Pacific Review: Recent Episodes
ABC Radio
A comprehensive roundup of the major stories from the region and the people involved and affected by them.
Vanuatu's new prime minister says a security treaty with Australia is unlikely to be ratified by parliament.
Samoa's Prime Minister has raised concerns about too many Pacific Islanders leaving to work in Australia and New Zealand, leading to local skills shortages.
Japan has started the slow release of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean despite concerns raised by some Pacific countries.
An Australian man could soon be extradited to Samoa over a plot to kill the country's former prime minister after his alleged accomplices were jailed in Apia.
Advocates warn the increase of US military personnel on Guam is increasing the risk of homelessness amongst the local population.
Questions have been raised about the impartiality and credibility of one of Solomon Islands longest running newspapers after it was revealed the paper received funding from the Chinese government in return for favourable coverage.
A labour-hire company accused of exploiting and abusing Pacific seasonal workers has exited Australia's PALM
More than 3000 former soldiers are suing the Fijian military for alleged unpaid allowances while on peacekeeping missions in war zones across the world.
Authorities in Papua New Guinea say a group of scientists failed to obtain the necessary permit before collecting fragments from the seafloor they believe could be the first interstellar object known to have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
As more Pacific Islanders sign up to work in Australia experts are warning of the impact on those left behind. While many overseas workers send money back to their families, some women are being abandoned by their spouses. In Fiji, a support centre for women has noticed an influx of mothers needing help as a result.
In Papua New Guinea women are demanding authorities do more to catch a criminal gang that's kidnapped women and girls, sexually abused them and held them for ransom. It's believed to be the same gang responsible for kidnapping an Australian professor and three PNG women earlier this year.
The United States military has been given "unimpeded access" to key PNG defence facilities, including the joint PNG-Australia Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island, as part of a sweeping Defence Cooperation Agreement. And a migration agent is "pleading" with the Department of Home Affairs to refund the cost of her New Zealand clients' permanent resident visas.
The whistleblower who sparked PNG's biggest corruption case speaks out following Paul Paraka's conviction saying he has no regrets despite having to leave the country for his family's safety. And Vanuatu to use blockchain technology to send cash transfers to victims of disaster.
The former head of PNG's now defunct anti-corruption taskforce says the successful prosecution of high profile lawyer Paul Paraka for stealing vast amounts of state money vindicates the work of his team. And concerns that people in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands are increasingly falling prey to loan sharks with exorbitant interest rates.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, has moved to assure his people that a new security pact with the United States will not undermine their country's sovereignty or security.
Timor-Leste will mark its 21st independence day on Saturday followed by a national election on Sunday where two former allies will be jostling for the prime minister's position.
Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister relinquishes role after public outcry and protest over "primitive animals" comment to the ABC.
Complaints that authorities have gone too far after New Caledonia beach closed for one year following a string of shark attacks in the French territory.
Vanuatu's Prime Minister has demanded an apology from the UK over a newspaper article criticising the country's golden passport scheme.
An explosion of pests is hampering recovery in communities affected by two category-four cyclones in Vanuatu.
Papua New Guinea's largest bank is demanding customers re-pay money owed after a technical allowed people to overdraw their accounts.
The UN International Seabed Authority will begin accepting applications to mine the ocean in July, but some Pacific nations are calling for a moratorium on the practice.
Warning for Tonga's community in Australia over a financial service banned in New Zealand as campaigners warn of a potential pyramid scam.
Thousands have fallen victim to a Papua New Guinea online scam promising payment in return for written movie reviews. Also, Solomon Islands anti-corruption commission under fire.
A Pacific rugby league team based out of the Queensland city of Cairns is the front runner for the NRL’s next team but there are questions over a bid by Papua New Guinea.
Fiji's former prime minister Frank Bainimarama has been arrested and charged with interfering in a police investigation, just three months after losing the national elections.
A university professor who was held hostage in Papua New Guinea’s highlands region has returned to Australia a week after he was taken captive by armed criminals.
Fiji's former prime minister Frank Bainimarama has been thrown out of Fiji's parliament and suspended for three years after delivering a divisive speech. And concern over a shark "culling campaign" after an Australian man dies in New Caledonia.
Pacific countries have welcomed new legislation to create a visa lottery scheme allowing 3000 Pacific Islanders to settle in Australia permanently. And, Vanuatu moves to legalise the production and export of medical cannabis and industrial hemp.
A popular anti-China leader in Solomon Islands has been ousted in a no-confidence vote. And Amnesty International is calling for clemency for political opponents of the previous Fiji government.
