Overview:
Australia’s Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy, says strategic competition in the Pacific is a permanent reality, but insists Pacific nations will continue to determine their own futures. In an interview with PACNEWS, Conroy outlined Australia’s approach to strengthening regional ties through development assistance, infrastructure investment, labour mobility, policing cooperation and defence partnerships, while emphasizing respect for Pacific sovereignty and independent decision-making.
By Pita Ligaiula
CANBERRA, 26 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)–Australian Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy says strategic competition with China in the Pacific is a permanent feature of the region’s future, while stressing that Pacific countries retain the right to determine their own paths.
Speaking in an interview in Canberra, Conroy said Australia is responding by using every available tool to strengthen its relationships across the Pacific.
“Well, it’s about maximum effort in using every lever. We’ve got some great advantages in our relationships that we intend to build on,” he said.
Conroy said development assistance remains a key part of Australia’s engagement, but not the only element.
“We’re the biggest development partner in the region. And the way we approach it actually responds to priorities of other countries,” he said
He said Australia focuses on infrastructure investment, local content and supporting Pacific businesses.
“I announced I think it was about a SBD$60 million (US$7.44 million) – road partnership with the Solomon Islands. It was specified in the contract that every single dollar should go to a Solomon Islands company so that they could build their capability,” said Conroy.
Conroy said the approach delivers benefits beyond infrastructure projects.
“We do that so they get the double dividend of the infrastructure but also the skills development, the payroll, income tax dividend,” he explained.
He said Australia also supports the Pacific through labour mobility programmes, migration pathways, policing cooperation and defence partnerships.
“We’ve got the Pacific labour scheme where every month workers are on average sending back $1500(US$1, 035) Australian lifting families and communities out of poverty,” he said.
Conroy said the Australian Federal Police is working closely with Pacific countries through the Pacific Policing Initiative, while defence ties continue to grow through initiatives such as the Guardian-class patrol boat programme.
“The ADF is a great asset.”
He also pointed to cultural and sporting links as important parts of Australia’s engagement with the region.
“The cultural connections are important via things like shared cultural past but also love of sport, whether it’s rugby league in PNG, soccer in Vanuatu, rugby union in Fiji,” Conroy said.
Conroy said Australia remains a major economic partner for Pacific countries.
“So we’re a key partner, and it’s about getting the message out there about how we can support a working partnership,” he said.
Asked whether strategic competition in the Pacific had an end point, Conroy said Australia viewed it as permanent.
“Well, we just say it’s permanent. It is permanent,” he emphasised.
He said that did not diminish the sovereignty of Pacific countries.
“That doesn’t remove our agency and the agency of every nation in the Pacific to control their own destiny.”
Conroy said Pacific countries would continue to make their own decisions and Australia’s role was to remain a reliable partner.
“And in the end, they will guide their future. And it’s our job to be the best partner and to encourage countries to move beyond transactional playing off development partners to think about where their long-term interests lie.”
And I’m very clear that’s with Australia. That’s not exclusive.” he added.
Conroy said Australia respected countries’ rights to maintain economic relationships with other partners, including China.
“We’ve got very strong trade relationships with China. They’re our biggest trading partner. But we would never dictate who people could trade with or have economic relationships with,” he said.
He said the Australian Government had deliberately elevated Pacific engagement, noting that he is the first Pacific minister to sit in Cabinet and be a permanent member of Australia’s National Security Committee.
“That’s an elevation that’s intentional by this government, recognising the state of affairs that we face.”
Conroy also provided an update on the Australia-Papua New Guinea Pukpuk Alliance, saying implementation was progressing rapidly.
He said both countries were moving ahead with defence cooperation while final legal processes continued.
“Well, implementation is going at pace. We didn’t wait for that, we’re getting on with it.”
Conroy said Australia was supporting Papua New Guinea’s efforts to strengthen its military capability, humanitarian response capacity and broader security cooperation.
“So it’s going ahead really well, and the relationship is incredibly strong.” he said…..PACNEWS