What is the Coalition promising?

The body partners with governments and private businesses in the region through grants and loans and has been running since 2019.

“It will complement the defence, security, and other economic ties which were at the core of the Coalition’s Pacific Step-up when last in government.”

What has Labor done for the Pacific?

The announcement follows criticism from Labor frontbenchers, who have accused Opposition leader Peter Dutton and former prime minister Scott Morrison of leaving a “vacuum” in the Pacific during their last term in government.

The government has made a defence pact with PNG, created regional policing and national security initiatives, and established a new visa for Pacific Islanders.

Why is Australia invested in the Indo-Pacific?

“What our task is to do is to make sure that we represent Australia’s national interests. We do that each and every day. And I have every confidence in our defence force and our security agencies to do just that,” he said.