Pat Conroy MP

Australia and Kiribati are longstanding partners. 🇦🇺🇰🇮 With shared goals for our region. And hopefully a new shared passion – I tried to recruit Minister Tekeeua Tarati as a new Blues supporter!

Volunteers are the fabric of our community. This National Volunteer Week we celebrate them and the work they do. They respond in moments of crisis. They show up, day after day. They provide dignity, safety and places to come together. And they deserve every one of our thanks.

These connectivity initiatives will help boost PNG’s development and growth, trade, and our economic partnership. And this is key to the future peace, stability and prosperity in our region.

Today, with PNG's Deputy Prime Minister Rosso, we officially kicked-off development of the Telecommunications Blueprint for PNG. And after we delivered the Coral Sea Cable, we are exploring options for new internet connections through the PukPuk Digital Connectivity Initiative.

No matter where you live, you should be able to connect to the internet to see the PNG Chiefs’ NRL debut in 2028. But connectivity is more than watching your favourite sport - it’s about connecting families, delivering services and creating opportunity.

Congratulations to Matthew Wale, on being appointed Prime Minister of Solomon Islands. I look forward to working together to continue strengthening our economic, development and security partnership. 🇸🇧🇦🇺

This week’s Budget continues backing the workers, engineers, scientists and personnel who make our country safer and more secure. Delivering on our 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program. And keeping Australians safe.

We’re building a defence future made in Australia – in every part of Australia. Creating tens of thousands of jobs for Aussie workers. Strengthening our industrial base. And delivering more capabilities here at home than ever before.

Australia is a partner the Pacific can count on. And our Budget shows it by prioritising the investments and partnerships that make our region more peaceful, more stable and more prosperous.

Our 2026-27 Budget maintains Australia’s total Official Development Assistance. And focuses on strengthening local resilience and supporting long-term development in the Pacific. With over 75 cents in every development dollar directed to our region.

What happens across the Pacific affects us here at home. That's why our Budget invests in our region, resilience and security. We know climate change is an existential threat to Pacific nations, and that economic disruption and global instability is adding more pressure.

It’s that time of the year! Tune in at 7.30 tonight to see @JEChalmers deliver our 2026 Budget. #auspol

Australia and Fiji are family - bound by trust and respect. Today, @senatorwong and I met PM @slrabuka and Fijian Cabinet Ministers to advance our Vuvale Union. And strengthen our ability to confront shared regional challenges – from transnational crime to climate change.

Where Penny and I got to see firsthand how sport builds leadership and empowers young players. And it's why through Team Up and PacificAus Sports, Australia’s backing sports at every level in Fiji.

Whether you’re an elite athlete (definetly not @SenatorWong and I). Or a grassroots player. Sport brings people together - and Australia and Fiji know it better than most. Here’s a few moments from the @TeamUp_Program sports clinic in Suva today.

Energy security in the Pacific underpins Australia’s own security. It’s a privilege to be back in Suva alongside Minister @PatConroy1 to meet with @ForumSEC Secretary General Baron Waqa and discuss our shared fuel security challenges and Pacific Islands Forum priorities.

We’re making our free Urgent Care Clinics a permanent part of Medicare. So that you can keep getting the healthcare you need. After hours. On weekends. And close to home. #auspol

Because of the result that night - we’ve been able to turn these promises into progress. I’m proud of what we’ve delivered together. But I’m more focused on what’s to come - and continuing to get things done for our community in the years to come.

It’s a year since the election. And I remember a lot of conversations on the doors and outside voting booths. About 5% home deposits and 20% off student debt. About cutting taxes and the cost of medicine. About strengthening Medicare and Free TAFE. #auspol

I congratulate the Government and people of the Marshall Islands on their Constitution Day. In the recent, historic visit to Australia by President Dr Heine, we reaffirmed the strong ties and shared values between our two countries. I look forward to our continued partnership.