Devpolicy Talks

Development Policy Centre, ANU
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Devpolicy Talks brings you interviews, event recordings and in-depth documentary features relating to the topics we research at the Development Policy Centre. The Centre, part of the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy, works on Australian aid, development in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, and regional and global development issues. It is host to the Devpolicy Blog (devpolicy.org) and a range of public events including the annual PNG Update, the Pacific Update and the Australasian Aid and International Development Conference.

  1. The Pacific Engagement Visa: what you need to know about the 2025 ballot

    AUG 13

    The Pacific Engagement Visa: what you need to know about the 2025 ballot

    The Pacific Engagement Visa offers a life-changing opportunity for up to 3,000 Pacific Islanders and Timorese citizens annually to gain permanent residency in Australia. In this episode, Development Policy Centre Research Officer Natasha Turia discusses the newly opened 2025-2026 ballot, sharing insights from her research tracking the program's rollout and surveying PEV winners from Papua New Guinea. The conversation includes first-hand testimony from a successful PEV visa holder who has relocated to Australia, an update from DFAT's Jan Hutton on program improvements, and practical guidance on navigating the application process — from entering the ballot to securing a job offer and meeting visa requirements. With only a short period of time before the ballot closes (25 August), the episode provides essential information for prospective applicants while exploring the broader significance of this visa for Pacific labour mobility and regional integration. The episode opens with powerful testimony from a Papua New Guinean woman who recently migrated to Australia through the Pacific Engagement Visa. She outlines her three main motivations: accessing better income and job opportunities, living in a safer environment where she can move freely, and obtaining quality healthcare. Now working on a fly-in fly-out basis between Cairns and the Northern Territory, she describes the mixed emotions of leaving family behind while embracing new freedoms and opportunities in Australia. Host Amita Monterola introduces Natasha Turia, a Papua New Guinean scholar and PhD candidate at ANU's Department of Pacific Affairs, who has been working with Centre Director Stephen Howes to track the PEV's implementation. Turia explains why the visa represents such a significant opportunity for Pacific Islanders facing high unemployment and limited prospects for improving their families' living standards in their home countries. The conversation establishes key dates and changes for the 2025-2026 ballot. Unlike the inaugural round which ran for nearly three months, this year's ballot opened with just four weeks for registration, closing on 25 August. The shortened timeframe represents one of the most significant changes from last year's process. Turia notes that 11 countries are participating this round, with Samoa and Kiribati joining after opting out in 2024. Papua New Guinea maintains the largest quota at 1,350 visas, while the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau have the smallest allocation at 50 each. The episode features Jan Hutton, First Assistant Secretary of DFAT's Pacific Integration Division, speaking at the Pacific Update conference in Fiji. Hutton acknowledges the program's challenges while emphasising Australia's commitment to making it work. She reveals that as of June 2024, approximately 600 visas had been issued from the inaugural ballot of 56,000 primary registrants. By October, this number had grown to 1,000 visa grants — progress that Turia describes as positive, even if below the full 3,000 allocation. Hutton addresses systemic challenges facing applicants, particularly difficulties obtaining basic documentation like passports, police clearances, and health checks in their home countries. She outlines how the Australian government has invested in the Pacific Engagement Visa Support Service to help applicants navigate these requirements and connect with potential employers. A crucial change highlighted is that applicants now need only their passports to lodge the initial visa application within the 120-day deadline, with additional time granted to gather other required documents. The discussion turns to practical requirements for entering the ballot. Turia explains that primary applicants must be aged 18-45, hold a valid passport from a participating country, have been born in or have a parent born in an eligible country, and pay the A$25 ballot fee. New this year is the requirement for an ImmiAccount with multi-factor authentication—a security measure that may present technical challenges for some applicants but is designed to protect their personal information. On the question of using migration agents, Turia advises that the ballot process itself is straightforward enough not to require professional assistance, though she acknowledges some applicants without credit cards may need help from trusted third parties to pay the fee. She recommends accessing official government websites and consulting with others who have successfully navigated the immigration process. The job offer requirement emerges as perhaps the most challenging aspect of the visa process. Turia emphasises the importance of having an open mind about employment, noting that accountants don't need to find accounting work; any formal 12-month job offer suffices. The Pacific Engagement Visa Support Service aims to bridge this gap by connecting applicants with employers willing to hire PEV visa holders. Financial considerations feature prominently in the discussion. Beyond the A$25 ballot fee, successful applicants face visa application fees of A$335 for the primary applicant and A$80 per dependent. Turia's research calculates minimum migration costs of around A$10,000 for a single person moving to Brisbane, including documentation, health checks, airfares and initial accommodation. While the 12-month job offer provides income security, applicants need savings for upfront costs — a reality many weren't fully aware of in the inaugural round. The episode also touches on the special arrangements for Tuvalu under the Falepili Union treaty. Unlike other participating countries, Tuvaluan applicants don't require a job offer once selected in their separate ballot of 280 places. This more liberal visa setting reflects the bilateral agreement between Australia and Tuvalu, though applicants must still meet other eligibility requirements. The episode concludes with both Turia and the PEV holder offering encouragement to prospective applicants. The visa holder urges people to "have an open mind, be positive and take this great opportunity", dismissing any suggestions the program might be a scam by pointing to her own successful experience. She provides practical tips: create an email account, update passports and other identity documents, and start saving money. "Do this for you and your family," she says. "This is a great opportunity. Take it." Turia frames the opportunity in terms of rights and choices: "It is everybody's right to a decent standard of living ... And if an opportunity is presented to you, like the Pacific Engagement Visa, it is your right also to choose to have that better life for you and your family." She encourages potential applicants to learn as much as possible about the visa process, living and working in Australia, and to start asking questions to better prepare for permanent migration. Read and subscribe to our daily blogs at devpolicy.org. Learn more about our research and join our public events at devpolicy.anu.edu.au. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for latest updates on our blogs, research and events. You can send us feedback, and ideas for episodes too, to devpolicy@anu.edu.au.

