{"id":6697,"date":"2019-11-29T08:30:57","date_gmt":"2019-11-28T22:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/?p=6697"},"modified":"2023-08-06T10:30:02","modified_gmt":"2023-08-06T00:30:02","slug":"the-state-of-the-step-up-australias-engagement-with-the-pacific","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/the-state-of-the-step-up-australias-engagement-with-the-pacific\/","title":{"rendered":"The state of the step-up: Australia’s engagement with the Pacific"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TESS NEWTON CAIN<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since winning the election in May 2019, Scott Morrison has maintained his categorical statement that the Pacific islands region is \u2018front and centre of Australia\u2019s strategic outlook, our foreign policy, our personal connections, including at the highest levels of government\u2019. Based on what we heard from Labor during the 2019 campaign period, it is safe to assume that this is essentially a bipartisan approach. The \u201cPacific step-up\u201d is now embedded in political and bureaucratic rhetoric and its prominence is rightly associated with the leadership of Morrison. But its position in the policy ecosystem predates him becoming Prime Minister in August of 2018, dating back to a 2016 announcement by then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull followed by its inclusion in the Foreign Policy White Paper that was released in November of 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, in terms of assessing how the \u201cPacific step-up\u201d is progressing, we can look back over a period of 18 months or so. Late last year, as we neared the first anniversary of the release of the White Paper, I framed my assessment in terms of whether Australia\u2019s engagement with the Pacific islands region was a \u2018step up\u2019 or a \u2018stumble\u2019. But a lot has happened since then. Now is a good time to reflect on what has happened, what informs what is happening now and what this might mean for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Australian political, economic and media landscapes, foreign policy does not merit a great deal of bandwidth. And within the very narrow scope of mainstream foreign policy discussion and analysis, the Pacific struggles to maintain even a toehold at times. But at this particular moment, there seems to be more appetite for thinking and talking about Australia\u2019s relationships with her nearest neighbours than we have seen for many years. Whilst this is no doubt a significant national conversation, there is much to explore in terms of what this means for Queensland, described by PM Morrison as \u2018our gateway to the Pacific\u2019. Drawing on many and various threads of geographic proximity, economic linkages, cultural affinities, a complex and contentious history, vibrant diaspora communities, and future opportunities, now is the time for Queensland to (re)establish itself as Australia\u2019s Pacific state. This report provides an assessment of the state of the \u201cPacific step-up\u201d to inform decisions by policy makers, the business sector, and others to take that forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The various aspects of what constitutes the \u201cPacific step-up\u201d are listed in Figure 1. They touch on a range of sectors and aspects of Australia\u2019s relationships with the Pacific islands region: security, economic linkages, diplomacy, and people-to-people links. They have been articulated via the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, ministerial speeches and announcements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figure 1: The components of the Pacific step-up <\/strong>        <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) website identifies the following as manifestations of Australia\u2019s stepped-up engagement with the Pacific Islands region. Some (e.g. the establishment of the Australia Pacific Security College) originated in the Foreign Policy White Paper of 2017. Others (e.g. the Pacific Maritime Security Program) were already underway when the step-up was \u201cannounced\u201d by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in November, 2018. Many of them have been launched further to ministerial announcements, including by the Prime Minister.<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Pacific Labour Scheme<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Opening of five new diplomatic missions (Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Niue, Palau, Tuvalu)<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Establishment of the Office of the Pacific within DFAT<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific <\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Coral Sea Cable (providing high speed internet to PNG and Solomon Islands) <\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Increased callable capital to the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (Efic)<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Australia\/Japan\/USA trilateral partnership for infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific <\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Australia\/PNG\/Japan\/New Zealand\/USA Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 PACER Plus<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Australia Pacific Security College<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Pacific Fusion Centre<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Dedicated vessel to provide support including Pacific humanitarian & disaster relief<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Joint Heads of Pacific Security Forces event hosted in Australia<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Australian Defence Force Mobile Training Team <\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Pacific Faculty of Policing at the Australian Institute of Police Management<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Expansion of the Cyber Cooperation Partnership with the Pacific<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Pacific Maritime Security Program <\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Pacific Transnational Crime Network<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Support to the Forum Fisheries Agency<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Pacific Medicine Testing Program (pilot)<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Secondary School Scholarships<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 APTC scholarships <\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Expansion of the Australia-Pacific Schools Partnerships<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Church Partnerships Program with the Pacific<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Australia Pacific Sports Linkages Program <\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Pacific-Australia Card<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Pacific Research Program<\/td><\/tr>
