Thank you Prime Minister Fiame for hosting this event today.
In August in Tonga, as Pacific Leaders we agreed to a major new chapter in our region’s collective security – the Pacific Policing Initiative.
Today, it is privilege to join my fellow Pacific leaders in welcoming officers from 11 nations, representing the first ever Pacific Police Support Group deployment.
Putting the words of our agreement into action – and demonstrating the spirit of regional co-operation.
Security of the Pacific, designed for the Pacific, led and delivered by the Pacific.
The work of the Pacific Police Support Group will be backed by a training and coordination hub based in Brisbane and four new Centres of Excellence for police training across the region.
Each participating state will make its own sovereign decisions about its participation.
I think we can all agree this is an outstanding start – and I congratulate the Government of Samoa for drawing on the PPSG to provide security for hosting a significant global event like CHOGM.
This initiative builds on a proven track record of co-operation, it gives the region access to a trained pool of officers, ready to deploy in response to sovereign requests.
And it speaks for a fundamental truth: in the Pacific, the security of any one of us, matters to all of us.
That’s what family means. That’s the Pacific way – and it’s the right way forward.
As I announced at this year’s PIF, Australia is proud to be providing substantial, long-term support to ensure the PPI succeeds, and delivers on the aspirations of our region.
To those joining us on deployment, thank you for the contribution you are making to the security and safety of our region.
And thank you for being the first to step forward and serve.
You are setting a standard others will follow: as we strive to ensure the stability, security and prosperity of our region for all of us – and for future generations.
