Organised crime has taken root in the Pacific and many countries are struggling to respond.

The country will vote on two proposed constitutional amendments that seek to end political instability in the country.

PNG naturally has its own understanding of history, as well as today’s security environment. But we shouldn’t underestimate the importance of the second world war to the PNG-Australia relationship.

The new $100 million Blackrock peacekeeping training facility in Fiji has high ambitions, but will need Australia’s ongoing support to succeed.

Historically, most Pacific visa programs in Australia have been tied to labour mobility. And none has specifically referenced climate change as a driving rationale.

Since its early history, Australia has seen the Pacific as a vast, empty region where foreign powers threatened its security. This focus has undermined our effectiveness in the region.

While the US is still primarily focused on countering Chinese influence in the region, Australia is making a real impact with its Pacific Engagement Visa.

In a crowded region, it’s hard to know who is doing what, and where. Effective statecraft, though, is not always measured by quantity over quality.

There are limits around what Australia might hope to achieve and what it should expect in Beijing, but there is room for cooperation.

A ‘no’ result in the vote could compromise Australia’s moral authority when it seeks to advocate or pressure other states on human rights issues.