As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Fiji’s policing capabilities,Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka and his delegation, yesterday, visited the Pinkenba Hub in Brisbane, an Australian Federal Police-supported training and education facility.
The facility supports the Pacific Policing Initiatives (PPI) and the Pacific Police Support Group by providing training and development opportunities, including secondments for police officers from across the Pacific.
The Hub focuses on the enhancement of skills in policing administration, management, leadership and operational coordination.
The visit was an opportunity to gain an inside view of the intent and content of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Solesolevaki Partnership and Police Cooperation that was signed by the Fiji Police Force (FPF) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in March this year.
This MoU aimed to strengthen collaboration and interoperability between the two institutions by supporting the FPF with sharing of information and practices, operational coordination of counter-measures in transnational organised crime and related areas, the application of relevant international laws and standards, and enhancing corporate support, leadership, and professional development.
Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Minister for Policing, Hon. Ioane Naivalurua expressed gratitude to the AFP leadership for the informative visit, stating that the ongoing cooperation in policing between Fiji and Australia, reflects the strong bonds, mutual trust, and respect between the two countries.
The Minister is thankful for the level of commitment to a cooperative approach in confronting the shared challenges confronting the two countries in particular, and the Pacific region as a whole.
“When we speak of our cooperation, we speak of our vuvale—our family. It means coming together as one. In simple terms, your home is our home, and our home is yours. You are welcome anytime, just as we are welcome into yours,” Hon. Naivalurua said.
“We appreciate Australia’s support towards Fiji’s policing capabilities, and we look forward to continuing working together into the future.”
Further, Prime Minister Rabuka and his delegation received a guided tour of the facility, where they witnessed firsthand the advanced training facility, operational capabilities, and collaborative initiatives supporting regional policing efforts.
The Pinkenba Training Centre features operational safety and practice warehouse with state-of-the-art training capabilities, including a simulated house environment, multi-floor training area, ‘dark scenario’ space, and syndicate rooms for virtual training that reflect real-life emergency situations.
These facilities can be reconfigured to replicate multiple environments and adapted to mirror current and emerging operational scenarios, with multiple contingencies to enhance police preparedness.
The partnership between the FPF and the AFP is built on mutual trust, shared goals, and a long-term commitment to achieving a level of policing capabilities and consequent security.
Together, these will uphold the integrity of law enforcement as the two Forces respond jointly to current and emerging challenges within the two jurisdictions, in particular, and the region as a whole under the umbrella of the Ocean of Peace initiative.
Additionally, in line with the Government’s strategic intent, the delegation also visited the Austal shipbuilding and ship maintenance port in Brisbane.
As a maritime nation shipping remains integral to the connectivity for our population as well as with the wider region.
With our susceptibility to natural disasters and related adversities, shipping is a key mode of humanitarian relief and assistance.
This is another step in the Government’s ongoing effort to rebuild Fiji’s port, shipbuilding and ship maintenance industries.
Two feasibility works are in process for the development of the ports in Suva and Lautoka. With our geographic position in the region, it is fundamental that these facilities are built for purpose and for the future.
More engagement and related work will follow.
: AFP
