A Pacific-specific approach to regionalism

This week on the pod we take a look at regional cooperation amongst the Pacific Islands and the challenges they face in coordinating policy efforts.

How can Pacific island nations work together better to tackle some of the big issues facing the region, and increase their clout on the global stage? On this week’s Policy Forum Pod, a panel of experts take a look at economic development, globalisation, non-communicable diseases, and climate change in the region, and the importance of concerted and coordinated efforts in tackling them.

Our presenters – Jill Sheppard and Martyn Pearce – also take a look at a few key policy issues in the news, including the Royal Commissions into both the Murray-Darling Basin and Australia’s banks, as well as proposed tax reforms and franking credits. They also discuss some of the comments you’ve left us and your suggestions you've give us for future pods – so keep them coming!

This episode brings together three experts on regionalism amongst the Pacific Islands:

Matthew Dornan is a Research Fellow and the Deputy Director at the Development Policy Centre in Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University (ANU).

Meg Keen is Associate Professor at the Department of Pacific Affairs at ANU. She is also a senior policy fellow in the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia program at the university.

Colin Tukuitonga has served as Director-General at Pacific Community (SPC) since January 2014. He was formerly the Director of its Public Health Division. He is based at the organisation’s headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Our presenters for this week’s podcast are:

Jill Sheppard is a political scientist at the School of Politics and International Relations at the ANU.

Martyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.

Show notes | The following were referred to in this episode:

Policy Forum Pod Facebook group

Cricket match: Sri Lanka vs Australia

Franking credits and the Labor Party’s suggested tax reform

Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission

Royal Commission into Australia’s banks

Policy Forum Pod: Australia’s environmental performance review

OECD Environmental Performance Review: Australia 2019

Event information on ST Lee Lecture with Colin Tukuitonga

The Framework for Pacific Regionalism (2014)

The Pacific Plan for Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration (preceding framework)

Blue Economy theme for Pacific Islands

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s comment on...

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