Australia increases COVID-19 testing capacity in the Pacific

The joint media release from Minister Payne and Minister Hawke reinforces Australia's commitment to the Pacific island nations as part of the government's 'Pacific Step-up' program. 

"Pacific island countries will be equipped to more effectively detect and prevent the spread of COVID-19, with the arrival of new rapid diagnostic tests that build on Australia’s partnership with our region to protect against the pandemic," they said.

"Australia has been standing with the region during this challenging time, working in partnership with Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to protect their communities from COVID-19. Support has included PPE, medical and hygiene supplies, and assistance with quarantine management, laboratories, pandemic communication, isolation facilities, and emergency response services."

As part of Australia’s position in the global and regional order, both hard and soft power are equally important means of securing Australia’s national interests.

In the Indo-Pacific, the Australian government has sought to balance traditional concepts of hard and soft power with the introduction of the Pacific step-up program, focusing on supporting the economic, political and cultural development of Australia’s Pacific island family. 

The 'Pacific Step Up' strategy, which incorporates a number of different focuses, ranging from economic and infrastructure development, combined with a renewed Australian strategic and defence commitment to the broader Pacific region. 

"Beyond immediate health security and safety concerns, our partnerships extend to working with Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to plan for the economic recovery. Confidence in testing systems and community health is essential to this. The COVID-19 testing equipment, procured and delivered with support from Australia, provides reliable results in less than an hour," the joint media release stated. 

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Australia's 'Pacific Step-up' program incorporates a range of economic, political and strategic initiatives to support the development of the Pacific island nations, including:

• Enhanced regional economic collaboration and integration through investment in key infrastructure and economic drivers, like communications networks; 
• Regional strategic partnerships and alliances to promote transparent dialogue and amicable strategic relations; 
• An increased number of operational deployments by the Royal Australian Navy to the region to support maritime training exercises; and
• The local construction of the new Pacific Patrol Boats, which will be gifted to regional partners to support increased maritime security.

"The first deliveries arrived in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and Nauru in recent days. Initial supplies will reach a further nine Pacific island countries in the coming fortnight. Many Pacific island countries have not had in-country capacity to test for COVID-19, and have had to send specimens overseas, including to Australia, for results," the joint ministerial release stated.

"These will be followed by further deliveries. Their arrival will allow the Pacific Community (SPC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to work with Pacific health departments to achieve faster and more effective testing for COVID-19. 

"The equipment includes testing machines and cartridges for individual tests. These produce rapid results from a basic nasal swab. Rapid detection is a key part of the region’s pandemic response. The procurement and delivery of the testing equipment is a collaborative effort between Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the Pacific Community and the WHO.

"The equipment is being delivered on flights to the Pacific, through Australia’s Pacific Corridor, in support of the Pacific Islands Forum’s Pacific Humanitarian Pathway."

The Pacific Islands Forum is the region’s premier political and economic policy organisation. Founded in 1971, it comprises 18 members: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The forum’s Pacific vision is for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy and productive lives.

The Pacific islands Forum works to achieve this by fostering cooperation between governments, collaboration with international agencies, and by representing the interests of its members.

Since 1989, the forum has organised an annual meeting with key dialogue partners at ministerial level. The forum currently recognises 18 dialogue partners: Canada, People’s Republic of China, Cuba, European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UK and the US.

Australia’s pivot to the Pacific provides new opportunities for Australian businesses of all shapes and sizes as the nation continues to invest in both regional infrastructure and defence capability to ensure the enduring peace, prosperity and stability of "our patch".