Latest news with #NakamalAgreement
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Vanuatu Seeks Visa-Free Access To Australia Before Renewing Strategic Pact
Vanuatu and Australia are set to re-sign an important strategic agreement in September, but its ratification may be stymied by immigration demands. The Vanuatu Australia Nakamal Partnership Agreement, a framework for development cooperation between the two nations, was first signed in 2022 to "jointly address critical priorities", covering security, trade and development. Local media have reported Prime Minister Jotham Napat wants visa-free access to Australia otherwise "the deal is off". Napat inherited the Nakamal agreement from previous Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau. At the time, Penny Wong signed the agreement for Australia as foreign minister. Wong still holds this portfolio. The Lowy Institute's Pacific geopolitical expert Mihai Sora said Napat was pushing for change in an environment that favoured Pacific nations. The Nakamal deal was part of Australia's ongoing efforts to demonstrate its role as the region's primary security provider, he said. "The context right now in the Pacific is of intense competition for influence, for access [and] for being the preferred partner whether it's in the development space or the security space or the economic space. "So, this gives individual Pacific countries a great deal of leverage to essentially get better deals from traditional partners and get better deals from new partners as well." Australia's strict visa regime has been a long-standing political issue in the Pacific region. Leaders from different nations have repeatedly asked for free movement of people across the region in recent years. Currently, all Pacific national must get a visa to enter Australia. The costs of that, and prolonged processing times were common complaints. In New Zealand, changes to visa requirements were ushered in at the weekend. Now, Pacific nationals with visitor visas can enter the country multiple times within a 24-month period. Previously, an individual had to apply for a visa each time they wanted to come to New Zealand. In November, a 12-month trial aimed at making it easier to go from Australia and New Zealand for nationals from Pacific Island Forum (PIF) countries is also due to begin. Under the trial anyone from a PIF country with a valid Australian visa will be able to enter New Zealand for up to three months with just an electronic travel authority. The electronic travel authority is what's issued to nationals from countries on New Zealand's visa-waiver list. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has also told RNZ Pacific: "Australia is pleased to be working with the Vanuatu government on the Nakamal Agreement to elevate our bilateral relationship". Sora believes Napat had focused on visa-free access as a negotiating tactic. While he thought Australia was unlikely to concede to the demand, he said some change in immigration rules was possible. "There are a number of ways to reform the existing visa regime that that makes it an easier process for Pacific nationals seeking to enter Australia, whether it's for short term or longer term," he said. "It could be to do with the cost of those processes, which as we know, are very, very high particularly for individuals that are coming from low-income households. He said the time it takes for those applications to be processed can also be "hugely disruptive". "It can take many, many months and there's plenty of examples of people's plans…[basically] evaporating because it's just taken too long for a visa to be processed," he said. "The ask may be seen as unrealistic and unreasonable, but the end result - after negotiations - it may be…possible to see some improvements at least in the practical effect of how that visa regime is experienced by not just ni-Vanuatu but other Pacific Islanders seeking to travel to Australia." A spokesperson from DFAT said Australia was looking forward to continuing work with Vanautu on the agreement, which focused on "boosting our economic, security and people-to-people connections".