Kiribati announces its return to the Pacific Islands Forum following Fiji apology and talks
Vanuatu's prime minister has said the country is trying to fix corruption within its labour scheme, which saw dozens of seasonal workers sent to Australia on forged documents. And could one of the biggest rifts in Pacific regional politics soon be heading towards repair?
Fiji's Prime Minister says relations with the military are good, after commander questioned government decisions. PNG morgue runs out space, urging families to collect bodies.
Anthony Albanese addresses PNG parliament, the first foreign leader to do so in PNG’s history during his two day visit to the country.
Pacific countries are excited to welcome back Chinese tourists, though it does pose some health concerns. And mass burials held in Papua New Guinea as its hospital morgue overfills with unclaimed bodies.
We take a look back at the stories that defined the region in 2022., from Tonga's devastating earthquake and tsunami, to Solomon Islands' controversial security deal with China – and plenty in between.
Fijians are still waiting for answers as political parties compete to form a coalition to capture the majority of seats in parliament, as Frank Bainimarama looks to extend his 16-rule as prime minister.
Fiji opposition parties are calling for a recount after a technical glitch disrupts provisional vote counting.
Delivering ballots to Fiji’s remote communities means travelling by horseback or boat to ensure citizens across the country can vote in the national election.
Fiji's coup leaders, military commanders and political veterans are jumping on TikTok to woo young voters as the country heads towards polling day.
Tuvalu wants be the first country in the world to be a fully digital nation, if wealthy nations can’t curb carbon emissions and sea levels continue to rise. Also, a new deadly homemade weapon is causing havoc in Papua New Guinea and claiming lives.
Pacific countries are pushing for a loss and damage fund at the COP 27 UN climate talks in Egypt, as Australia lobbies for support to host the 2026 event.
Australia has defended its donation of assault rifles to the Solomon Islands police as critics say competition with China is pushing Canberra to rush the decision.
Australia's government will unveil a further boost to foreign aid to the Pacific in next week's budget, promising to lift development spending by a total of almost $1.4 billion over the next four years.
There's concerns that the entry of Guam in to a Pacific's peak political body could give the US too much sway in the region. Also, Vanuatu's snap election goes off without a hitch.
Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister says Australia is his country’s partner of choice as leaders attempt to restore relations following Honiara’s controversial security treaty with China.
Fourteen Pacific leaders have backed a Pacific partnership with the United States following an historic White House summit, despite earlier concerns raised by Solomon Islands.
Fourteen Pacific leaders have backed a Pacific partnership with the United States following an historic White House summit, despite earlier concerns raised by Solomon Islands.
A roundup of major stories from across the region and the people involved and affected by them.
A roundup of major stories from across the region and the people involved and affected by them.
The death of Britain's longest serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II is being felt across the Pacific, and Solomon Islands passes controversial delay of election.
The death of Britain's longest serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II is being felt across the Pacific, and Solomon Islands passes controversial delay of election.
As Pacific workers leave for Australia under its labour mobility scheme, businesses left behind say they are struggling to fill shortages during the busy tourist season.
Papua New Guinea's new cabinet has been sworn in but there are calls for urgent electoral reform after what's been described as the worst election in the country's history.
Residents in the town of Lami, in Fiji, are concerned about an Australian-funded defence facility being constructed in a residential area, saying they were not consulted.
Papua New Guinea’s long running election has been extended to allow counting to be completed but the move has been questioned by politicians who are threatening to challenge it in court.
Dozens of people have been killed in election violence in Papua New Guinea as officials threaten to declare failed elections in parts of the country.
Anthony Albanese promised Pacific leaders that Australia would do more on climate as the government re-set relations with the region.
Fijians living overseas concerned they may not get a chance to vote in their country's election. An ADF contingent in Solomon Islands to assist with vital WW2 ordnance clearance work.
Marks of pride inherited from her ancestors adorn Moale's face. But they're also the reason she was turned away from a popular Brisbane club.
Politics is far from boring in Papua New Guinea where the country's national election campaign is "like a festival in itself".
Two former military commanders – both coup makers with chequered pasts are jostling for power as Fiji heads to the polls.
Australia has stepped in to help Pacific leaders resolve a rift that was threatening to split a crucial regional body
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has announced a new eight-year partnership with Samoa to help address human development in the Pacific island nation, as well as a new maritime patrol boat for the country.
Australia’s new Foreign Minster Penny Wong has visited Fiji pledging to act on climate change and China’s Foreign Minister begins his Pacific tour in Solomon Islands.
