@stephenrhowes: We should be stepping up in the Pacific using instruments other than aid - notably labour mobility. (side note: yesterday @UnitingWorld cautioned that labour mobility was having significant impacts on some family members (children) left at home in Samoa)
Now @ms_leanne_smith starts introducing the #PacificPerspectives research.
1. quality of relationships matter.
2. values and norms matter - reciprocity and trust.
3. Australia is one of many possible relationships.

Key recommendation centres on Pacific literacy for Australians
Following up, @CainTess says that our research resonates just as loudly in the context of #TCHarold and #COVID19. There has been significant Pacific agency, sovereignty & capability demonstrated in the region.

For the Pacific, protection of human life is the priority.
Australia and NZ have missed a golden opportunity to collaborate with the Pacific on the COVID response.

The recommendations of #PacificPerspectives around Pacific literacy are at the centre of this.
Chris Gardiner ( @CEO_IFRS) reaffirms many of the earlier comments, and also goes into the need to commit to not start any new coal mining and a number of strategic initiatives characteristic of a middle power.

Australia needs to be very careful around its use of language.
Matthew Clarke (Monash Uni) introduces his research with @simonfeeny, which is an excellent companion to #PacificPerspectives, focused on the Australian and China aid programs in Vanuatu. Australian aid well regarded but not as impactful as Chinese.
Now @JoanneEWallis highlights a number of areas where Australian policy causes friction in the region. And not just 'Pacific policy'. Climate and refugee policy stand out in this regard.

'Blue Pacific' may be a better mode for engagement than 'Indo-Pacific'.
The full submissions from all of these speakers can be accessed via the link here. https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/PacificRelationships/Submissions

On to discussion.
James Batley notes that Australia has made it hard for Melanesians in particular to come to Australia, despite no evidence that they are likely to abuse the opportunity.

@stephenrhowes observes that our current labour migration schemes offer no means to build up the diaspora.
He adds that the family separation issue is a big problem.

@JoanneEWallis says that it should not take a larger diaspora community for us to take the Pacific seriously. We should recognise that the region is important for us anyway.
From @CainTess: our #PacificPerspectives research highlighted the central concern that travel access to Australia is for Pacific islanders - and how different the access issue is between Australia and NZ. Time, cost, administrative burden, and the perceived attitude behind it.
She continues: the ignorance of the Pacific in Australia (and what we do there) is baffling - and the complete reverse of the level of awareness of Australia in the region.

Inquiry panellist is skeptical that any improvement of Australian Pacific literacy will happen.
Chris Gardiner @CEO_IFRS suggests that we should open up the Australian labour market much more to skilled Pacific workers. Include permanent residency options.
Budget support comes up. @stephenrhowes argues in favour of the measures taken in the response to COVID_19, and that there is more that could be done using budget support in the future.
Question re Pacific agency & working in sympathy of the Pacific mode.

@JoanneEWallis highlights the importance of listening, and understanding #PacificPerspectives on what they need.

Working with existing modes of governance & service delivery that work should be the priority
From @ms_leanne_smith: we need to get past our perceptions that we always know the best way of doing things.

@CainTess adds that Aust resources go to INGOs that grab local ideas without giving back to the local organisations. We need much more direct connection to the local
... The locals are the experts, adds @CainTess, but they face barriers on expectations from donors about reporting standards and so on that mean they miss the opportunity to have their work resourced.
James Batley observes in defence of Australia's DFAT personnel that there are many challenging imperatives that they face - eg assuring child protection standards, that constrain their decisions.

These are not easy choices to make. The issues are understood by DFAT officials
. @JoanneEWallis offers a counterexample focusing on Timor Leste, where Australian funding has found ways to work with local level governance structures. These could be rolled out in other parts of the Pacific.
Observation from the panel that 'swimming with the tide' in support of local constituency funds in Solomon Islands could be a good thing to consider.

The discussion turns to #ClimateChange.
First up @CainTess observes that the #PacificPerspectives showed that Australia has an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pacific on climate change - recognising that Pacific people are global leaders in climate change action.
Matthew Clarke adds that a positive aspect of Australian perception in Vanuatu was where Australia supports Vanuatu voices in global fora (climate change was NOT on that list).
@JoanneEWallis Australia needs to consider more closely what its strategic priorities are in the Pacific. If we are concerned about China's role in the region, strengthening our Pacific relations with an emphasis on climate change would be a hugely valuable action.
@CEO_IFRS argues that preventing the establishment of military bases in the Pacific, by any power, most notably China, is a first order issue for Australia. Climate action - no more coal after Adani - would send a serious message to the region.
We're making assumptions about stumbling blocks, say @ms_leanne_smith & @CainTess. Perhaps this a starting point for the recommendation in #PacificPerspectives for a regional summit (involving both govt & civil society) to better help us understand our shared priorities.
On faith in the Pacific. Matthew Clarke observes that Christian beliefs are shared by 90% of Pacific islanders. Churches play an enormous role in Pacific life, and need to play a similarly prominent role in Australia's engagement with the region.
James Batley notes the power that messages can have when they go through pastors.

@CainTess highlights the important role played by the Pacific Conference of Churches and the leadership of its General Secretary, Rev James Baghwan @PadreJB.
Back to security. @CEO_IFRS highights importance of mapping, policing & enforcement of the economic zones of Pacific states, & of Australia's assistance.

Greater commitment could come through a treaty organisation: mutual defence & defence of regional law and order.
How would this be seen by island states? @CainTess observed that this was not something that people raised in #PacificPerspectives. If we are talking about joint action, people are much more engaged about pooled service delivery.

Security concerns focus on water, land, human.
@CainTess continues: Pacific islanders want relationships founded on friendship & trust, rather than being founded on some larger strategic analysis. Some Pacific states are not aligned.

James Batley also does not fancy a regional treaty, but a 'Pacific Regiment' may have legs.
@ms_leanne_smith notes that common interest may lie in contributions to UN peacekeeping. Pacific island states are very interested in this - a regional contribution to UN peacekeeping could be very valuable.
On Pacific perceptions of Australian domestic policy, @ms_leanne_smith notes that #PacificPerspectives showed that climate policy and Indigenous affairs were significant concerns for Pacific islanders. A starting point on the latter could be more investment in cultural diplomacy.
Exchanges around land stewardship/management could be a useful starting point.
Economic integration. Labour mobility highlighted, but @CainTess adds that trade should not be ignored. Vanilla, cocoa, coffee, kava. Biosecurity issues seem to have been resolved in New Zealand. Why not here?

Disappointing that the kava importation trial has been delayed.
We can showcase Pacific products in Australia, she says.

@stephenrhowes cautions that Pacific will not be able to trade its way out of poverty. The economics is not there

On the Infrastructure Financing Facility it is likely that Pacific countries will not be able to access it
This excellent discussion comes to an end. Good questions from the JSCFADT panellists, and great responses from all of the witnesses.

Time for a coffee.
A couple of follow up thoughts on this morning's consultation.

1. As @AnnaPowles noted, for all the expertise present no Australians of Pacific descent or indigenous Pacific islanders were there. This must be corrected in the course of this inquiry. Technology is now no barrier.
2. Today's witnesses based their presentations in their research and made some bold suggestions for actions that can be taken. But there were a few moments where these suggestions were squashed by the committee (or members thereof) as soon as they were raised...
... on the grounds that the committee was looking for 'practical' actions. A snap assessment in session is not the time to make that call. Even the more contested ideas need more room for discussion. A regional summit, as recommended in #PacificPerspectives, is one way to do this
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