Australia and the Pacific Islands: VCE Politics Unit 4

What this dot point is asking

Your study of Australia's relationships must include a Pacific Islands Forum member alongside two further Indo-Pacific states. Choose one Pacific state (such as Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Nauru, Fiji, Vanuatu or Solomon Islands) and analyse the challenges, cooperation or conflict, and Australia's response to a regional issue. This page gives three examples to model the analysis.

The answer

The context

The Pacific Islands Forum is the region's main political grouping. Its 2018 Boe Declaration describes climate change as the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of Pacific peoples and stresses regional ownership of security. Australia, a Forum member, is the largest development and security partner for much of the region, while China's growing presence, including security cooperation with Solomon Islands since 2022, has increased competition for influence.

Case 1: Papua New Guinea

On 6 October 2025 Australia and Papua New Guinea signed the Pukpuk Treaty, a mutual defence treaty. If either faces armed attack, they will act together. It also creates a pathway for Papua New Guinean citizens to serve in the Australian Defence Force. A first signing planned for Port Moresby in September was delayed because the Papua New Guinea cabinet had not approved the text in time. The treaty entered into force on 8 July 2026. For Australia the treaty supports the security interest in a stable northern neighbour; for Papua New Guinea it brings capability and a guarantee. Challenges include domestic debate in Papua New Guinea about sovereignty and how the treaty will be implemented.

Case 2: Tuvalu

The Falepili Union, signed in 2023 and in force since 2024, covers climate cooperation, mobility with dignity and shared security. Australia offered a special mobility pathway for Tuvaluans and a commitment to help Tuvalu respond to climate change, while Tuvalu agreed to mutually agree with Australia any new engagement with third parties on defence and security matters. This links Australia's interests in security and its regional standing as a climate-aware partner.

Case 3: Nauru

The Nauru-Australia Treaty, signed on 9 December 2024, commits both countries to mutually agree to any engagement in Nauru's security, banking and telecommunications sectors, backed by A$100 million in budget support over five years. It secures Australia's strategic interest in keeping rivals out of Nauru's security arrangements, but critics argue it ties aid to security.

Challenges to relationships

• Climate change. Some Pacific leaders judge Australia by its emissions policies as well as aid. The 2025 ICJ advisory opinion was driven by Pacific states.
• Sovereignty. Treaties that give Australia a say on security can be seen as limiting freedom of choice.
• Great-power competition. China and Taiwan's roles divided Forum members; at the leaders' meeting in Honiara in September 2025 dialogue partners were excluded as a compromise, and the Forum signed an agreement to establish a Pacific Resilience Facility.
• Capacity and migration. Labour mobility benefits some but also raises concerns about the loss of skilled workers.

Worked example

Question. Analyse one challenge to Australia's relationship with a Pacific state.

Model answer (Nauru). The 2024 treaty requires Nauru and Australia to mutually agree to engagement in Nauru's security sector (critics describe this as an Australian veto), in return for budget support. This serves Australia's strategic interest in excluding rivals, but critics argue it ties aid to security and constrains Nauru's sovereignty. The challenge is therefore the tension between Australia's security interest and the partner's independence, which shapes whether cooperation is voluntary or perceived as pressure.

Try this

Q1

What does the Falepili Union provide for Tuvalu? Model answer: Climate cooperation, mobility with dignity (a pathway to Australia) and shared security arrangements.

Q2

Explain why great-power competition complicates Australia's Pacific relationships. Model answer: China and others offer alternative partnerships, so Australia acts to maintain influence while partners balance their options.

Q3

Identify one reason Pacific states may criticise Australia. Model answer: Concerns about Australia's emissions and fossil fuel policies.