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Vanuatu seeks visa-free access to Australia before renewing strategic pact
Jotham Napat, right, was elected Vanuatu's new prime minister in February. Photo: DFAT Vanuatu and Australia are set to re-sign an important strategic agreement in September, but its ratification may be stymied by immigration demands. The Vanuatu Australia Nakamal Partnership Agreement, a framework for development cooperation between the two nations, was first signed in 2022 to "jointly address critical priorities", covering security, trade and development. Local media have reported Prime Minister Jotham Napat wants visa-free access to Australia otherwise "the deal is off". Napat inherited the Nakamal agreement from previous Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau. At the time, Penny Wong signed the agreement for Australia as foreign minister. Wong still holds this portfolio. The Lowy Institute's Pacific geopolitical expert Mihai Sora said Napat was pushing for change in an environment that favoured Pacific nations. The Nakamal deal was part of Australia's ongoing efforts to demonstrate its role as the region's primary security provider, he said. "The context right now in the Pacific is of intense competition for influence, for access [and] for being the preferred partner whether it's in the development space or the security space or the economic space. "So, this gives individual Pacific countries a great deal of leverage to essentially get better deals from traditional partners and get better deals from new partners as well." Australia's strict visa regime has been a long-standing political issue in the Pacific region. Leaders from different nations have repeatedly asked for free movement of people across the region in recent years. Currently, all Pacific national must get a visa to enter Australia. The costs of that, and prolonged processing times were common complaints. In New Zealand, changes to visa requirements were ushered in at the weekend. Now, Pacific nationals with visitor visas can enter the country multiple times within a 24-month period. Previously, an individual had to apply for a visa each time they wanted to come to New Zealand. In November, a 12-month trial aimed at making it easier to go from Australia and New Zealand for nationals from Pacific Island Forum (PIF) countries is also due to begin. Under the trial anyone from a PIF country with a valid Australian visa will be able to enter New Zealand for up to three months with just an electronic travel authority. The electronic travel authority is what's issued to nationals from countries on New Zealand's visa-waiver list. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has also told RNZ Pacific: "Australia is pleased to be working with the Vanuatu government on the Nakamal Agreement to elevate our bilateral relationship". Sora believes Napat had focused on visa-free access as a negotiating tactic. While he thought Australia was unlikely to concede to the demand, he said some change in immigration rules was possible. "There are a number of ways to reform the existing visa regime that that makes it an easier process for Pacific nationals seeking to enter Australia, whether it's for short term or longer term," he said. "It could be to do with the cost of those processes, which as we know, are very, very high particularly for individuals that are coming from low-income households. He said the time it takes for those applications to be processed can also be "hugely disruptive". "It can take many, many months and there's plenty of examples of people's plans…[basically] evaporating because it's just taken too long for a visa to be processed," he said. "The ask may be seen as unrealistic and unreasonable, but the end result - after negotiations - it may be…possible to see some improvements at least in the practical effect of how that visa regime is experienced by not just ni-Vanuatu but other Pacific Islanders seeking to travel to Australia." A spokesperson from DFAT said Australia was looking forward to continuing work with Vanautu on the agreement, which focused on "boosting our economic, security and people-to-people connections".
The Advertiser
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Foreign minister to blitz key Pacific island states
Foreign Minister Penny Wong will blitz three key Pacific island nations in her first standalone trip after Labor's landslide re-election. The foreign minister will visit Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji across three days in the region, visiting new prime ministers in Port Vila and Nuku'alofa, along with the region's centre of diplomacy. Senator Wong will be joined by Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite in what will be his first official overseas trip. Near the top of Senator Wong's agenda will be COP31, the UN climate change conference it is hoping to co-host with the region next year. Turkey is also contending for hosting rights of the 2026 talks. While Australia would hold the summit, with Adelaide proposed as the host city, Vanuatu climate minister Ralph Regenvanu reminded his counterparts in Canberra the Pacific had high expectations of climate progress. "We would expect equal say in what happens at the COP and what the outcomes will be," he said. "We expect the Albanese government to stop approving new oil and gas projects. "We expect and we want to see an outcome of COP31 being financing of a just transition across the Pacific so that we become the first region in the world to become