20 May 2020

Australia redirects $US65m to Pacific

5:16 pm on 20 May 2020

Australia will spend $US65 million to help struggling Pacific countries meet basic costs.

Australian High Commission, New Zealand.

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

The halt in tourism caused by border closures, cuts to remittances and seasonal worker programmes and other effects of Covid-19 have been devastating for many Pacific economies.

The funding will be redirected from the existing aid programme, and the government says it will provide respite for Pacific governments.

A fifth of the money will go to Papua New Guinea, with the rest to be shared among nine other countries.