The Pacific’s tourism sector faces the challenge of finding workers and a new study finds the drug Ivermectin helps treat Scabies in Fiji
Tuberculosis is on the rise as health groups call for more funding for Papua New Guinea.
Fiji’s High Court approves US seizure of $450m super yacht belonging to a close associate of Russian president Vladimir Putin
Solomon Island’s security pact with China has been dominating headlines but Pacific voters in Australia say they care more about climate change and visas.
Pacific experts call on Australia to tone down the rhetoric on the Solomon Islands-China treaty, while East Timor's youth vote propels Jose Ramos-Horta to a Presidential election victory.
Australia’s Pacific Minister put his election campaign on hold for a last minute dash to sway Honiara away from a security treaty with China while Tuvalu makes a U-turn on its support for deep sea mining.
Plans to tax the Pacific’s biggest mobile network could threaten a buyout from Telstra and there are fears PNG’s gun culture could see political rivalries turn bloody.
In this edition:
Australia’s overall aid budget is set to increase modestly but international development advocates say temporary COVID-19 spending should be made permanent.
Vanutu locals call for tsunami warning improvement in wake of Tonga volcano
Marshall Islands' Foreign Minister is considering "expelling" any Russian yachts or boats that have been targeted by Western-led sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
And, As Papua New Guineans prepare to go to the polls in June Advocacy groups fear officials have not taken into consideration the needs of people with mobility, hearing, or visual needs.
Two years since Pacific countries closed their international borders some nations have decided relax restrictions, War between Russia and Ukraine has seen the price of Nickel sky rocket which could be good news for New Caledonia, And, worrying levels of a particular radioactive chemical have been found in the Pacific.
The World Health Organisation voices its concern as COVID-19 continues to spread through Vanuatu's provinces. Pacific birds sing out in a global online birdsong archive.
Vanuatu loses its COVID-free status — after a quarantine breach this week led to community transmission of the virus. Papua New Guinea criminalises the practice of glassmen and glassmeri, who have the power to accuse men and women of sorcery. And, Pacific leaders walk a delicate tightrope as war between Russia and Ukraine escalates, particularly as China faces criticism for its response to the conflict.
A group of Fijian workers join the flood rescue efforts in eastern Australia after putting out a call on social media. And, Papua New Guinea has appointed its first ever female defence force commander.
A group of Papua New Guinean men who identify as Indigenous Australians are fighting for their right to live and work in Australia and an international team are planning to create a crypto paradise in Vanuatu.
The Fijiana Drua make history competing in the Australia Super W rugby competition and just a year into his three-year term, the leader of the Pacific Islands Forum is expected to step down.
In this edition:
The international space station will eventually join other space junk at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but there are concerns over the environmental impact of this rocketship graveyard. And, Pacific athletes are celebrating a female surfing championship that took place in Hawaii, an event that has been generations in the making.
Tonga works to contain it's COVID-19 outbreak. Fiji police have charged an Australian citizen over offensive posts on TikTok. Tuvalu's Foreign Minister Simon Kofe has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize.
Tonga’s economy could be left devastated for years to come, as the financial toll from the damage left by the volcanic eruption and tsunami will be in the millions. And, preserving traditional knowledge can be difficult as it can be lost to time, but there are hopes a new book published in Fiji will preserve traditional knowledge around healing plants.
In this edition:
The picture of devastation in Tonga after last week’s volcanic eruption and tsunami is becoming more clear as communication to the Island Nation are slowly coming through.
Pacific Island nations are starting to register their first cases of community transmission after remaining virtually COVID free for most of the pandemic.
You’ll meet the man who’s taking on the role as coach of Fiji’s national sevens rugby team, Ben Gollings.
And, as parents gear up for the school year ahead, dieticians are concerned about the increasing prevalence of unhealthy foods in the Pacific.
In this edition:
The scourge of sorcery accusation related violence rears its head again in PNG, but this time in the capital.
Vanuatu's golden passports are at risk of being tarnished by a European Union suspension.
And the IOC's threat to kick weightlifting out of the 2028 Olympics sets the alarm bells ringing in the Pacific.
In this edition:
Students start to return to the classroom in Fiji, but is it a wise move?
Shot dead by the police, is gang leader Tommy Baker set to take on the same cult status as Australia's Ned Kelly?
PNG Hunters coach Matt Church takes steps to plug a communication gap.
And good times ahead for Fiji's Silktails, once they emerge from another COVID-19 hiccup.
