The Australian Government is committed to bringing energy and resources to the Pacific, to listen to and work with our Pacific partners, to help build a stronger Pacific family. Australia’s 2022-23 Budget, delivered on Tuesday 25 October, backs up this commitment with real action.
Australia will increase our Official Development Assistance to the Pacific over the next four years by AUD900 million, growing our partnerships across infrastructure, climate, health, education, economic recovery, security, and enhancing our people-to-people connections.
This Budget deepens and broadens Australia’s security partnership with our Pacific family.
Australia will provide increased support to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through the Pacific Maritime Security Program. Palau’s Australian-built Guardian Class patrol boat, PSS Remeliik II, which has enhanced Palau’s capacity to secure its exclusive economic zone, showcases the strength of our security cooperation.
Australia will support customs and border security capability throughout the Pacific and expand training programs for Pacific security forces, including from Palau, through the new Australia-Pacific Defence School.
Australia is also supporting a diverse, independent and resilient media sector in the Pacific, with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to share content, support content creation, and provide training to Pacific journalists, providing continuity of support to Palau’s Media Council.
Recognising nothing is more central to the security and wellbeing of the Pacific than climate change, Australia has established a Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership under the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), increasing our investment in climate-related infrastructure and building resilience.
We are also doubling the grant funding available under the AIFFP to AUD1 billion, combined with AUD3 billion in loans, strengthening support for quality, climate resilient, transformational infrastructure projects across the Pacific, including here in Palau.
Through the AIFFP, Australia is co-funding with Palau, Japan, and the United States a second fibre optic submarine cable system to support reliable, secure digital connectivity. Australia is also investing in the Palau Solar Project, delivered by Solar Pacific Pristine Power. This project supports Palau’s transition to renewable energy and will achieve twenty percent of Palau’s total energy needs by the end of 2023.
“Our bilateral development cooperation with Palau seeks to respond pragmatically to Palau’s priorities, including economic growth, public infrastructure, climate change action, gender equity, maritime security, scholarships and healthcare support”, said Ambassador Richelle Turner.
Australia is committed to working with Palau towards our shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific.
Australia’s Budget: Delivering on Pacific Priorities
