Fiji’s Air Forces In $2b Pacific Expansion Plan
Australia’s Albanese government will plunge almost $2 billion (FJ$2.96 billion) into the Pacific, as it tries to expand diplomatic and economic links with island nations and entrench Australia’s position as its major security partner.
Tuesday night’s budget also includes a funding boost for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) after a review found parts of Australia’s diplomatic network were stretched and grappling with “serious gaps” in capabilities.
Its largest Pacific commitment is a major security package – as first flagged by the ABC last week – which is worth around $1.4 billion (FJ$2.07 billion) over four years.
Not all the money is new: The bulk of funding for this package will come from Defence, which will have to find around $920 million ($FJ1.3 billion) in savings to fund key Pacific initiatives.
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Story by: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj
