Stay up to date with what's happening in the Pacific region
The Pacific Hub was established at the Griffith Asia Institute in 2020. Led by Dr Tess Newton Cain, Adjunct Associate Professor, the Pacific Hub adds to the established profile of the Institute by providing a suite of activities, including research, events, commentary, and professional services, focused on the Pacific islands region. Our work draws on Queensland’s very particular geographical, historical, commercial, and cultural ties with the Pacific Island countries. We contribute to local, national and international conversations and debates about how power, diplomacy, and development are playing out in the Pacific islands region. The Pacific Hub provides a platform to promote and share the related work of academics from Griffith University and an intersection point for us to meet and learn with the wider community, including Australia’s near neighbours in the Pacific.
WELCOME
Welcome to the Pacific Hub at the Griffith Asia Institute. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and pay our respects to their elders past, present, and emerging. Here at the Griffith Asia Institute we recognise the importance of the Pacific islands region and are delighted to share with you what we are learning from each other, from our colleagues in the region, and from the diaspora communities here in Queensland and elsewhere in Australia. Whether you are looking for commentary from a Pacific perspective, hunting down our latest Pacific research, seeking a Pacific expert or needing professional inputs to a Pacific project or program, you are in the right place.
Need to know more? Please contact our Program Leader: Dr Tess Newton Cain
GRIFFITH ASIA LECTURE 2019
Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor gave the 2019 signature Asia Lecture, focusing on the geopolitical and geostrategic issues of economy, security and climate change challenging the Asia-Pacific. Her insights delivered an important and much-needed Blue Pacific perspective to the way we understand and engage with our Asia-Pacific neighbourhood.
“The Blue Pacific represents our recognition that as a region, we are large, connected and strategically important,” said Dame Meg. “It speaks to our collective potential and our shared stewardship of the Pacific Ocean.” She reiterated the economic trials facing the Forum, noting some of the most critical challenges are finding sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure development in the face of extreme climatic vulnerabilities.
MELANESIA MEDIA FREEDOM FORUM 2019
The Melanesia Media Freedom Forum was developed to respond to increasing media repression in Melanesia and to future-proof press freedom, though transnational regional co-operation and knowledge-sharing among Melanesian journalists, editors, publishers, press-freedom advocates and journalism scholars. This forum provided a safe space for media leaders who work in Melanesian countries and territories to collaboratively formulate strategies to counter increasing incidences of curtailment of media freedom. It enabled them to create pathways to enable mutual support in the face of existential threats to freedom of expression and communication. Scholars with expertise in this area presented their research and joined the forum to provide knowledge resources and support for this work.
Meet our researchers
Our experts are available to help provide a wide range of services to government and industry. Our skills and networks enable us to provide expert briefings on up to date issues in the Pacific, provide media commentary, undertake consultancy and commercial research, deliver specialist training and participate on expert panels.
Pacific research
South Pacific Centre for Central Banking
The South Pacific Centre for Central Banking (SPCCB) was founded in 2016 following the inaugural Central Banking Symposium hosted by Griffith University, where discussions were held to elevate the region's study group into a research centre for central banking. The SPCCB was formed to bring together world class economic and finance experts, with a clear aim to help build capacity for research and policy formulation and is committed to developing capacity for research and policy formulation at the South Pacific Central Banks.
Griffith Climate Change Response Program
The Griffith Climate Change Response Program (GCCRP) leads Griffith University’s research into climate change adaptation and mitigation. As climate change issues cut across many fields of study our research projects are transdisciplinary, bringing together the wealth of Griffith research expertise from across the University. GCCRP projects in the Pacific look at ecosystem based adaptation, regional management of climate change and the evaluation of cyclone-proof community buildings.
Pacific focused tourism research
The Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT) leads Griffith University’s research into resilient, regenerative and sustainable tourism futures. Their transdisciplinary projects provide innovative solutions to help tourism businesses and communities achieve their sustainable development objectives. GIFT’s research in the Pacific works through a culturally grounded and strengths-based lens, partnering with local stakeholders to maintain local autonomy and agency. With a focus on adaptive capacity, resilient destinations and the need for tourism to provide net benefits for people and places, GIFT researchers are tackling some of the biggest tourism challenges in the Pacific.
Queensland's ties with the Pacific are many and varied. They span a long history, some of which is coloured by trauma as a result of blackbirding. They include trade and investment, cultural links and people to people ties. Queensland has the best international communications with Pacific island countries in the whole of Australia. And we are home to some of the largest Pacific diaspora communities in the country. For all these reasons and more, here at the Pacific Hub we are looking for opportunities to document and research how Queensland's Pacific ties can be further developed.
Pacific Pawa: Understanding how power differs in the context of Pacific climate diplomacy
Ernest Gibson
The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS)’ early advocacy on climate and security at the UN
Fulori Manoa
Time to link diplomacy to action—climate change is at our doorstep
Bernadette Carreon
Achieving strong COP26 outcomes on climate finance for the Pacific through climate diplomacy
Exsley Taloiburi
Pacific climate diplomacy and the road to COP26
Wesley Morgan
June 08, 2021
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 9 June
Vanuatu Parliament descends into political chaos After a period of rising tension and rancour in the Vanuatu Parliament, things came to a head with a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday morning. The Speaker of Parliament, Gracia Shadrack, opted to declare 18 seats vacant with immediate effect. All th...
