This is yet another example of China putting pressure on Australia's traditional domains of partnership, forcing the Australian government to put more resources into the security of the region.

Lowy Institute staff attended a Women in National Security event at ANU National Security College yesterday, to celebrate and amplify the voices of women in national security. The panel included Meg Tapia, ACIC CEO Heather Cook, Kerri Hartland, and Dr Heather Smith from Australian Institute of International Affairs.

Today, we release the 2024 The Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map, the most comprehensive database of aid & development flows to the #pacific ever assembled. 14 countries, 97 development partners, over 37,000 projects. Explore the Map and Key Findings Report pacificaidmap.lowyinstitute.org 1/12

Latest Pacific Aid Map is out. As usual, some fascinating data. Quite a sharp drop in ODA (as COVID $$$ winds down) while donors are now lending more heavily, raising risk of debt distress. China continuing to recalibrate its approach. HT Alexandre Dayant abc.net.au/news/2024-11-2…

Crucial issue -- we gripe about banks in Australia, but access isn't an issue. Not so for Pacific Island countries. Jessica Collins weighs up the policy response. lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

The The Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map is back! Tune in to the latest IDPC podcast as Riley Duke and I join Jessica Collins to unpack aid flows in the #Pacific, China's role, and the geopolitics shaping Pacific recovery post-pandemic. Have a listen: lowyinstitute.org/publications/d…

golly

Now confirmed. Australia handing over $140 million to Nauru (over five years) in budget and security support. CBA to come in to replace Bendigo Bank to ensure Nauru isn't left unbanked. Australia can veto any third party engagement in Nauru's telco, banking, security sectors.

AUSTRAC donating new IT system to Bank of PNG's Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit to help it track illicit flows of $. By all accounts FASU has a mountain to climb: this looks like a good initiative on the face of it

An historic Aus-Nauru treaty was signed this week. Aus will invest in Nauru's economic and security sectors, including banking. But what happens in 5 yrs' time when the funding dries up, and the “permanent state of contest” continues? lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

Some very bold Pacific plays by Australia this week. Read my colleagues Oliver Nobetau in The Sydney Morning Herald on PNG’s entry into the National Rugby League with likely security benefits: smh.com.au/sport/png-deal… and Jessica Collins on a new financial & security pact with Nauru: lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

And while the China aspect of the debate is fascinating, I think the banking deal is the most important part of the deal with Nauru, as Jessica Collins explains. lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

Sad news in Vanuatu the latest of a significant year of events across the Pacific - Jessica Collins draws together themes that shaped the region across the year. lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

Thrilled to have Gabriela Bernal write a feature about her home of Curaçao, with a history I'd not known of before - a lovely reflection, highly recommend. lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

Interested in the Aus-PNG relationship? Join us in Port Moresby for the The Lowy Institute Emerging Leaders Dialogue to discuss the future of the bilateral relationship with other amazing young leaders. Applications close end of Jan! Aus-PNG Network

Who trades more with countries around the world, the United States or China? Our latest The Lowy Institute data interactive show how things have changed since 2001.

Applications for the 2025 Emerging Leaders Dialogue close tomorrow, 5pm. Get yours in now! Senator Jessica Collins Oliver Nobetau Mihai Sora

Very interesting. Samoa has publicly attributed malicious cyber activity to a Chinese state-backed group of hackers, APT40. Several countries have done this before, but I *think* this is the first time a Pacific nation has publicly attributed cyber attacks to a PRC backed entity

This week I gave my Maiden Speech to the Senate. It’s a little over 22 minutes long, which is about the same as a Simpsons episode (but not as funny). If you’re interested in family policy, defence, or foreign policy - then have a watch. youtu.be/ETR-XoMOhAU

I haven’t seen someone so out of their depth since that time when Bob Carr suddenly became Foreign Minister.