The Australian Government is delivering around AUD$1.9 billion over five years to the Pacific, in response to the priorities Australia has heard directly from the region, including from Samoa.

The mammoth aid funding was announced by the Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Emily Luck in a media release that was distributed to the local media late Thursday. 

"Building on our longstanding contributions to regional stability, Australia is deepening connections between our people and enhancing cooperation across labour mobility, maritime security, cyber security, policing, responding to and preparing for humanitarian disasters, media, and sport."

The High Commissioner said Australia is committed to supporting the sustainable development of Samoa, through investment in health, education, governance, and climate resilience. 

"Australia is proud to partner with Samoa by increasing our development assistance to an estimated AUD$53.5 million in the 2023/2024 financial year."

Ms. Luck said through their development partnership, Australia is working with the Government of Samoa to build prosperity for all Samoans.

"Guided by the Pathway for the Development of Samoa and supported by our Bilateral Partnership Arrangement, Australia is committed to working alongside Prime Minister Fiame and the Samoan Government to support Samoa's development aspirations. Together, we can create a safer, more secure, and more prosperous Samoa and Blue Pacific."

Australia is also improving the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme to maximise its economic contributions to Samoa and Pacific economies. This will be achieved by aligning the program with the policy settings of the Government of Samoa; strengthening conditions and better-supporting workers; providing access to Medicare for an initial 200 families from across the Pacific in the government’s family accompaniment pilot; embedding skills development through training; and supporting workers to access superannuation savings when they return home.

Australia is proud to be investing in deepening the connections between our peoples, including through expanded access to Australian media content and boosting media connections in the region, improving visa service delivery, and building on our shared love of sports, Ms. Luck added.

"We are boosting our contribution to meeting Pacific security priorities to support the Pacific family first approach to security agreed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in July 2022, and the peace and security commitments under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

"Australia will bolster its investment in Pacific regional architecture, including the Pacific Islands Forum, to further support the Pacific family. Australia is committed to working with Samoa toward our shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Pacific."

This announcement in funding support by Australia comes on the back of the Australian Federal Government Treasurer Jim Chalmers handing down the 2023-24 Australian Federal Budget on Tuesday this week.