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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

0:51:19

Samoa's first female PM looks to retain power as...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/28

Samoa's first female prime minister, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, looks to hold onto power after a string of political controversies in the Pacific nation. Also, Papua New Guinea's only power provider is trades insolvent, with over a billion dollars of debt.

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0:55:04

Men at centre of Fiji's biggest drug bust to learn fate

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/27

The men found guilty of attempting to smuggle more than four tonnes of methamphetamine into Fiji will know their fate in a court in Lautoka today. Also, former All Black and concussion advocate Shane Christie dies at the age of 39.

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0:47:49

Marshall Islanders count costs after fire destroys...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/26

Marshall Islanders are in shock after a fire lays waste to the country's seat of parliament in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Also, a shortage of locally grown kava in Fiji forces exporters to look to Papua New Guinea to firm up supplies.

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0:51:57

Nauru's proposed billion-dollar deal with Chinese...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/25

A recent announcement by the Nauru government of a $1 billion investment proposal signed with a little known Chinese company has set alarm bells ringing. Also, PNG's former first lady, Lady Ros Morauta calls on Australia to step up support for Pacific neighbours in the wake of a HIV outbreak.

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0:50:24

Marginalisation fears, as Vanuatu moves to amend...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/24

There's fears a consititional amendment in Vanuatu to only legally recognise two sexes will further marginalise members of the already vulnerable LGBTQI+ community. Also, Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad outlines plans to further enhance relationship with Australia.

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0:46:43

New Caledonia's pro-independence coalition boycotts...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/21

New Caledonia's main pro-independence coalition has boycotted talks with France's Overseas Minister who is visiting the territory this week. Also, Samoans head to the polls later this month to elect a new government after a year of instability.

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0:45:38

Australia presses Nauru over proposed billion-dollar...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/20

The Albanese government presses Nauru over a proposed billion-dollar deal with a Chinese company, warning of the risks tied to opaque financial arrangements and Beijing's expanding footprint in the region. Also, a project to reclaim land in low-lying Tuvalu is held up at a major infrastructure conference as a prime example of how to deliver meaningful, lasting work.

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0:48:58

PNG's former Deputy Finance Secretary found guilty of...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/19

The Supreme Court in Papua New Guinea has found former Deputy Finance Secretary Jacob Yafai guilty of misappropriation and abuse of office. Also, Pacific leaders outline infrastructure needs to development partners at the Pacific Infrastructure Conference in Brisbane.

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0:51:46

French minister lands in New Caledonia in hopes of...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/18

France's Overseas Minister Manuel Valls is arriving today in a bid to salvage the historic Bougival Accord after it was rejected by New Caledonia's main pro-independence coalition. Also, the treatment Samoa's leader Fiame Naomi Mata'afa raises questions over the what this election could mean for women in leadership.

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0:51:38

High level talks fail to reach consensus to tackle...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/17

High level talks in Geneva have failed to reach a consensus over a legally binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution. Also, schools shut for another week in Samoa as the country continues to battle a deadly dengue fever outbreak.

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0:45:51

Pacific Islands Forum officially locks partners and...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/14

Critics and democracy advocates in Tonga have slam a controversial law to bring Tonga's foreign relations back under control of the King. Also, researchers warn the dengue outbreak in the Pacific will only get worse, as climate change fuels mosquito numbers.

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0:49:20

Leaders hike active volcano to celebrate new pact...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/13

Leaders from Australia and Vanuatu hike to the top of an active volcano on Tanna Islands to celebrate major new pact between the two countries. Also, calls for agriculture and food security to be a bigger political priority for the Oceania region than security.

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0:47:37

Australian officials touch down in Tanna as part of...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/12

Australia's Foreign Minister, Defence Minister and Pacific minister arrive in Tanna Island to discuss an ambitious new strategic pact, that could see Australia give half a billion dollars to the Pacific country over the next decade. Also, one of Fiji's favourite sons and Pacific music legend George 'Fiji' Veikoso is farewelled at a moving funeral service in Suva.

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0:48:17

Australia and PNG to finalise defence treaty as Naval...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/11

Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles travels to Papua New Guinea as the countries finalise a new bilateral defence treaty. Also, The Kingdom of Tonga signs a revised sponsorship agreement with Tonga Offshore Mining Limited.

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0:49:34

New Caledonia's pro-independence coalition meets to...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/10

New Caledonia's main independence coalition FLNKS holds extraordinary Congress meeting to debate the new agreement struck with France on the territory's political future. Also, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele defends move to block almost two dozen nations from a critical Pacific meeting in Honiara next month.

en

0:45:04

Tongans call for child protection reforms after...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/07

Tongans call for child protection reforms following the arrest of former missionary James Purdy charged with sexually abusing minors in the Kingdom. Also, Cricket PNG announce their line up for the next leg of the World Cricket League Challenge in Jersey.

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0:48:40

Samoa threatens to boycott Pacific Islands Forum if...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/06

An arm wrestle is underway over whether Taiwan will be able to participate at PIF, with Samoa's caretaker PM saying they could boycott the meeting if Solomon Islands stops Taiwan from attending. Also, fears the discovery of a so-called narco sub in Solomon Islands may be beyond capabilities of regional law enforcement agencies to deal with.

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0:50:06

Hilda Heine questions Marshall Islands' place inside...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/05

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine has questioned whether the Micronesian Republic should remain inside the Pacific Islands Forum, as host nation Solomon Islands considers whether it will exclude non-members including Taiwan from the Forum's annual gathering in September. Also, The trial of Fiji's former prime minister Frank Bainimarama over allegations he used his position to get two policemen fired gets underway.

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0:50:27

Could Solomon Islands exclude China and US from PIF...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/04

Solomon Islands could try to defuse a potentially explosive stoush over Taiwan's participation at the Pacific Islands Forum, by excluding China, the US and a host of other countries as well. Also, the death toll across the Pacific continues to grow amid the regions dengue fever outbreak.

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0:51:55

New Caledonian leader outlines road to bring Bougival...

Pacific Beat ·

2025/08/03

New Caledonia's President Alcide Ponga says the French territory has a big job ahead of it to transform the Bougival Accord from a political agreement to a legal one. Also, a deep sea mining company's exploration work with two Pacific to be scrutinised by the United Nations.

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423 results

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