Australia news live: PM announces $600m package against drug-smuggling; Chanel Contos urges action on ‘manosphere’
The Australian government has announced a $600 million investment to combat transnational drug trafficking across the Pacific region. The initiative focuses on enhancing aerial surveillance and providing border training to address rising narcotics flow and associated criminal activity.
Why it matters
This represents a significant regional security effort to curb the surge in illicit drug trade, which is linked to increased gang violence and public health crises in Pacific island nations.
Australia will step up its support to fight transnational drug trafficking flowing through the Pacific, with a $600m package.
Anthony Albanese announced the new investment at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, which aims to stop the contraband arriving in Australia.
The increase in drug flow across the Pacific is a huge problem in several countries: linked to increased gang activity in Samoa and Tonga, and a sharp rise in the HIV rate in Fiji.
Heightened activity is showing up in Australian Federal Police interventions of narcotics in the region.
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