Tonga has a new Prime Minister. We meet the Fijian doctor who is on track to fulfil a medical dream.
Solomon Islands' Prime Minister survives a vote of no confidence, but the rebel Malaita province presses ahead towards self-rule. Manu Samoa seek government approval to set up a temporary home in Dubai, so they can get back on the World Rugb 7s circuit.
The threat of renewed violence continues to linger in Solomon Islands, as Parliament resumes after an outbreak of civil unrest. A momentous day for Fiji and its tourism industry as international flights resume, despite the emergence of the Omicron variant. The Pacific island kava industry races to meet new regulations for Australian import licences.
Unrest returned to the streets of Solomon Islands capital this week, with buildings torched and looted after anti-government protests broke out. Solomon Islands' opposition leader "categorically rejects" claims made by the country’s Prime Minister that he incited or is responsible for the unrest in Honiara. And as around 150 Kiribati sailors finally arrived home this week after not being able to get home in almost two years, another group of men is stuck in Australia.
Australia's government accused of creating a climate of fear, as it seeks to stop Pacific seasonal workers from absconding. Solomon Islands' government under fire for seeking to postpone the country's next general election. And how cutting down the amount of high impact contact on the rugby field could open the door for Pacific skills to shine.
The growing problem of absconding among Pacific island seasonal workers in Australia. Fiji reopens its borders, but the news is not so good for Fijians trying to reach Australia; And Welshman Gareth Baber reflects on what it means to coach his adopted nation Fiji against his home nation, on the rugby field.
Children in the Pacific hope their voices will be heard at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. Women urged not to fall pregnant during PNG’s worsening COVID-19 outbreak. What are the risks with Japan’s plan to release wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean?
Concerns are being raised in the lead up to the crucial COP26 climate summit that without ambitious targets the 1.5 dream won’t be kept alive; a ransomware attack on Papua New Guinea's finance department during a health crisis has been described as “shameful” and the “lowest of the low”; and, the first Samoan to be appointed head coach of a first grade rugby league club anywhere in the world.
Papua New Guinea's largest hospital teeters on the brink of collapse due to COVID19. The reality didn't quite match the dream for Papua New Guinea as they made their debut at the men's T20 Cricket World Cup; and, a love story reunion in Solomon Islands after 551 days apart.
On the program:
Holiday bookings for Fiji surge after the country announces plans to reopen its international borders.
Pacific Islands delegates struggle to get to Glasgow for the COP26 climate summit.
A lack of cancer drugs costs lives in Solomon Islands.
And would a new malaria vaccine be viable in PNG?
Australia's offshore processing to come to an end in PNG after 8 years of the contraversial program. And, a young Australian soldier on patrol in Timor Leste helped deliver a baby boy, and more than 20 years on the soldier and the boy have been reunited through the power of social media.
Chinese aid to the Pacific in decline. Papua New Guinea’s health system buckles under a growing outbreak of the COVID-19 Delta variant. Kiribati’s president expresses disappointment at Australia’s plan to acquire nuclear submarines.
Samoa aims to vaccinate its eligible population from COVID-19 during a nationwide two day lockdown, and the Pacific region has some of the highest rates of NCDs in the world, but a new report from Pacific Island Food Revolution says the show is changing habits.
Australia's sudden shift to nuclear powered submarines causes some consternation in the Pacific. Frustration for the young Fijian basketball star with eyes on the NBA, but currently locked down in Sydney.
The controversial no jab, no job policy faces a court challenge in Fiji, while in PNG protesting workers have taken matters into their own hands. And the countdown begins for PNG's cricketers ahead of their debut in the men's T20 World Cup Finals series.
Vanuatu revokes the citizenship of a Syrian national amid concerns criminals are buying passports. A young Papua New Guinean woman returns home after successful treatment in Australia for a rare bone disease.
Solomon Islands introduces a no jab-no job policy for public servants, and could a street kid from Port Moresby represent his country in break dancing at the next Olympic Games?
Fijians with Australian ties make the hard choice to leave their COVID-19 stricken country. Momentum grows for a renewed push to do away with Papua New Guinea's colonial dual salary system. And we find out what it takes to be a traditional shark caller in PNG's New Ireland province.
Light in the darkness for COVID-19 blighted Fiji, as their rugby sevens team strikes Olympic gold again. The budget and easing COVID-19 restrictions first on the to do list, as Samoa's first female prime minister takes office at last. And OFC set to out to make it possible for a team from the Pacific to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.