\u2022 Pacific Connect Program<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Source: Adapted from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.<\/em><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please click here to read the full “The state of the step-up: Australia’s engagement with the Pacific<\/a>” article published in the 2019 State of the Neighbourhood report, written by Griffith Asia Institute Adjunct Associate Professor Dr Tess Newton Cain.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TESS NEWTON CAIN\u00a0 |\u00a0 Since winning the election in May 2019, Scott Morrison has maintained his categorical statement that the Pacific islands region is \u2018front and centre of Australia\u2019s strategic outlook, our foreign policy, our personal connections, including at the highest levels of government\u2019. Based on what we heard from Labor during the 2019 campaign […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":6698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[233,1757,1021,248],"tags":[990,829,1275],"class_list":["post-6697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature-series","category-geopolitics-diplomacy","category-pacific-outlook","category-png-and-the-pacific","tag-pacific-step-up","tag-prime-minister-scott-morrison","tag-tess-newton-cain"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Jill Moriarty","yoast_head":"\nThe state of the 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It was the first in-person meeting since\u00a0Tuvalu in 2019. Since then, a lot has happened. The impacts of COVID-19 have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Pillar 3: Geopolitics and diplomacy"","block_context":{"text":"Pillar 3: Geopolitics and diplomacy","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/category\/publication\/feature-series\/pacific-outlook-feature-series\/geopolitics-diplomacy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/07\/Pacific-Island-Forum-2022.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/07\/Pacific-Island-Forum-2022.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/07\/Pacific-Island-Forum-2022.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/07\/Pacific-Island-Forum-2022.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5292,"url":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/australia-should-brace-for-a-volatile-year-in-foreign-policy-in-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":6697,"position":1},"title":"Australia should brace for a volatile year in foreign policy in 2019","author":"Griffith Asia Institute","date":"4 January 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"SUSAN HARRIS RIMMER | By the end of 2019 we should be able to assess how Australia is travelling with the grand plan laid out in the\u00a02017 Foreign Policy White Paper. In this, an election year, I examine the status of our most important international relationships. My verdict: decidedly shaky.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Feature series"","block_context":{"text":"Feature series","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/category\/publication\/feature-series\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/01\/foreign-policy-volatility-900x500.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/01\/foreign-policy-volatility-900x500.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/01\/foreign-policy-volatility-900x500.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/01\/foreign-policy-volatility-900x500.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10624,"url":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/pacific-outlook-bulletin-21-february\/","url_meta":{"origin":6697,"position":2},"title":"Pacific Outlook Bulletin | 21 February","author":"Griffith Asia Institute","date":"21 February 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"TESS NEWTON CAIN\u00a0 |\u00a0 Pacific Resilience Facility is 2024 priority for Pacific Islands Forum It\u2019s been seven years in the making, but the Forum leadership is determined to see the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) established as a matter of urgency. Speaking to the media recently Forum Secretary-General, Henry Puna and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/category\/publication\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Griffith University Pacific Outlook banner - map of the Pacific region over a beach background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10316,"url":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/pacific-islands-forum-2023-navigating-challenges-and-priorities-in-the-region\/","url_meta":{"origin":6697,"position":3},"title":"Pacific Islands Forum 2023: Navigating challenges and priorities in the region","author":"Griffith Asia Institute","date":"22 November 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"TESS NEWTON CAIN\u00a0 |\u00a0 Leaders of Pacific nations convened in Cook Islands from 6-10 November for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), a crucial regional meeting addressing pressing issues like climate change and growing geopolitical competition. Established in 1971, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) emerged from the frustration of Pacific leaders\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/category\/publication\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting attendees 2023","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/PIF-2023.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/PIF-2023.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/PIF-2023.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/PIF-2023.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10035,"url":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/pacific-outlook-bulletin-11-october\/","url_meta":{"origin":6697,"position":4},"title":"Pacific Outlook Bulletin | 11 October","author":"Griffith Asia Institute","date":"11 October 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"TESS NEWTON CAIN | A fortnighly summary of recent developments and news in the Pacific region. It covers various topics including the upcoming BRI Forum, Compact negotiations, Vanuatu's new Prime Minister, Pacific tourists caught in Israel violence, Forum Trade Ministers meeting in Fiji, and Tuvalu's new Constitution.","rel":"","context":"In "Region | Papua New Guinea and the Pacific"","block_context":{"text":"Region | Papua New Guinea and the Pacific","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/category\/pacific-outlook\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Griffith University Pacific Outlook banner - map of the Pacific region over a beach background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10501,"url":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/pacific-outlook-bulletin-24-january\/","url_meta":{"origin":6697,"position":5},"title":"Pacific Outlook Bulletin | 24 January","author":"Griffith Asia Institute","date":"24 January 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"TESS NEWTON CAIN\u00a0 |\u00a0 Political shifts all round The year has got off to a busy start on the political front. We have seen some significant political shifts across the region. In Papua New Guinea, the Prime Minister, James Marape has reshuffled his cabinet. This sees Justin Tkatchenko reappointed as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/category\/publication\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Griffith University Pacific Outlook banner - map of the Pacific region over a beach background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/pacific-outlook-banner-900x500-copy-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"featured_image_thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/11\/chapter-4-PO-900x500.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6697"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6697\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/asiainsights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}