28/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 28/08/2024 00:56
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has today joined other Pacific leaders to endorse the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), a major regional initiative to strengthen collective peace and security throughout the Pacific.
The PPI will boost the capability of Pacific nations to meet law and order and internal security requirements, and to support each other in times of need. The PPI has three pillars:
Australia will commit approximately $400 million over five years to ensure the PPI delivers on the aspirations of Pacific countries. Australia's contribution will include infrastructure costs associated with new policing Centres of Excellence in the region.
The PPI is a practical contribution to the Pacific Islands Forum's peace and security vision outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and it builds on the recent experience of the Solomons International Assistance Force.
Discussions on an integrated regional policing capability were first held at the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police meeting in 2023. Pacific police are finalising a PPI design process that ensures this initiative will be by the Pacific and for the Pacific.
"This policing initiative continues a long history of Pacific police forces working together to strengthen regional peace and security, and to support each other in times of need.
"Pacific leaders are working together to shape the future we want to see - improving capability, cooperation and interoperability among Pacific police forces benefits all Pacific countries and the security of our communities.
"This is a Pacific-led, Australia-backed initiative, harnessing our collective strengths. We are stronger together.
"The security of the Pacific is the shared responsibility of the Pacific region and this initiative benefits each of our nations."