completely renewable in our identification." Mr Regenvanu said his views were felt across the Pacific, citing Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr's statements while in Sydney last month as evidence. In a keynote address to the Lowy Institute, Mr Whipps Jr lashed Australia's fossil fuel exports, which he said was responsible for 4.5 per cent of global emissions. He also called for Australia to phase out coal and gas production and halt the approval of new fossil fuel projects "as the Pacific region faces the dire consequences of the climate crisis". The whole region would be making a similar request "so that we can advance our stated indices towards the fossil fuel-free Pacific by 2050", Mr Regenvanu said. Alongside climate talks, Senator Wong is likely to revisit a bilateral security agreement agreed between Australia and Vanuatu that remains unratified in Port Vila. Australia agreed to that deal during a barnstorming start to Senator Wong's tenure, when the South Australian visited all 17 other Pacific Islands Forum members within 12 months of becoming foreign minister in 2022. Since that pact, Vanuatu has changed prime minister twice, with Jotham Napat's government disinclined to ratify the agreement until it is modified. Senator Wong will meet with Mr Napat and his senior ministers while in Port Vila. "We will reaffirm Australia's commitment to elevate our bilateral relationship through the development of the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu," Senator Wong said in a pre-departure statement. She will also meet with Tonga's prime minister 'Aisake Eke, who took the office in January, and also assumed position of the Pacific Islands Forum chair, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala. In Suva, she will hold talks with Sitiveni Rabuka, the veteran Fijian prime minister. Foreign Minister Penny Wong will blitz three key Pacific island nations in her first standalone trip after Labor's landslide re-election. The foreign minister will visit Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji across three days in the region, visiting new prime ministers in Port Vila and Nuku'alofa, along with the region's centre of diplomacy. Senator Wong will be joined by Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite in what will be his first official overseas trip. Near the top of Senator Wong's agenda will be COP31, the UN climate change conference it is hoping to co-host with the region next year. Turkey is also contending for hosting rights of the 2026 talks. While Australia would hold the summit, with Adelaide proposed as the host city, Vanuatu climate minister Ralph Regenvanu reminded his counterparts in Canberra the Pacific had high expectations of climate progress. "We would expect equal say in what happens at the COP and what the outcomes will be," he said. "We expect the Albanese government to stop approving new oil and gas projects. "We expect and we want to see an outcome of COP31 being financing of a just transition across the Pacific so that we become the first region in the world to become completely renewable in our identification." Mr Regenvanu said his views were felt across the Pacific, citing Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr's statements while in Sydney last month as evidence. In a keynote address to the Lowy Institute, Mr Whipps Jr lashed Australia's fossil fuel exports, which he said was responsible for 4.5 per cent of global emissions. He also called for Australia to phase out coal and gas production and halt the approval of new fossil fuel projects "as the Pacific region faces the dire consequences of the climate crisis". The whole region would be making a similar request "so that we can advance our stated indices towards the fossil fuel-free Pacific by 2050", Mr Regenvanu said. Alongside climate talks, Senator Wong is likely to revisit a bilateral security agreement agreed between Australia and Vanuatu that remains unratified in Port Vila. Australia agreed to that deal during a barnstorming start to Senator Wong's tenure, when the South Australian visited all 17 other Pacific Islands Forum members within 12 months of becoming foreign minister in 2022. Since that pact, Vanuatu has changed prime minister twice, with Jotham Napat's government disinclined to ratify the agreement until it is modified. Senator Wong will meet with Mr Napat and his senior ministers while in Port Vila. "We will reaffirm Australia's commitment to elevate our bilateral relationship through the development of the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu," Senator Wong said in a pre-departure statement. She will also meet with Tonga's prime minister 'Aisake Eke, who took the office in January, and also assumed position of the Pacific Islands Forum chair, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala. In Suva, she will hold talks with Sitiveni Rabuka, the veteran Fijian prime minister. Foreign Minister Penny Wong will blitz three key Pacific island nations in her first standalone trip after Labor's landslide re-election. The foreign minister will visit Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji across three days in the region, visiting new prime ministers in Port Vila and Nuku'alofa, along with the region's centre of diplomacy. Senator Wong will be joined by Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite in what will be his first official overseas trip. Near the top of Senator Wong's agenda will be COP31, the UN climate change conference it is hoping to co-host with the region