Forum members to access Australian content. We will continue to expand our Pacific sports diplomacy, bringing people closer together through our shared love of sport.

The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific continues to deliver critical infrastructure for the Pacific and Timor-Leste. The Australian Government has now agreed to a total of $1.25 billion in financing for 14 projects in nine countries.