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PODCAST

Pacific Beat

Radio Australia

Focusing on the Pacific region, the program brings you interviews with leaders, newsmakers, and people who make the Pacific beat.

news & politics

All Episodes

0:47:22

PNG conjoined twins flown to Sydney hospital for...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/12/04

Papua New Guinea conjoined twins, Tom and Sawong are at the Sydney Children's Hospital for urgent medical treatment after they were airlifted from Port Moresby.

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0:51:07

PNG, Bougainville set timeline to table independence...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/12/03

Bougainville's bid for independence from Papua New Guinea has moved a step closer, with both sides agreeing that the 2019 referendum results will be tabled in parliament by June next year.

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0:51:52

PNG calls for 'buffer zone' with Indonesia amid...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/12/02

Australia, PNG and Indonesia will today hold their first ever defence ministers meeting, just a few months after Canberra signed landmark security agreements with both Jakarta and Port Moresby. Also, Kokoda landowners call on the Kokoda Track Authority to spruce up the World War Two trail to make it more enjoyable for tourists.

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0:46:09

Bill returning surf beaches to iTaukei people tabled

Pacific Beat ·

2025/12/01

The Fiji government tables a bill with the aim of returning ownership of marine resources, including surfing waves back to the customary iTaukei people.

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0:47:56

Rabuka opens up on 1987 military takeover at...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/30

Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka opens up on what drove him to stage a military takeover in 1987 at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Also, Palau's government issues a notice asking government workers to volunteer eight hours of labour over Christmas as budget woes continue.

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0:45:46

Fiji moves to give surf beaches back to indigenous...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/27

Surfers wanting to catch a wave in Fiji could soon have to pay for the privilege as the government moves to repeal a unique law that opened access to tourists and locals alike. Also, fears gold prices could fall as PNG hands down its national budget.

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0:49:46

Darren Lockyer recruits Kumuls to his British franchise

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/26

Brisbane Broncos icon Darren Lockyer has taken a page out of Hollywood's playbook by buying a second-tier British rugby league club. Lockyer has recruited several Papua New Guinean internationals hoping they can lift the Broncos out of obscurity.

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0:46:45

Australia-Solomons police deal sees little progress

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/25

Australia and Solomon Islands have made little progress on a $190 million package to expand the Pacific nation's police force. The high-profile initiative was announced more than a year ago but Solomons' Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says the two countries still haven't signed a pact to implement the deal.

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0:45:51

Budget day in Papua New Guinea

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/24

It is budget day in Papua New Guinea, with all eyes on the Treasurer who will hand down the national budget before parliament. The 2026 budget, according to Prime Minister James Marape will be a reflection of the government's priorities.

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0:48:43

Damning report finds majority of PNG women have been...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/23

A new report finds more than 60 per cent of Papua New Guinean women have been abused by their partners - more than double the global average. Also, a climate agreement receives mixed reviews as COP30 comes to a close.

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0:48:42

Big names returned to office as Tongan voters stay...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/20

Familiar faces are returned to Tonga's parliament, after half of all voters stay home on election day. Australia's government finally confirmed it was dropping its joint bid with the Pacific, to host next year's COP 31 UN Climate Talks.

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0:48:25

COP 31 still up in the air as Pacific leaders discuss...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/19

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says Pacific island nations are discussing a 'Plan B' if Australia loses its bid to host next year's United Nations climate summit, COP31. Also, thousands march on the streets of Belem to demand stronger action from world governments to limit carbon emissions.

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0:52:23

Fears migration could thin voter turnout in Tongan...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/18

Tonga's Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki says high levels of migration mean voter turnout is likely to be low on polling day. Also, The Solomon Islands government makes it easier for foreigners to do business in the country in hopes of attracting new investment.

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All-time rugby great Sir Michael Jones warns that...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/17

All-time rugby great and former Manu coach Sir Michael Jones is full of pride, with his son Niko lining up for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium, but he's also fearful should the Manu lose about the devastating impact on rugby in Samoa.

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0:50:16

Samoa's PM bans country's largest newspaper from...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/17

Samoa's new prime minister bans the country's only daily newspaper from covering his press conferences, accusing it of publishing misleading articles. Also, there's questions as to wether Tonga's democratic reform has progressed.

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0:47:51

Vanuatu PM says council ban on menstruating women...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/16

Vanuatu's prime minister speaks out against a a controversial by-law banning women who are menstruating from preparing or selling food. Also, Vanuatu's parliament moves to prevent foreign security advisors from country's like Australia, New Zealand or China from being stationed in police compounds or in government offices.

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0:46:25

Vanuatu council slammed for prohibiting menstruating...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/13

The Shefa provincial council comes under fire in Vanuatu over a new by-law, prohibiting menstruating women from operating and selling food at markets and road side stalls. Also, tension brews in the Kingdom of Tonga between the monarchy and parliament in the lead up to the election.

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0:48:13

New Zealand suspends aid to Cook Islands

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/12

New Zealand has suspended two years of aid payments – worth $30 million – to the Cook Islands, signalling deteriorating relations between the two countries.

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0:50:15

Cartels exploit Pacific Islands to service drug...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/11

Australia and New Zealand's willingness to pay top dollar for recreational drugs is turning Pacific Island states into drug mules for cartels. A new government report outlines how gang members, many of whom are deportees, are transporting shipments of meth and cocaine through the islands, often with the help of corrupt police and customs officials who are paid to look the other way.

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0:52:06

One of PNG's biggest universities shuts doors after...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/11/10

One of Papua New Guinea's largest universities is shut down after violent clashes between students and members of the public leaves more than 50 people injured. Also, locals of a small fishing village in Timor-Leste combine traditional and modern conservation practices to fight climate change.

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423 results

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