
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

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Your 10AM Zedlines with Georgie and Hailey

Your 9AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Hailey.

Your 8AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Georgie
Image Credit: Neil Sequira

Your 10AM Zedlines with Mack, Clementine and Livinia

Your 9AM Zedlines with Livinia, Mack and Clementine

Your 8AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 11am Zedlines with Sarah and Alannah

Your 10am Zedlines with Niamh and Miko

Your 9am Zedlines with Sarah and Alannah
image: Wikkimedia commons
Your 8am Zedlines with Niamh and Miko
image: Wikkimedia commons

Your 11AM Zedlines with Yuchen, Dan and Ethan
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Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Charlie

Your 9AM Zedlines with Dan, Yuchen and Ethan
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Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Charlie (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

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Your 8AM Zedlines with Alec, Vivek, and Sarah

Your 11AM Zedlines with Cass, Hailey and Georgie.

Your 10AM Zedlines with Georgie and Hailey.

Your 9AM Zedlines with Cass and Hailey.
Image credit: Cory Doctorow

Your 8AM Zedlines with Cass and Georgie.
Image Credit: Mavio Silva

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Your 10am Zedlines with Ellen, Alannah and Niamh

Your 9am Zedlines with Alannah and Niamh
Your 8am Zedlines with Ellen and Alannah

Your 11AM Zedlines with Asha and Yuchen (Image via Wikimedia Commons)