Page 42 - Tropic Magazine Issue 20

TROPIC • PACIFIC REPORT

undersea cable to improve internet global regional city in Australia and we so it all fits perfectly. It would allow us
communications in PNG and the are directly connected to the Pacific,” to further capitalise on our geographic
Solomon Islands. It’s a program Cairns he said. “Already we are involved in so position, to capitalise on our aviation
leaders want in on. Advocacy group much work in the Pacific Islands and hub and to capitalise on the broad array
Advance Cairns is seeking $1.5 million we have the largest resident population of ancillary industries we have outside
from the Federal Government to make of Papua New Guineans in the country of tourism.”
our city the Pacific capital of Australia.
Under its recommendations, an Office
of the Pacific in Cairns would drive the
implementation of Australia’s Pacific
Engagement Strategy. It also wants
the Federal Government to reassign
the contract for the Australian Pacific
Training Coalition from TAFE’s Brisbane
office to Cairns. Plus, it’s calling on all
three levels of Government and the
Australian Olympic Committee to help
secure Cairns as a host of the
Pacific Games.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has
pledged his support. “We are the largest 2

Key events • China loaned Vanuatu 2018 • China and Cambodia • Australia announced
2017
2019

• Australia and the US
$114 million for a 360m
wharf which experts
the dilapidated
College at the
signed an agreement
say is more suited to pledged to redevelop reportedly secretly a new Pacific Security
Lombrum joint naval
giving China rights
Australian National
defence vessels than base on Manus Island to Cambodia’s Ream University.
cruise ships. in PNG. naval base on the Gulf • Advance Cairns
• China pledged $3.9 • Divisions between the of Thailand. included an Office
billion in loans to PNG, US & China derailed • A Chinese defence of the Pacific in its
including $3.5 billion for the APEC meeting, with white paper blamed advocacy priority list.
a national roads project. leaders failing to agree Australia, the US and • PNG asked China to
• China set up its first on a communique for Japan for fostering refinance its entire
overseas military base the first time in the uncertainty in the Asia debt, much of which is
in Djibouti. summit’s history. Pacific region. due to Chinese loans.
• Reports first emerged • Australia came under
of China’s plan to set fire over climate
1. Chinese Aid in the Pacific - Lowy up a military base in
institute for International Policy change at the
2. Pacific Patrol Boat Cambodia Pacific Islands Forum
in Tuvalu.

42 • Tropic • Issue 20