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Asia & Pacific

Australia’s New Front in the Battle for the Pacific: Banking and Labour

With Beijing increasing its influence in the Pacific, Australia is focusing on the basic necessities: banking and labour mobility.
Australia’s New Front in the Battle for the Pacific: Banking and Labour
This photo taken on Oct. 27, 2024, shows a general view of an ANZ Bank branch in Samoa's capital of Apia. William West/AFP via Getty Images
Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
11/12/2024|Updated: 11/12/2024

The withdrawal of major banks from Pacific countries poses significant socio-economic risks to the region as well as considerable inconvenience to individual customers, so Australia—along with the United States and New Zealand—is stepping in to assist as part of its ongoing effort to win the allegiance of the island states.

Australia is also expanding a labour mobility scheme, with the initiative forming part of efforts to counteract the increasing influence of Beijing.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
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Related Topics
Australia
banking
Pacific Islands
Indo-Pacific
ANZ Bank
PALM scheme
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