Transcript
CONCETTA FIERRAVANTI-WELLS: When we start looking at the benefits that are going to come to the Pacific Islands countries in terms of Pacer Plus and the increased trade and we hope job opportunities. So you've got Pacer Plus, you've got an expanded labour mobility framework, you've got our various Pacific women. We've got various other programmes that we're now engaged in across the Pacific, all of which are all geared towards affording opportunities especially to young people to expand their ability to contribute to their country and to increase the economic viability and growth of their country. In the end Jenny it's about stability, security and prosperity in the Pacific. And everything that we are doing that we are doing in terms of our step up engagement is all geared towards this.
JENNY MEYER: Have you had any feedback from the Pacific Islands countries themselves about the end of this leadership programme and what their thoughts are there with your new direction?
CFW: The Pacifc Island countries have very much welcomed the many different aspects of Australia's step up engagement across a range of different areas. In terms of this, of this particular programme itself the evaluation team conducted in country research, they conducted interviews, an online survey with key stakeholders from government, civil society, regional organisations and the private sector. Not only did the evaluation find mixed results on the programme's value for money, but it also noted that the programme was operating in a different policy and budget context and concluded that in it's current form, the programme was not effective and needed to be reshaped. And we decided not to continue with this programme based on the findings of the evaluation. As well as our need to support other priorities including those arising from our step up engagement in the Pacific.
JM: Will this move be saving you money or are you investing more than what you're saving by cutting it?
CFW: Well I think in the end Jenny the reality is that Australia's committment to the Pacific is a very substantial one. Our overseas development assistant programme is about A$4billion. 90 per cent of that is spent in the Indo-Pacific, a third of that is spent in the Pacific itself. Australia's engagement with the Pacific is increasing on a whole range of different areas; strengthening economic resilience, enhancing security cooperation, and deepening our people to people links accross the region in areas where we have worked very closely with the Pacific Island countries determined what their priorities are, determined what our priorities are; the stable, secure and prosperous Pacific. And we are expanding opportunities in those areas, in collaboration and in conjuction with our Pacific Island country partners.
