Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

We're stepping up in the Pacific to enhance cooperation across defence, policing and cybersecurity to create a safer and more secure region, again guided by the Boe Declaration on Regional Security from last year's Pacific Islands Forum. We're also working together to address the Pacific's unique security interests—including those from environmental challenges and those from transnational crime, both human and cybersecurity issues—because we know that a strong and stable region keeps us more secure. It enables our economies to grow and our peoples to prosper. In partnership with Fiji we've begun the redevelopment of the Blackrock peacekeeping facility with Prime Minister Morrison and the new Fijian Foreign Minister Seruiratu, turning the first sod last month.

In Vanuatu we're working together to build police capability and improve infrastructure for the Vanuatu Mobile Force and the Police Maritime Wing. We'll support training and development opportunities there and, in addition to that, help Vanuatu build a new police station on Malekula Island. (Time expired)