By Anna Kirk, an intern in the Lowy Institute's Melanesia program.
- Jo Chandler takes an in-depth look at how Australia’s asylum seeker policy has changed Manus Island forever.
- Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been in PNG for the 23rd PNG-Australia Ministerial Forum, where she emphasised the importance of sovereign wealth funds for PNG, announced plans to support gender equality and help transform the public service.
- While in PNG she made the trip to Bougainville, the first visit by an Australian foreign minister in 14 years.
- Bishop has also proposed to hold a Pacific leaders' summit in Sydney next year to review Pacific regional architecture.
- In New Caledonia the governing coalition made up of three anti-independence parties has resigned its seats. Nic Maclellan on Pacific Beat says there has been tension in the coalition for some time.
- Matthew Dornan argues that the first post-election Fijian budget is 'business as usual' for the Bainimarama Government.
- There is potential for disaster in Solomon Islands at the Gold Ridge mine where dams are dangerously full ahead of the wet season.