The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound impact on Australia and our Pacific neighbours. Managing the social, economic, and health impacts of COVID-19 remains a central challenge for our region. Australia remains committed to the needs of our immediate neighbourhood, as we face the pandemic together.
Australia’s COVID-19 response in the Pacific builds on years of cooperation in health, education, security, and disaster response. Since January 2020, Australia has worked with Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to help them prepare for and respond to the pandemic.
“We have responded to more than 120 requests from our region for assistance since January. We have adapted the aid program to provide immediate relief to help Pacific partners respond to the emerging health, economic, social, and impacts of COVID−19. We have continued to provide COVID-19 testing kits, PPE, critical care equipment, and other medical supplies to our region, including AUSMAT specialists to Papua New Guinea.”
Australia has also committed to procure and deliver COVID-19 Vaccines to its partners in the Pacific, Timor-Leste, and Southeast Asia. And has also committed $80 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation COVAX Facility Advance Market Commitment to improve vaccine access for Pacific and Southeast Asian countries.
In addition, Australia is establishing a new, temporary $304.7 million COVID-19 Response Package over two years, as part of Pacific Step-up, to help address the economic and social costs of the pandemic in the Pacific and Timor-Leste, helping to underpin its region’s stability and economic recovery. The package will include budget support measures to enable Pacific partner governments to maintain essential services, including for the most vulnerable, as well as assistance for Pacific aviation to help maintain air connectivity.
