[Introduction in Samoan]
Prime Minister Laʻaulialemalietoa: Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong, Members of Cabinet, Honourable High Commissioner of Australia to Samoa, Senior Official, ladies and gentlemen, Honourable Minister, we would like to welcome you home once again.
It is an honour and privilege to meet you again here in our shores, and thank you for making time. Tonight's occasions reflects a milestone in our diplomatic relationship.
This reflects the warm empowerment of our friendship and our relationship between Samoa and Australia. As the signature of our memorandum before us tonight, allow me to say a few words on these partnership arrangements.
First, a Memorandum of the Cyber Crime cooperation between the Government of Australia and the Government of Samoa target a long-term cooperation in cyber security backed by 2 million Australian dollars over the three years to support Samoa's cyber priorities. The partnership for strengthening incident preparedness and response, enhanced secure digital systems and to support governance framework aligned with the international standard through the CPEC cycle. A development assistance program.
Overall, the support will include the provision of new equipment and tools, technical assistance and participation in international forum. Secondly, I am pleased to acknowledge that the two MoU of the Ministry of Police, the MoU of the Pacific Policing Initiative, incorporate free interconnection, second, Regional Centres of Excellence, third, the Pacific Police Support Group and [fourth] the Pacific Policing Coordination Hub.
The purpose will be enhanced capability and increase interoperability amongst the 22nd Participant Police Organisation through providing the regional organisations of the delivery of the trainings, equipments and the planning of conducts of the operation.
The MoU, concerning the Pacific Police Support Group and relating to the arrangements of Pacific policing developments, the MOU will establish a framework to the participation of countries to regionalise and modernise police responsible capability that will respond in requests from the participating countries.
As well, the MOU will establish competitive arrangements for requesting and receiving government to the government and policy assistance. Samoa benefits from the arrangements, the multinational police response was triggered to provide assistance with the hosting of CHOGM 2024.
Honourable Foreign Minister, on behalf of the government, the people of Samoa, let acknowledge with gratitude the appreciation of the opportunity made available to us under this Memorandum of Understanding. I am pleased to sign this free MoU on behalf of the Government of Samoa. Thank you very much.
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Talofa lava to the Honourable Prime Minister Laʻaulialemalietoa and members of the cabinet, to the Police Commissioner and other dignitaries.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak here tonight, to be in your beautiful country and to make some remarks about these Memorandums of Understanding.
These documents are fundamental to our shared commitment - Australia and Samoa - our shared commitment to the wellbeing of our communities in Samoa, in Australia and across the blue Pacific. And I have come here to again express with humility and sincerity our friendship and our commitment to you that we are a partner the region can count on.
In signing these two memorandums today, your Honourable Prime Minister has reaffirmed Samoa's commitment to a Pacific-led vision of peace and security.
I know, Prime Minister, your concern about the scourge of transnational crime, including drug trafficking. And I know the deep harm to families and communities this causes in Samoa and across the Pacific. And we know that to combat drug trafficking, countries need to work together.
We understand, our two countries, that working together strengthens the security of Samoa and the whole Pacific family. I saw this firsthand during my visit in 2024 for CHOGM through the first ever deployment of the Pacific Police Support Group, made possible by the Pacific Policing Initiative, which the Honourable Prime Minister referenced. And that initiative is about stronger coordination, stronger training links across the region, supporting centres of excellence, including in Samoa, and developing a multinational regional response capability that is available to Pacific countries when needed. And I'm so pleased that already we have had seven Samoan police officers trained through this program. And you should also - I hope you are also proud that two of the trainers in this program have been Samoan officers.
So, I thank you for your contribution to that work, including during the Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Today, Samoa and Australia are also extending our bilateral partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding on Cyber Cooperation.
Historically, the vast Pacific Ocean has helped safeguard our region. But in the digital world, this distance offers no such protection, and we all have vulnerabilities. From critical government services to the personal activities of citizens, Samoa's leadership, including in calling out malicious activities, is appreciated throughout the region.
We have seen similar activities directed towards Australia. So, today's Memorandum of Cooperation will enable our two nations to work even more closely together, to learn from each other, to assist each other and to build regional resilience to growing cyber and critical technology threats. And we will meet these challenges side by side, and together we will overcome them.
Thank you very much.