next year. Turkey is also contending for hosting rights of the 2026 talks. While Australia would hold the summit, with Adelaide proposed as the host city, Vanuatu climate minister Ralph Regenvanu reminded his counterparts in Canberra the Pacific had high expectations of climate progress. "We would expect equal say in what happens at the COP and what the outcomes will be," he said. "We expect the Albanese government to stop approving new oil and gas projects. "We expect and we want to see an outcome of COP31 being financing of a just transition across the Pacific so that we become the first region in the world to become completely renewable in our identification." Mr Regenvanu said his views were felt across the Pacific, citing Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr's statements while in Sydney last month as evidence. In a keynote address to the Lowy Institute, Mr Whipps Jr lashed Australia's fossil fuel exports, which he said was responsible for 4.5 per cent of global emissions. He also called for Australia to phase out coal and gas production and halt the approval of new fossil fuel projects "as the Pacific region faces the dire consequences of the climate crisis". The whole region would be making a similar request "so that we can advance our stated indices towards the fossil fuel-free Pacific by 2050", Mr Regenvanu said. Alongside climate talks, Senator Wong is likely to revisit a bilateral security agreement agreed between Australia and Vanuatu that remains unratified in Port Vila. Australia agreed to that deal during a barnstorming start to Senator Wong's tenure, when the South Australian visited all 17 other Pacific Islands Forum members within 12 months of becoming foreign minister in 2022. Since that pact, Vanuatu has changed prime minister twice, with Jotham Napat's government disinclined to ratify the agreement until it is modified. Senator Wong will meet with Mr Napat and his senior ministers while in Port Vila. "We will reaffirm Australia's commitment to elevate our bilateral relationship through the development of the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu," Senator Wong said in a pre-departure statement. She will also meet with Tonga's prime minister 'Aisake Eke, who took the office in January, and also assumed position of the Pacific Islands Forum chair, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala. In Suva, she will hold talks with Sitiveni Rabuka, the veteran Fijian prime minister. Foreign Minister Penny Wong will blitz three key Pacific island nations in her first standalone trip after Labor's landslide re-election. The foreign minister will visit Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji across three days in the region, visiting new prime ministers in Port Vila and Nuku'alofa, along with the region's centre of diplomacy. Senator Wong will be joined by Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite in what will be his first official overseas trip. Near the top of Senator Wong's agenda will be COP31, the UN climate change conference it is hoping to co-host with the region next year. Turkey is also contending for hosting rights of the 2026 talks. While Australia would hold the summit, with Adelaide proposed as the host city, Vanuatu climate minister Ralph Regenvanu reminded his counterparts in Canberra the Pacific had high expectations of climate progress. "We would expect equal say in what happens at the COP and what the outcomes will be," he said. "We expect the Albanese government to stop approving new oil and gas projects. "We expect and we want to see an outcome of COP31 being financing of a just transition across the Pacific so that we become the first region in the world to become completely renewable in our identification." Mr Regenvanu said his views were felt across the Pacific, citing Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr's statements while in Sydney last month as evidence. In a keynote address to the Lowy Institute, Mr Whipps Jr lashed Australia's fossil fuel exports, which he said was responsible for 4.5 per cent of global emissions. He also called for Australia to phase out coal and gas production and halt the approval of new fossil fuel projects "as the Pacific region faces the dire consequences of the climate crisis". The whole region would be making a similar request "so that we can advance our stated indices towards the fossil fuel-free Pacific by 2050", Mr Regenvanu said. Alongside climate talks, Senator Wong is likely to revisit a bilateral security agreement agreed between Australia and Vanuatu that remains unratified in Port Vila. Australia agreed to that deal during a barnstorming start to Senator Wong's tenure, when the South Australian visited all 17 other Pacific Islands Forum members within 12 months of becoming foreign minister in 2022. Since that pact, Vanuatu has changed prime minister twice, with Jotham Napat's government disinclined to ratify the agreement until it is modified. Senator Wong will meet with Mr Napat and his senior ministers while in Port Vila. "We will reaffirm Australia's commitment to elevate our bilateral relationship through the development of the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu," Senator Wong said in a pre-departure statement. She will also meet with Tonga's prime minister 'Aisake Eke, who took the office in January, and also assumed position of the Pacific Islands Forum chair, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala. In Suva, she will hold talks with Sitiveni Rabuka, the veteran Fijian prime minister.
