Fiji
Australia and Fiji share a strong and enduring bilateral relationship set out by the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership signed in October 2023, building on the previous partnership signed in 2019. It is a broad-ranging and comprehensive partnership supporting deeper people-to-people, economic and security links.
On 25 May 2022, in her first week as Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong travelled to Fiji, demonstrating the importance we place on our relationship with Fiji and on our Pacific engagement. Since then, Minister Wong visited Fiji again in September 2023 and August 2024, and Minister Conroy visited in April/May 2024. Prime Minister Rabuka also visited Australia as a Guest of Government, in October 2023.
Security partnerships
In line with the Boe Declaration on regional security, we are continuing to grow our defence and security cooperation. Co-deployments between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) in our region have demonstrated the value of Pacific partners responding to regional crises.
We have worked together on major security infrastructure projects in Fiji, including the redevelopment of Blackrock Peacekeeping, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp. Blackrock Camp is a world-class facility enhancing interoperability and Fiji's ability to respond to humanitarian crises in the region.
Under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, Australia handed over two Guardian-class patrol boats to Fiji in March 2020 and 2024 to support maritime security in the Pacific region. We have supported Fiji to undertake a major upgrade of the RFNS Stanley Brown Wharf, to provide safe and secure berthing for these Guardian-class Patrol Boats. We are now partnering with Fiji on the construction of the Maritime Essential Services Centre (MESC), which, when complete, will enhance Fiji’s maritime security capabilities, and strengthen cooperation in the areas of maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping, and training.
People-to-people links
Australia and Fiji have extensive people-to-people links. Over 3,000 Australian companies do business in Fiji and close to 69,000 people born in Fiji live in Australia. Fiji is also one of the top destinations for Australians. Australians represent the largest cohort of visitor arrivals to Fiji (see Fiji Bureau of Statistics).
There are regular exchanges between Australia and Fiji, including through the Australia Awards, New Colombo Plan, Australian Volunteers Program, and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. There are now around 6,000 Fijian PALM scheme workers in Australia, enriching the culture and society of regional and rural communities across the country.
Australia and Fiji share a deep love of sports. Through the PacificAus Sports program, we helped Fiji's national netball team, the Fiji Pearls, to compete at the 2019 Netball World Cup and we continue to sponsor the Kaiviti Silktails to play in the NSW Ron Massey Cup. Australia supports the Fijian Drua to compete in the men’s Super Rugby Pacific competition and the Fijiana Drua to compete in the women’s Super W competition. We are also helping, at the grassroots level, Fijian girls and boys to participate in our Team Up program.
Australia is supporting skills development in Fiji through the Australia Pacific Training Coalition, which is enhancing vocational education and training across the Pacific.
Economic relationship
Australia is one of Fiji's largest trade and investment partners and we are assisting Fiji’s economic diversification into agriculture, manufacturing and technology through these initiatives. The Market Development Facility (MDF) began in Fiji in 2011. MDF stimulates business innovation and private sector investment for development outcomes, particularly poverty reduction and women's economic empowerment.
The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) is increasing its activities in Fiji to support Fiji’s private and public infrastructure needs.
Australia’s kava pilot recognises the deep cultural significance of kava for Pacific Island communities both in Australia and across the Pacific region.
Australia and Fiji’s Memorandum of Understanding on Ports Infrastructure and Services is supporting Fiji’s current and future maritime needs including revitalising Fiji’s shipbuilding and ship repair industry.
Development
Australia is Fiji’s largest bilateral development assistance donor.
Australia’s development program plays a critical role supporting health, education and skills, gender equality, disability inclusion and private sector recovery programs, as well as disaster relief in the wake of tropical cyclones, and direct budget support to bolster social protection schemes for the most vulnerable Fijians. Acknowledging Fiji’s regional and global leadership on climate change, Australia is supporting the Fiji Government to implement their Climate Change Act which legislates mitigation and adaptation action.
Australia always stands ready to support Fiji to respond to, and recover from, tropical cyclones. Following Tropical Cyclone Yasa in 2020, Australia provided $4.5 million in immediate humanitarian relief and deployed the HMAS Adelaide to help with the relief effort. Working closely with the Government of Fiji, Australia is providing a further $34.5 million to support the education recovery, with a focus on rehabilitating damaged or destroyed school infrastructure for up to nine schools and two hospitals. We continue to work closely with the Fijian government, including the National Disaster Management Office, and local civil society partners to be better prepared for future tropical cyclones.
International cooperation
Australia and Fiji work together in multilateral forums as fellow members of the UN, World Trade Organization, Commonwealth, and Pacific Islands Forum. Fiji was the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2021-22. Fiji was elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2019-21 term, overlapping with Australia's 2018-20 term. Fiji's Presidency of the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change oversaw successful negotiations on the Rulebook and the establishment of the 'Talanoa Dialogue' ministerial-level review of global action on climate change. Australia provided $6 million to support Fiji's Presidency.