22 June 2025
This week, Australia’s Minister for Pacific Affairs, Hon. Pat Conroy, will travel to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands on behalf of Australia as he continues to strengthen the country’s enduring partnership with the Pacific.
In Fiji, he will attend the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders’ Summit as a special guest to discuss common interests in a strong, secure, and prosperous region.
Alongside representatives from the Australian Rugby League Commission and National Rugby League (NRL), he will meet with key stakeholders in PNG to reaffirm Australia’s commitment to developing rugby league pathways and establishing a competitive and sustainable PNG NRL franchise for entry into the NRL competition by 2028.
He will also deliver remarks at the 40th Australia-PNG Business Forum to highlight Australia’s support for PNG’s continued economic growth as its largest trading and investment partner.
Further, he will launch the Australia–Solomon Islands Development Partnership Plan with his Solomon Islands Government counterparts.
Solomon Islands and Australia are more integrated than ever, through significant growth in labour mobility and trade. He will also meet with Prime Minister Manele and senior ministers to discuss the depth and breadth of the bilateral partnership.
As a fellow member of the Pacific Islands Forum, Australia, through Minister Conroy, is supporting Solomon Islands in its successful hosting of the 2025 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in September.
End///
[Press Release]
