MARVIN GIRELLI AND HEATHER WRATHALL |
The Albanese Government recently released its new Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy. The Strategy aims to provide a framework to help foster a vibrant and independent media sector across the region. In launching the strategy, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong remarked “Media plays a crucial role in elevating the voices and perspectives of our region and strengthening democracy.”
There is no doubt that media plays a vital role in the Pacific region, and a robust media environment is indispensable to democratic systems and essential for effective governance. It is a welcome move for the government to explicitly state its position on media in the region.
Along with the media, two other key sectors will shape the future trajectory of the Pacific region: youth and civil society. Like media, both youth and civil society will significantly influence community dialogue, government accountability and the protection and promotion of civic space.
Free, vibrant and robust civil society must be protected and promoted as a vital part of a stable and democratic region while Pacific youth are fundamental to the continuing development of their nations’ environments, economies, societies and cultures. Youth and civil society are crucial contributors to socio-economic development that require continued support to be able to operate effectively.
There are two current policy processes underway which offer an opportunity to support these sectors further in Australian foreign policy.
First, following last year’s International Development Policy, Development Partnership Plans are being prepared for individual countries and for regions. This offers the chance to incorporate youth as a cross-cutting issue within regional development programs with formalised structures in place to ensure consideration is given to how activities impact on youth. This would go some way to ensuring young people have a seat at the table and that their voices are recognised and valued.
Second, the International Development Policy announced the creation of a Civil Society Partnerships Fund. This enables mechanisms for ongoing engagement with Pacific civil society to be identified and formalised. Civil society is essential in creating transformational change and championing rights, inclusion, and development – all centred in local context and communities. This only becomes more important in the face of increasing global challenges.
Creation of a new Civil Society Partnerships Fund to support local civil society organisations and local leadership provides an opportunity to develop and fund initiatives that nurture civil society networks or civic space ‘ecosystems’, and to provide flexible, core, multi-year funding to civil society organisations across the region, thereby enhancing their capacity and sustainability.
Recognising Pacific civil society organisations are important development actors and partners, they should have a formal part in policy-making processes, with the Australian Government actively seeking the involvement of civil society in its engagement with the region.
Australian policymakers should continue to pursue opportunities to engage with these vital sectors, recognising the significant potential these groups have in contributing to the future of the Pacific region, The release of the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy is a valuable step in this direction.
Embracing current processes as an opportunity for Australia to embed a focus on youth and civil society in its Pacific engagement is an opportunity not to be missed.
Marvin Girelli is a PhD student at the University of French Polynesia and intern at the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D). Heather Wrathall is Senior Policy Analyst at AP4D.
This article draws on AP4D’s report on What does it look like for Australia to support youth, civil society and media in the Pacific.
