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.
September16, 2020
Keeping SMEs afloat during COVID-19: How are the PICs responding?
As a vulnerable group, SMEs are particularly at risk of failure from the prolonged consequences of COVID-19. Dr Lan Nguyen looks at Pacific Island Countries.
September15, 2020
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 16 September
Papua New Guinea seeks further loans for economic bailout Papua New Guinea has passed a supplementary budget. The Treasurer, Ian Ling-Stuckey has said that the impacts of COVID-19 have caused an economic disaster for his country. A lengthy debate in Parliament resulted in legislation being passed to...
September09, 2020
As the pandemic ravages global economies, how are things going in the PICs?
The effects of COVID-19 on global economies is described very well in just one word—one which now has become synonymous with the pandemic—“unprecedented”! In the OECD area, the average fall in real gross domestic product (GDP) was an “unprecedented” -9.8 per cent (provisional) in the second qu...
September08, 2020
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 9 September
Solomon Islands political tensions In Solomon Islands, tensions between the provincial government of Malaita and the national government continue to simmer. Most recently, the premier of the province, Daniel Suidani, has announced that there will be a referendum to test whether Malaitans wish to be ...
September04, 2020
‘We are in dire straits’: Pacific stands on COVID brink amid surging infections
Rising cases in Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, and Guam raise fears of uncontrolled coronavirus outbreaks across Pacific.
September02, 2020
Responding to the economic fall-out of COVID-19 in Pacific island countries
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating havoc in Pacific island countries (PICs). Within eight months, countries in the region have seen their economies nose-dive to negative growth rates. It will take a long time before PICs fully recover from the impacts of the pandemic. The region may have been spar...
September01, 2020
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 2 September
Marshallese remain unsatisfied over Runit Dome reporting In Marshall Islands, the US Department of Energy (DoE) has presented its latest report on the Runit Dome. The Dome is a concrete bunker that stores contaminated material after years of nuclear weapons tests. The people who lived on Enewetak At...
August 26, 2020
China’s footprint in the Pacific
Sheldon Chanel shares commentary on the recent "China In the Pacific" webinar as China’s footprint in the Pacific is expected to grow despite the impact of COVID-19.
August 26, 2020
Cash-“less”, cash-“more” or…? How the pandemic is affecting trends in the PICs
In recent times, there has been a global “push” or trend otherwise, led largely by the new generation to go more and more cash “less” You don’t even need a card to complete transactions—a mobile phone with the right apps is all you need. For some, cards were fine but more and more the use ...
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.
Publications
Strengthening Australia’s relationships with countries in the Pacific region
Policy Brief
Tess Newton Cain and Wesley Morgan
Activating greater trade and investment between Australia and Pacific island countries
Policy Brief
Wesley Morgan and Tess Newton Cain
Oceanic hydro-politics: Exploring contemporary geopolitics of the Blue Pacific
Wesley Morgan
Pacific Banking Joint Policy Research Working Papers
South Pacific Centre for Central Banking
Pacific news
Media under strain in Melanesia during challenging era
Why should Australians care about the Pacific?
Pacific island can adapt to climate change if locals take the lead
COVID-19 tracker traces financial aid in Pacific
Tracking COVID-19 assistance to the Pacific
Tracking COVID-19 aid and assistance to pacific island countries
Creating a sustainable future for all
Putting development first: Getting the most out of the Pacific ‘step-up’ on infrastructure
Alumnus appointed first resident Australian Ambassador to Palau
Griffith signs PhD MoU with South Pacific central banks!
Griffith’s commitment to sustainable development shines in high profile film
Griffith convenes high level regional policy dialogue in the South Pacific
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.