The incumbent Australian Coalition government has panned the opposition Labor Party’s newly released Pacific engagement policy, saying it added “nothing new” to existing initiatives to engage with nations in the region.
The Labor Party, on April 26, released its alternative “whole of government effort” Pacific strategy amid ongoing concerns about a security deal between the Solomon Islands and Beijing—a development which has spurred the opposition to attack the federal government’s handling of relations with the region.
Under its new plan, the Labor Party will “substantially increase regional aid” to $525 million (US$379.4 million) over a four year period to Timor-Leste and the Pacific, as well as double funding for aerial surveillance under the Pacific Maritime Security Program to $12 million (US$8.6 million) a year to help nations recoup losses from illegal fishing from China’s sizeable illegal fishing fleet.
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