
Last month was the annual 51st Pacific Islands Forum when our neighbours to the East met. Do you know anything about this inter-government agency and what they talk about? Are Australia or New Zealand even members?
4ZZZʻs Eliot Rifkin and Toni Pankaluic chatted about the Pacific Islands Forum with Tess Newton-Cain an Associate Professor at Griffith Asia Institute who attended the Forum.
For a deep dive…
Check out Tess Newton-Cain’s bio and the Pacific Hub project she leads at Griffith Asia Institute. Read their latest research on how China engages with Pacific island countries when it comes to climate change.
For more on what The Pacific Island Forum is: brief background or an in-depth summary. Discussed at the most recent forum was the 2050 Blue Pacific Continent Communique Strategy. For further commentary on this year's forum, here is a blog co-written by Tess.
Here are some recent articles regarding Australia's relationships with the Pacific islands region:
To gain a basic overview of the three island regions from the Pacific:
August 25 was the national recognition day of when the Commonwealth Government formally recognised Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) as a distinct cultural group. For more on the history and importance visit here.
Toni Pankaluic is a Journalist and contributor to Brisbane Line

Your 11AM Zedlines with Maddy, Megan and Joe

Your 10AM Zedlines with Megan, Maddy and Joe

Your 9AM Zedlines with Maddy, Megan and Joe

Your 8AM Zedlines with Megan and Joe

Your 11am Zedlines with Konrad and Angie!

Your 10am Zedlines with Angie and Konrad!

Your 9am Zedlines with Konrad and Angie!

Your 8am Zedlines with Angie and Konrad.

Your 11am Zedlines with Annabel and Charlie

Your 10am Zedlines with Jasper and Liv

Your 8am Zedlines with Liv and Jasper.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Anastasia, Aliyah and Mario

Your 10AM Zedlines with Aliyah, Anastasia and Mario

Your 9AM Zedlines with Aliyah, Anastasia and Mario

Your 8AM Zedlines with Anastasia, Aliyah and Mario

Your 11AM Zedlines with Bella and Tasha

Your 10AM Zedlines with Tasha and Eiri

Your 9AM Zedlines with Chloe and Eiri

Your 8AM Zedlines with Bella and Chloe

Your 9AM Zedlines with Megan, Maddy and Joe

Your 8AM Zedlines with Megan, Maddy and Joe

Your 11AM Zedlines with Konrad

Your 10AM Zedlines with Maddie and Calani
Your 9AM Zedlines with Angela and Konrad

Your 8AM Zedlines with Calani and Maddie

Your 8am Zedlines with Annabel and Charlie

Your 11AM Zedlines with Mario, Frankee and Sydney

Your 10AM Zedlines with Aliyah and Anastasia!