
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 Miko, Niamh and Sarah
Image via Wage Peace

Your 10am Zedlines with Miko, Niamh & Sarah. (IMG: Via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Sarah, Niamh & Miko. (Image via Ben Pennings)

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

Your (messy) 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Dan (Images via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Charlie and Yuchen (Image via Public Domain Pictures)

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

Your 11AM Zedlines with HG, Stella, Sarah, and Eden

Your 10AM Zedlines with Alec, Sarah, Vivek, and Eden

Your 9am Zedlines with Em, Vivek and Stella.

Your 8am Zedlines with Vivek, Em and Alec

Your 11AM Zedlines with Hailey and Georgie

Your 10AM Zedlines with Cass and Lachlan
Image credit: Vera Kratochvil

Your 9AM Zedlines with Cass and Hailey

Your 8AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Georgie.
Image Credit: Foran Lawn & Yard.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Livinia and Clementine

Your 10AM Zedlines with Livinia and Clementine

Your 9AM Zedlines with Livinia and Clementine
Your 8AM Zedlines with Livinia and Clementine

Your 11AM Zedlines with Ellen, Miko and Niamh
IMG: From Wikimedia Commons under CC4.0

Your 9AM Zedlines with Miko and Niamh
IMG: From PhotosByCapy

Your 10AM Zedlines with Alanah, Sarah and Ellen
IMG: From Wikimedia Commons under CC4.0

Your 8AM Zedlines with Alanah and Sarah
IMG: From Dorothy Day House on Facebook

Your 11AM Zedlines with Charlie and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Yuchen! (Image via The Wire)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Charlie and Ethan! (Image via Pixnio)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 10AM Zedlines with Alec, HG, Sarah, and Vivek