June 01, 2021
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 2 June
Fiji struggles to manage the latest COVID-19 outbreak In Fiji, the number of cases of COVID-19 infections is rising. As of Monday evening, there were 267 active cases recorded in the country, with more than 20 new cases identified in the preceding 24 hours. Despite this the government has announced ...
May 25, 2021
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 26 May
Samoa’s political impasse yet to be resolved The political impasse in Samoa continues to drag on. Further to decisions of the Supreme Court, contradictory declarations from the Head of State and other officials, and public announcements from political leaders, events took another twist on Monday mor...
May 18, 2021
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 19 May
This week's bulletin looks at what is happening around the Pacific: more twists in the saga of the Samoa elections, talks between PNG and Bougainville leaders, a round-up of COVID-19 in the Pacific and bribery allegations in Vanuatu.
May 11, 2021
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 12 May
Today for Pacific Outlook, the Weekly Bulletin from Tess Newton Cain looks at COVID-19 developments in Fiji and PNG, the new Pacific Resilience Facility, the UXO legacy in Solomon Islands, tensions in West Papua and ongoing electoral drama in Samoa.
May 04, 2021
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 5 May
Violence in Papua New Guinea Authorities and community leaders are working to contain outbreaks of serious violence in PNG. In Alotau, in Milne Bay province. A spate of attacks on businesses and police presence have led to calls for a state of emergency to be declared. There have also been calls for...
April 20, 2021
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 21 April
Official results released in Samoa The official results of the general elections in Samoa have now been released. They confirm that the HRPP and FAST parties have each secured 25 seats. The remaining seat has been won by Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, an independent candidate. He has yet to announce whethe...
April 13, 2021
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 14 April
Too close to call in Samoa’s elections With official results yet to be confirmed, the results of Samoa’s general elections could not be any closer. The two main parties, HRPP and FAST are each claiming 25 seats. This leaves independent Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio as potential kingmaker. The electi...
March 23, 2021
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 24 March
PNG COVID-19 situation worsens The COVID-19 situation in PNG continues to worsen. The number of confirmed cases now exceeds 3,000 and the number of deaths is approaching 40. The country has gone into a four-week ‘national isolation period’. Schools have been closed and restrictions on domestic trave...
COVID-19 aid to the Pacific
COVID-19 Pacific Aid Tracker
Working as a region to help our Pacific neighbours recover from the fallout of coronavirus
Click on a flag on the map below for a summary of aid to that country or view our searchable aid tracker database for more details.
Other resources
For information about economic responses to COVID-19 by Pacific island governments, see the Pacific COVID Economic Database from the Development Policy Centre at Australian National University.
The International Monetary Fund's Policy Tracker summaries the key economic responses governments are taking to limit the human and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Focus on New Caledonia
In October 2020, the people of New Caledonia took part in the second of three referendum to determine if they wish to remain a part of France or become an independent nation.
Here we bring together a collection of resources to examine how things got to where they currently are for New Caledonia, the context in which the 2020 referendum took place, what happens next and what it all means for the Pacific region, including Australia.
Publications
Being prepared for unprecedented times
Peter Layton
Reconciling regional security narratives in the Pacific
Sandra Tarte
Pacific islands tourism during COVID-19: Time for a rethink
Ross Westoby, Johanna Loehr and Chris Fleming
Policy Brief: Strengthening Australia’s relationships with countries in the Pacific region
Tess Newton Cain and Wesley Morgan
Policy Brief: Activating greater trade and investment between Australia and Pacific island countries
Wesley Morgan and Tess Newton Cain
Oceanic hydro-politics: Exploring contemporary geopolitics of the Blue Pacific
Wesley Morgan
The state of the step-up: Australia's engagement with the Pacific
Tess Newton Cain
Griffith University-South Pacific Central Banks Joint Policy Research Working Papers
South Pacific Centre for Central Banking
Pacific news
Vanuatu's Supreme Court backs order for PM to vacate seat
Bob Loughman's government taking no confidence motion seriously in Vanuatu
Pacific update: Politics, issues and people in the Pacific
Pacific update: Politics, issues and people in the Pacific
Fiji conveys disappointment at not getting an invite to US President's climate summit
Pacific update: Politics, issues and people in the Pacific
Announcement of Australian support to PNG to address the worsening COVID-19 situation
Pacific update: Politics, issues and people in the Pacific
Micronesian nations split with Pacific Island Forum
Former Cook Islands PM Henry Puna elected to Pacific Islands Forum
Is a Pacific travel bubble a realistic expectation for 2021?
Will 2021 prove to be as unpredictable as 2020 in the Pacific and the world?
No labour movement deal in new PACER Plus free trade agreement
Climate change and regionalism in the Pacific islands
A climate for change in the Pacific
Events
Pacific outlook regional commentary
The Pacific Outlook brings focus to the Pacific region through a weekly bulletin as well as expert commentary from experts in the field... Pacific voices on Pacific issues.