Australia and Pacific nations have committed to strengthening regional security to respond to increasing transnational and organised crime.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Pacific leaders on Wednesday unanimously endorsed Waqa Moana, a Pacific-led maritime security initiative to counter illicit drug trafficking.
Waqa Moana will focus on getting actionable intelligence into the hands of Pacific police forces and operational responders.
To support the implementation of Waqa Moana, Prime Minister Albanese announced a $600m package of support.
The Australian Federal Police will invest $49 million in new counter-transnational and organised crime programs across the region.
This is in addition to the $140 million the Australian Federal Police is contributing over the next 4 years to support regional security objectives, including Waqa Moana.
The Prime Minister also announced the Department of Defence will invest $312 million over the next 10 years to support efforts to counter transnational and organised crime in the region.
This decision reflects the region’s aspiration for peace and security to be led by the Pacific.
A united region can respond quickly to challenges.
Leaders commended the Pacific Humanitarian Response Coordination Mechanism (PResCOM), designed to ensure the region can come together quickly to respond in times of disaster.
PResCOM demonstrated its value in April 2026 during the response to Cyclone Maila in the Solomon Islands.
Prime Minister Albanese also welcomed the growing capability of Pacific countries to work together to address shared security challenges.
To support Palau in hosting the Leaders’ Meeting, 119 Pacific Police Support Group personnel deployed from across the region, including 28 Australian Federal Police officers. This is the largest deployment of the Pacific Police Support Group to date and reflects growing Pacific-led security cooperation.
The Pacific police officers deployed are some of the 1,157 Pacific personnel that have trained at the Pacific Policing Initiative Development and Coordination Hub in Pinkenba, Brisbane, since the Hub opened in December 2024.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
“Australia is proud to support Waqa Moana, a Pacific-led maritime security initiative that will put intelligence into the hands of police forces and operational responders.
“The Pacific is our home and our family. That’s why it’s in Australia’s interests to work with our Pacific partners to combat organised crime.
“For the good of every country in the region, including our own – we need to work together to stamp out the illicit drug trade.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy
“Waqa Moana is a concrete demonstration of how we turn up, listen and act on Pacific priorities.
“Drug trafficking is having a devastating impact on Pacific communities.
“This initiative responds to the calls of regional leaders to do more, and to step up regional coordination to address this scourge.
“It builds on our track record of working together on Pacific responses to Pacific priorities.”