Australia and Fiji are taking steps to formally elevate and deepen the Vuvale Partnership as we work together to ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific.
During Fiji Prime Minister Sitveni Rabuka's visit to Australia, we affirmed our support for Prime Minister Rabuka's vision for an "Ocean of Peace" including family first Pacific regionalism and Pacific-led solutions to Pacific challenges.
As part of this next step in our Vuvale Partnership (meaning 'family'), Australia will support Fiji to implement key priorities including:
- funding two technical advisers to lead the implementation of Fiji's new National Security Strategy
- embedding Australian Federal Police officers in the Fiji Police Force to extend policing cooperation
- providing $12 million (FJD 17.6 million) to strengthen border security by improving shipping container screening at Lautoka and Suva Ports; and
- increasing Australia's bilateral development assistance to Fiji by $40 million (FJD 56 million) over four years, taking the total to just under $500 million (FJD 734 million) from 2025 to 2029.
As Fiji and Australia look to deepen Vuvale, we will also explore further cooperation across a range of areas including:
- operationalising Ocean of Peace principles, including family first Pacific regionalism
- delivering a modern, cyber-secure ICT Border Management System to support Fijians and visitors
- enhancing cooperation on transnational crime, with a focus on responding to illicit drugs and opportunities for greater information sharing and surveillance efforts
- strengthening policing capability through training and infrastructure
- tackling HIV/AIDS, building on Australia's $7.1 million (FJD 10.4 million) investment in Fiji's health system
- expanding maritime security, shipbuilding and maintenance through technical collaboration; and
- growing economic opportunities through skills development and employment pathways.
In addition to meeting with Pacific Affairs Minister Conroy, the Fiji delegation also met the Governor-General, Prime Minister Albanese, Home Affairs Minister Burke and Attorney-General Rowland.
The Fiji delegation visited the 130-strong Royal Fiji Military Forces Rotational Company participating in Exercise South Queensland Warfighter as part of the Australian Defence Force 7th Brigade, as well as the Pacific Policing Initiative facilities in Pinkenba where Fiji is part of a regional policing effort, and the Australian Border Force-led Maritime Border Command.
Fiji is a regional leader, and the economic hub of the Pacific. Our First Nations' peoples share deep connections to land and sea. Australia and Fiji stand together because we share an ocean and we share a future.
A strengthened Vuvale Partnership will help us build a region defined by peace, unity and prosperity.
We look forward to taking this important next step with our Fijian family.
