At a meeting focused on the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told G20 leaders on 26 March, “our Pacific island family must be a focus of international support. There has never been a more important time for Australia’s Pacific Step-up as we all face these massive challenges.”

More about Australia’s work to address COVID-19 in the Pacific

Australia is taking our partnerships with the Pacific to a new level. We are working with our Pacific partners to build a Pacific region that is secure strategically, stable economically and sovereign politically.

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Australia has deep personal, historical and cultural ties with the Pacific, forged over decades of sustained engagement. We share common values and cultural affinity for family, religion, sports and more.

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The Office of the Pacific, headed by Ewen McDonald, is playing a critical role in supporting Ministers, coordinating whole-of-government efforts and boosting Australia's engagement with the Pacific.

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Together as a region we share a common vision for prosperity, including through open and transparent trade, commercial opportunities, resilient infrastructure and labour mobility.

More about economic prosperity in the Pacific

Australia is committed to supporting Pacific island countries build resilience to their security challenges, as articulated in the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security. Australia's longstanding and ongoing security cooperation with Pacific countries covers defence, law enforcement, transnational crime, climate and disaster resilience, border management and human security.

More about the shared security in the Pacific

The strength of our engagement with countries and people in the Pacific is grounded in deep personal, historical and cultural ties.  Australia's Pacific Step-up places people at the heart of our Pacific partnerships, with measures to strengthen and celebrate our people connections. This includes expanded sports, education, media and church partnerships.

More about people connections in the Pacific

Australia is a member of a number of Pacific regional organisations, through which we work collaboratively with our Pacific family to address shared challenges. Australia supports Pacific regional organisations to provide critical development assistance in areas including health, education, fisheries, climate change and empowering women and girls.

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Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (Pacific Women) commits AU$320 million over ten years to improve the political, economic and social opportunities of Pacific women.

More about Pacific Women

Australia is a steadfast partner in building climate and disaster resilience in the Pacific. Our support includes dedicated aid initiatives that strengthen resilience, as well as a comprehensive effort to integrate climate change and disaster resilience into our Pacific development assistance program.

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Australia is part of the Pacific Ocean family of nations, and a longstanding supporter of sustainable Pacific fisheries. The Blue Pacific connects us, feeds communities, drives economies and is central to the culture of our Pacific family.

More about the Australia Pacific Sustainable Oceans and Livelihoods Partnership

More about the Economic growth: fisheries assistance

Australia is a member of a number of Pacific regional organisations, through which we work collaboratively with our Pacific family to address shared challenges. Australia also supports Pacific regional organisations to provide critical development assistance in areas including health, education, fisheries, climate change and empowering women and girls.

More about the Pacific regional organisations