Perth Now
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Foreign minister to blitz key Pacific island states
Foreign Minister Penny Wong will blitz three key Pacific island nations in her first standalone trip after Labor's landslide re-election. The foreign minister will visit Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji across three days in the region, visiting new prime ministers in Port Vila and Nuku'alofa, along with the region's centre of diplomacy. Senator Wong will be joined by Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite in what will be his first official overseas trip. Near the top of Senator Wong's agenda will be COP31, the UN climate change conference it is hoping to co-host with the region next year. Turkey is also contending for hosting rights of the 2026 talks. While Australia would hold the summit, with Adelaide proposed as the host city, Vanuatu climate minister Ralph Regenvanu reminded his counterparts in Canberra the Pacific had high expectations of climate progress. "We would expect equal say in what happens at the COP and what the outcomes will be," he said. "We expect the Albanese government to stop approving new oil and gas projects. "We expect and we want to see an outcome of COP31 being financing of a just transition across the Pacific so that we become the first region in the world to become completely renewable in our identification." Mr Regenvanu said his views were felt across the Pacific, citing Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr's statements while in Sydney last month as evidence. In a keynote address to the Lowy Institute, Mr Whipps Jr lashed Australia's fossil fuel exports, which he said was responsible for 4.5 per cent of global emissions. He also called for Australia to phase out coal and gas production and halt the approval of new fossil fuel projects "as the Pacific region faces the dire consequences of the climate crisis". The whole region would be making a similar request "so that we can advance our stated indices towards the fossil fuel-free Pacific by 2050", Mr Regenvanu said. Alongside climate talks, Senator Wong is likely to revisit a bilateral security agreement agreed between Australia and Vanuatu that remains unratified in Port Vila. Australia agreed to that deal during a barnstorming start to Senator Wong's tenure, when the South Australian visited all 17 other Pacific Islands Forum members within 12 months of becoming foreign minister in 2022. Since that pact, Vanuatu has changed prime minister twice, with Jotham Napat's government disinclined to ratify the agreement until it is modified. Senator Wong will meet with Mr Napat and his senior ministers while in Port Vila. "We will reaffirm Australia's commitment to elevate our bilateral relationship through the development of the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu," Senator Wong said in a pre-departure statement. She will also meet with Tonga's prime minister 'Aisake Eke, who took the office in January, and also assumed position of the Pacific Islands Forum chair, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala. In Suva, she will hold talks with Sitiveni Rabuka, the veteran Fijian prime minister.
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Foreign minister to blitz key Pacific island states
Foreign Minister Penny Wong will blitz three key Pacific island nations in her first standalone trip after Labor's landslide re-election. The foreign minister will visit Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji across three days in the region, visiting new prime ministers in Port Vila and Nuku'alofa, along with the region's centre of diplomacy. Senator Wong will be joined by Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite in what will be his first official overseas trip. Near the top of Senator Wong's agenda will be COP31, the UN climate change conference it is hoping to co-host with the region next year. Turkey is also contending for hosting rights of the 2026 talks. While Australia would hold the summit, with Adelaide proposed as the host city, Vanuatu climate minister Ralph Regenvanu reminded his counterparts in Canberra the Pacific had high expectations of climate progress. "We would expect equal say in what happens at the COP and what the outcomes will be," he said. "We expect the Albanese government to stop approving new oil and gas projects. "We expect and we want to see an outcome of COP31 being financing of a just transition across the Pacific so that we become the first region in the world to become completely renewable in our identification." Mr Regenvanu said his views were felt across the Pacific, citing Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr's statements while in Sydney last month as evidence. In a keynote address to the Lowy Institute, Mr Whipps Jr lashed Australia's fossil fuel exports, which he said was responsible for 4.5 per cent of global emissions. He also called for Australia to phase out coal and gas production and halt the approval of new fossil fuel projects "as the Pacific region faces the dire consequences of the climate crisis". The whole region would be making a similar request "so that we can advance our stated indices towards the fossil fuel-free Pacific by 2050", Mr Regenvanu said. Alongside climate talks, Senator Wong is likely to revisit a bilateral security agreement agreed between Australia and Vanuatu that remains unratified in Port Vila. Australia agreed to that deal during a barnstorming start to Senator Wong's tenure, when the South Australian visited all 17 other Pacific Islands Forum members within 12 months of becoming foreign minister in 2022. Since that pact, Vanuatu has changed prime minister twice, with Jotham Napat's government disinclined to ratify the agreement until it is modified. Senator Wong will meet with Mr Napat and his senior ministers while in Port Vila. "We will reaffirm Australia's commitment to elevate our bilateral relationship through the development of the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu," Senator Wong said in a pre-departure statement. She will also meet with Tonga's prime minister 'Aisake Eke, who took the office in January, and also assumed position of the Pacific Islands Forum chair, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala. In Suva, she will hold talks with Sitiveni Rabuka, the veteran Fijian prime minister.
