Expand Australia's engagement with Pacific Island countries.
The Government will provide $1.9 billion over 5 years from 2022-23 to expand Australia's engagement with Pacific Island countries. Funding includes:
* $370.8 million over 4 years to expand and improve the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, to support sustainable scheme growth and improve support for workers in line with Australian and Pacific aspirations
* $1.4 billion over 4 years to build Pacific peace and security, to support Pacific family priorities and the relevant commitments under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent including: - Defence's expansion of Australia's engagement with Pacific Island countries including through the provision of security infrastructure and maritime security capability including in support of the Government's response to the Defence Strategic Review, with Defence expenditure to be met from within existing resources - Australian Federal Police and the Attorney-General's Department's strengthening of Pacific law enforcement and criminal justice cooperation with partners in the Pacific
* $114.3 million over 4 years to support a stronger, more united Pacific region, including supporting regional architecture, taking a regional approach to humanitarian relief and disaster preparedness, and improving diplomatic capability
* $89.5 million over 4 years to deepen Pacific connections by strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties with the region and promote shared values. Expansion and improvement of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme is estimated to increase receipts by $300.0 million over 4 years from 2023-24. The cost of this measure will be partially met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Defence. This measure will also be partially offset by redirecting funding from the 2022-23 March Budget measure titled Support to the Pacific and Timor-Leste - additional support. This measure builds on the 2022-23 October Budget measures titled Pacific Security and Engagement Initiatives and Enhancing the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility.