With a desire to see a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific, Canberra has announced funding boosts to SI and the wider Pacific region
THE Australian Government is delivering around $1.9 billion over five years to the Pacific in response to the priorities Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Wong have heard on their visits to the Pacific, including the Foreign Minister’s visit to Solomon Islands in June 2022.
Building on our longstanding contributions to regional stability, Australia is deepening connections between our people and enhancing cooperation across labour mobility, maritime security, policing, responding to and preparing for humanitarian disasters, media and sport.
Australia is committed to supporting the sustainable development of the Solomon Islands, including investing in infrastructure, health, education, and climate resilience. Australia is proud to partner with Solomon Islands by increasing our development assistance to an estimated AU$171.3 million this year.
Australian High Commissioner Rod Hilton said though our development partnership, Australia is working with all provinces of Solomon Islands to build prosperity for Solomon Islanders.
“As its largest development partner, Australia is building critical infrastructure across Solomon Islands and is proud to be the largest international infrastructure investor,” High Commissioner Hilton said.
Australia is further expanding and improving the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme to maximise its economic contributions to Pacific economies. This includes:
- expanding the scheme beyond the current 35,000 workers, in line with Pacific aspirations and the needs of Australian businesses;
- strengthening strengthen conditions and better supporting workers;
- providing access to Medicare for an initial 200 families in the government’s family accompaniment pilot;
- embedding skills development through training; and
- supporting workers to access superannuation savings when they return home.
Australia is proud to be investing in deepening the connections between our peoples, including through expanded access to Australian media content and boosting media connections in the region, improving visa service delivery, and building on our shared love of sport.
We are boosting our contribution to meeting Pacific security priorities to support the Pacific family first approach to security agreed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in July 2022, and the peace and security commitments under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Australia will bolster its investment in Pacific regional architecture, including the Pacific Islands Forum, to further support the Pacific family.
Australia is committed to working with Solomon Islands towards our shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific.
