Visit to Fiji to deepen economic and security ties

The Hon Alex Hawke MP, Assistant Defence Minister and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, will travel to Fiji from 2 to 3 December to deepen economic and security cooperation under the recently signed Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership.

Minister Hawke will meet with senior Fijian ministers to discuss ways of improving economic and community linkages between Australia and Fiji, and to review the close maritime security links between the two nations, building on our growing defence cooperation.

Minister Hawke will attend a ceremony to launch the upgrade of the wharf at Fiji Navy Base, RFNS Stanley Brown in Suva. The infrastructure works to the wharf will support Fiji to accommodate its new Guardian-class patrol boats, to be provided by Australia through the Pacific Maritime Security Program.

“The first of Fiji’s two Guardian-class patrol boats is expected to arrive in Suva in mid-2020, and will symbolise the close cooperation between Fiji and Australia’s military forces,” Minister Hawke said.

“Security cooperation is a key pillar of the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership. Our defence forces have a long history of working together, and this only continues to grow.”

Minister Hawke will also visit the Australia Pacific Training Coalition campus at Walu Bay, where the Australian aid program is delivering vocational training in engineering skills to students from across the Pacific, helping them become job-ready.