Why does Australia spend so much on the Pacific?

from Why Can't They Just... Hosted by Policy 4 People

Janaline, Luke and Glenn ask why Australian Prime Ministers spend so much time with very tiny island countries, and why Australian governments spend so much development aid in the region. Short answer - geography matters. We make the case for development assistance as an investment in global stability and for delivering it in a way that is less colonial and more collaborative (eg ask people what they need). Also Pacific island governments are full of smart people with a clear idea of their national interest and a clear ability to pursue it. Focusing on US-China rivalry totally misses this point. Here is a transcript. Please leave a comment, particularly if you have your own "Why can't they just..." question, or email us at `[email protected]`. We'd love to hear from you. Find out more about us and how you can support us at ⁠https://whycanttheyjust.com.au/, which includes a link to our Patreon site where you can sign up for exclusive content. Please also feel free to rate and review us, as it does help people to find us. Music: "Insurrection" Written by Pierre Chrétien Performed by the Soul Jazz Orchestra Courtesy of Do Right Music Inc.