Australia will provide more support to Pacific nations including funding for upcoming climate change summits and tax exemptions for some rugby league players.
Tuesday’s federal budget contained more than $335 million of assistance across the Pacific.
The bulk of the funding will go towards development assistance measures for Nauru, with $167.3 million over the next four years and about $50 million per year after that.
The funding will kick in from 2027, when an existing aid program expires.
The Pacific will also get $147 million to help host events as part of the UN’s annual climate summit.
Pacific nations will help host conferences in the lead-up to the summit, including a leaders’ event.
After Australia and the Pacific made a joint bid to host the UN summit, a diplomatic compromise saw hosting rights fall to Turkey, but Pacific countries are hosting events ahead of the main gathering.
Security across the region will also be bolstered, with $5.5 million to guard against money laundering, crime and the financing of terrorism.
An extra $550 million over the next decade will be set aside for infrastructure resilient to climate change throughout the Pacific and East Timor.
Rugby league diplomacy is also central to the Pacific budget, with players signing on to the PNG Chiefs team in the NRL, as well as club staff, given an exemption from paying tax.
The sweetener will deliver a $5.4 million hit to tax revenue over the next four years.
The ABC will also receive funding to build media distribution and engagement in the Pacific, with $14.1 million set aside.
Aid outside of the Pacific has also been included in the budget, with continued support for Ukraine.
A duty exemption for Ukraine will also be extended by two years to 2028.
All goods from Ukraine will be duty-free entering Australia, except for products such as alcohol, fuel and tobacco.