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.
July 01, 2020
Coronavirus in the Pacific: weekly briefing | 1 July
The Pacific Region has listed 382 cases of covid19, an increase of 22 since last week. Tess Newton Cain and Dan McGarry share their insights.
June 30, 2020
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 1 July
Tess Newton Cain's weekly bulletin looks at the gender-based violence in PNG, social impacts of COVID-19 in Fiji, New Caledonia referendum, opposition party in Fiji and the new Kiribati president’s agenda.
June 25, 2020
Coronavirus in the Pacific: weekly briefing | 24 June
Here is the latest news about the Covid-19 outbreak across the Pacific, from Dan McGarry and Tess Newton Cain on Wednesday 24 June.
June 23, 2020
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 24 June
Tess Newton Cain's weekly bulletin looks at the deferral of the changeover for Secretary General, Kiribati elections overshadowed, 9th COVID-19 case in PNG, trade developments in Solomon Islands and PNG and USP reinstates VC.
June 18, 2020
Coronavirus in the Pacific: weekly briefing | 18 June
A weekly update on coronavirus in the Pacific with Griffith Asia Institute's, Tess Newton Cain and Dan McGarry.
June 16, 2020
Weekly Pacific Bulletin | 17 June
This week, Tess Newton Cain’s pacific bulletin looks at the tensions over China and Taiwan in the Solomon Islands, Bougainville elections and post-referendum negotiations affected by COVID-19, the saga at the University of the South Pacific, PNG’s call for a review of the Lombrum base agreement and ...
June 12, 2020
The Pacific Step-up: it’s the way that you do it
"Good relationships have a fragility about them that you just have to accept. That fragility is only countered by authenticity and trust. " says Paul Slater on the Pacific Step-Up and the way in which it is approached.
June 11, 2020
Coronavirus in the Pacific: weekly briefing
Covid19 in the #Pacific with Tess Newton Cain and Dan McGarryGuam has an increase of 5 casesFiji declares itself virus freeSolomonIslands remains under a state of emergency
June 11, 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic—discussion and information sharing is vital
COVID-19 has stormed the world by surprise. Its intensity, ferocity, and velocity of cross-border transmission have so far strained global financial systems and inflicted massive anxieties to citizens of both developed and less developed countries. In this part of the world, Pacific isl...
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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