Australia greatly values its close historical, political, economic, development, security and people-to-people links with the island countries and territories of the Pacific. Australia works closely with Pacific island countries to support economic growth, stability, and sustainable development. Australia is a founding member of and active participant in the main political and technical organisations in the Pacific. These organisations support their members to develop regional responses to the challenges faced by the Blue Pacific Continent, including peace and security, fisheries, and ocean governance.

• The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is the region's principal political grouping. Established in 1971, its membership comprises Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna, Guam and American Samoa are associate members. The Forum's annual Leaders' Retreat is the peak regional meeting for political discussions on deeper regional cooperation and integration. DFAT also supports Australia’s participation in the annual and ad-hoc Forum Ministerial Meetings. Forum members are serviced by a Secretariat based in Suva, Fiji. Australia contributes approximately 36 percent (2023) of the budget for the PIF Secretariat. See the Pacific Regional – effective regional institutions page for further information about Australia’s support to the PIF.
• The Pacific Community (SPC) delivers technical assistance, policy advice, training and research services for the region. The SPC membership comprises American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. SPC’s work is integrated through its four Flagship programs, focusing on Climate Change, Oceans, Food Systems, and Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. In 2023, Australia contributed approximately 25 percent of the SPC’s total budget. See the Pacific Regional – effective regional institutions page for further information about Australia’s support to SPC.
• The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) is the primary regional fisheries management organisation in the Pacific. It assists members to strengthen national capacity and regional solidarity to maximise benefits from the sustainable use of offshore tuna fisheries resources. The FFA operates the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre that coordinates regional operations to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and builds links with wider law enforcement authorities. Australia provides $5 million each year in core funding to support FFA to fulfil its mandate through its Strategic Plan. Australia also participates in regional FFA operations, builds national and regional surveillance and enforcement capability. See the Pacific regional – fisheries assistance page for further information on Australia’s support to the FFA and other regional fisheries assistance.
• The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) provides assistance in order to protect and improve the Pacific environment and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. For example, SPREP contributes to Pacific engagement on United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations. Australia provides $4.3 million core funding to SPREP annually, as well as additional program funding. For example, the Pacific Ocean Litter Project ($16 million, 2019-2025) focuses on reducing the sources of single-use plastics in the marine environment. See the Australia and the Pacific: partnering to support sustainable oceans and livelihoods page for further information on Australia’s support to SPREP and other regional environmental protection assistance.

Cooperation and collaboration between Pacific regional organisations is promoted through the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP). Established in 1988 by Forum Leaders, CROP comprises the four organisations listed above, as well as the following five organisations:

• The University of the South Pacific (USP), a premier provider of tertiary education in the Pacific region and an international centre of excellence for teaching, research and consulting on all aspects of Pacific life (see the Pacific Regional – Economic growth: education page for further information on Australia’s support to USP and other regional education assistance).
• The Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP), housed in the East-West Centre in Hawaii, PIDP serves the nations and peoples of the Pacific through innovative capacity building, interchange among regional leaders, and policy-relevant research on priority issues.
• The South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), is the mandated inter-governmental body for the tourism sector in the region, with the mission to market and develop tourism in the South Pacific.
• The Pacific Power Association (PPA), promotes the direct cooperation of Pacific island power utilities in technical training, exchange of information, sharing of senior management and engineering expertise.
• The Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) oversees aviation safety and security in the Pacific Islands applying International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines.

The PIF Secretariat acts as CROP's permanent chair and provides secretariat support. Further information can be found at the CROP website.

See the Pacific Regional - effective regional institutions page for further information about Australia’s support for Pacific regional organisations.

Partnerships

Australia has signed Partnership Arrangements with some of the key regional bodies, which set out our shared visions for strategic cooperation and engagement.

• Australia-SPREP Partnership Arrangement
• Australia-SPC Partnership Arrangement
• Australia-PIFS Partnership Arrangement
• Australia-FFA Partnership Arrangement

Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Meetings

In addition to the annual Leaders Retreat, the Pacific Islands Forum convenes a range of other high-level ministerial meetings. There are standing annual meetings of Forum Foreign Ministers, Forum Economic Ministers Meetings and Forum Women Leaders Meeting. Forum Trade Ministers meet every two years.

More information is on the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Meetings page.

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