Australia and Vanuatu have a strong and enduring bilateral relationship, based on shared values and interests in a prosperous and stable region. We share a strong connection as members of the Pacific family. Our relationship over the last 44 years demonstrates our long-standing and enduring ties, including through shared values, church and community links, and mutual respect. Our strong partnerships enable us to work closely together – in good times and in times of crises.

Australia established a diplomatic presence in Vanuatu in 1978 and championed the case for Vanuatu's independence in the United Nations and Pacific Forums in the lead up to independence in 1980. Australia opened a Consulate in 1978, followed by a High Commission in Port Vila in 1980, in 2020 we celebrated 40 years of close diplomatic relations. Australia and Vanuatu enjoy a very broad range of links at government, business and community levels. Australia is proud to be Vanuatu's largest bilateral development, economic and security partner and our engagement aligns with Vanuatu's National Sustainable Development Plan 2030.

Vanuatu is an archipelagic nation of 83 islands, extending over 1,000 kilometres in a north-south direction between the equator and the tropic of Capricorn. It lies some 2,000 kilometres to the northeast of Brisbane in the Coral Sea, at similar latitude to Cairns in North Queensland. The population of Vanuatu is approximately 326,740 (2022). Port Vila, on the island of Efate, is the capital. Formerly known as the New Hebrides, Vanuatu was jointly governed by British and French administrations before attaining independence in 1980.

Vanuatu has a unicameral 52-member parliament, elected to a four-year term by universal adult suffrage. The President of the Republic of Vanuatu (constitutional head of state) is elected for a five-year term through secret ballot by an electoral college comprising members of parliament and the presidents of Vanuatu's six provincial governments. The current President, His Excellency Nikenike Vurobaravu, was elected for a five-year term on 25 July 2022. The Prime Minister is elected by Parliament from among its members by secret ballot. Vanuatu's Parliament elected the Hon Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas as Prime Minister of Vanuatu on 6 October 2023.

Development partnership

Australia is Vanuatu's largest bilateral development partner. Total Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vanuatu for 2024-25 is estimated at $83.2 million. Australia is partnering with the Government of Vanuatu to support its priorities including strengthening governance systems and institutions, improving service delivery to rural and remote communities, facilitating economic growth, and supporting Vanuatu's resilience against the impacts of climate change and natural hazards. Specifics sectors Australia supports include education and skills, health, justice, policing, infrastructure, governance, economic recovery, disability and social inclusion, climate change and humanitarian response and recovery.

Australia is actively supporting the Government of Vanuatu to respond to recent natural disasters including Tropical Cyclones Kevin, Judy and Lola (2023) and Harold (2020) and is working to support Vanuatu's economic recovery from COVID-19.

Economic and trade engagement

Most of Vanuatu's population lives in rural areas where subsistence farming, fishing and production of cash crops such as kava, coconut and cocoa are the main sources of livelihoods. Goods exports are dominated by agricultural products, particularly kava, coconut products, beef and cocoa. Vanuatu's economic growth has been driven largely by tourism and construction. Prior to 2020, tourism and tourism-related services sectors (wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, and transport and communication) accounted for an estimated 40 per cent of GDP and one third of people in formal employment. Two-thirds of long stay tourists to Vanuatu and almost all cruise ship passengers were Australian. Two-way goods and services trade between Australia and Vanuatu was valued at $476 million (2023).

Australia and Vanuatu are close economic partners. Our programs are supporting the Government of Vanuatu to pursue opportunities to grow Vanuatu's economy in a sustainable and inclusive way including through deeper trade, tourism and agriculture engagement. These are being supported by bilateral and regional initiatives such as PACER Plus.

Vanuatu is the second largest sending country under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (5,780 ni-Vanuatu workers as of August 2024). The scheme allows eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from nine Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available.

Security partnership

Australia and Vanuatu continue to deepen our security partnership, based on respect, shared values, and decades of security cooperation, driven by a shared interest in a safe and secure Pacific region. We are working together to build police capability and improve community safety and resilience. Guided by the Boe Declaration on regional security, we are working together to address the Pacific's unique security interests including transnational crime, health, climate, environmental and cyber security.

On 13 December 2022, in Vanuatu, Australia and Vanuatu signed a signed a bilateral security agreement, concerning closer security relations. The Agreement recognises that our security cooperation continues to adapt, including to address the implications of climate change, to help manage the human security effects of COVID-19 and other public health emergencies, and to meet shared challenges across the full scope of the Boe Declaration.

In 2021, under the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP), Australia gifted a new Guardian-class patrol boat to Vanuatu, RVS Takuare. In December 2022, Australia handed over the newly redeveloped Mala Base Wharf and gifted police boat RVS Mataweli to Vanuatu as part of our long-standing maritime security cooperation and to meet the infrastructure mooring requirements for RVS Takuare. In 2024, Australia handed over the 47 metre RVS Sokomanu landing craft – named in honour of Vanuatu's first President Ati George Sokomanu from 1984-1989 – to the Vanuatu Police Maritime Wing. The RVS Sokomanu is directly supporting the Vanuatu Police Force and Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office to respond to natural hazards and to provide humanitarian assistance across the archipelago.

In September 2024, Australia handed over the AUD$106 million redevelopment of the Cook and Tiroas Barracks in Port Vila and Luganville, respectively. Under the Vanuatu Australia Policing and Justice Program, Australia is also providing organisational and capacity building support to the Vanuatu Police Force.

People-to-people ties

Australia and Vanuatu share strong people-to-people links across our governments, businesses and communities. This was demonstrated by Vanuatu's generous support following Australia's bushfires in January 2020 when the Government of Vanuatu donated $250,000. The private sector and local community groups also undertook fundraising efforts to support Australia's bushfire recovery.

The Australia-Vanuatu partnership spans all six of Vanuatu's provinces. We partner at all levels of government and community leadership, including with Vanuatu's traditional chiefly system. Participants at a Ministry of Justice and Community Services launch event at the Malvatumauri Council of Chief's Nakamal with First Secretary Stephanie Kimber. Credit: DFAT.

The Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme is helping to address labour shortages in rural and regional Australia, and bridge the skills gap for Vanuatu. Vanuatu is the second largest source of workers for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Programme. Labour mobility is a win-win for Australia and Vanuatu, helping to fill labour shortages in Australia and provide additional opportunities for ni-Vanuatu workers to earn income and develop skills.

Australia Awards offer the next generation of Vanuatu's leaders an opportunity to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia and the Pacific region. Australia Awards complement development assistance to Vanuatu by building human resources in priority sectors.

Through these prestigious scholarships, Australia is supporting ni-Vanuatu students to build the skills and knowledge to drive change and influence economic and social development.

Vanuatu receives around 40 - 50 Australian Volunteers for International Development each year. These volunteers work in a wide range of sectors to contribute to Vanuatu's development and to build enduring people-to-people links between Australia and Vanuatu.