national news

Penny Wong’s diplomacy efforts in the Pacific begin to bear fruit with PNG security pact

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has announced it wants to establish a security agreement with Australia, welcome news for analysts wary of rising Chinese influence. This decision reflects well on Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s tireless diplomacy with Pacific Island capitals. Since becoming Foreign Minister a little over three months ago, Wong has made four separate trips to the Pacific; to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and Solomon Islands, as well as engaging with Pacific leaders during July’s Pacific Islands Forum Summit.

New national disaster agency comes online

A new national disaster management agency will be created to help Australians get through their "darkest hours" with severe flooding likely to be on the way as the nation approaches a "high risk" weather season.

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