    29 min
  2. US-Pacific relations under Trump: a conversation with Judith Cefkin

    JUL 26

    US-Pacific relations under Trump: a conversation with Judith Cefkin

    Former US Ambassador Judith Cefkin provides a sobering assessment of how the Trump administration's foreign policy shifts are reshaping American engagement with Pacific Island nations. Drawing on her 35-year diplomatic career and experience as US Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu from 2015-2018, Cefkin warns that the administration's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, dismantling of USAID, and proposed 85% cuts to international affairs funding threaten to undermine decades of carefully built relationships. She contrasts America's retreat from soft power engagement with China's consistent approach to the region, while noting that some programs like the Millennium Challenge Corporation's work in Kiribati may survive. Overall, the US’s trajectory represents a dramatic scaling back at precisely the moment when strategic competition in the Pacific is intensifying. The conversation opens with Cefkin outlining the fundamental challenges facing US-Pacific relations under the second Trump administration. She identifies two immediate concerns that have deeply unsettled Pacific Island nations: the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, which she describes as a "bitter pill" for countries that view climate change as their primary security threat, and the freeze on aid programs coupled with the dismantling of USAID. These moves come after years of increased American attention to the region that began during the first Trump administration and accelerated under President Biden, making the reversal particularly jarring for Pacific partners who had grown accustomed to expanded US engagement. Cefkin provides stark details about the scale of proposed cuts to American foreign assistance. The administration has requested a 49% reduction in the International Affairs Budget for fiscal year 2026, while simultaneously attempting to claw back funding already appropriated for the current fiscal year. If both measures succeed, the result would be an unprecedented 85% cut to programs that fund both diplomatic operations and development assistance. While these are global figures that don't specify Pacific impacts, Cefkin emphasises that competition for increasingly scarce resources will make it difficult for Pacific programs to maintain funding levels. The human cost extends beyond aid recipients to include a brain drain within the State Department itself, as experienced professionals retire early or leave government service just when their expertise is most needed. The discussion reveals how comprehensively the cuts would affect US engagement tools in the Pacific. Educational exchange programs face potential budget reductions of up to 93%, threatening scholarships that bring Pacific students to American universities and short-term training programs that have built people-to-people connections for decades. The East-West Center in Honolulu, which Cefkin describes as "a vital platform for convening US and Pacific Island officials and citizens," faces existential threats from budget cutbacks. Even successful programs aren't immune — while the Millennium Challenge Corporation's threshold program in Kiribati continues to help young people develop workforce skills, the institution itself was targeted for elimination by the administration's efficiency commission, though it has survived thus far. Geopolitical implications emerge as a central concern throughout the conversation. Cefkin notes that China has already begun capitalising on perceived American disengagement, with the Chinese foreign minister recently hosting officials from eleven Pacific Island countries in Beijing where he "painted the United States as being disengaged and disinterested" while announcing new assistance programs. She describes China's approach as consistent and long-term, contrasting it with what Fiji's former ambassador to the US termed America's "stop-start relationships" that Pacific nations find deeply frustrating. This dynamic plays out against a backdrop of increasing Chinese economic leverage, with 2025 marking a critical year when ten Pacific Island countries must make record-high debt repayments to China based on loans accepted in the 2010s. The interview explores the unique relationships with the Freely Associated States — Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands — which receive the bulk of US assistance to the Pacific. Cefkin explains how these countries maintain sovereignty while granting the US defence rights in exchange for substantial financial support administered through multiple federal agencies rather than traditional foreign aid channels. She expresses concern about implementation capacity as the agencies managing these programs face their own staff and budget reductions, though the compact funding itself appears more secure than other assistance programs. The discussion also touches on the stalled US tuna treaty, which remains stuck in Congress despite its economic importance to Pacific Island nations and symbolic value as a concrete expression of partnership. Military engagement emerges as the one area where US involvement continues to grow, with Cefkin acknowledging the strategic importance of defence partnerships while warning against an overly militarised approach. She describes valuable programs like ship-rider agreements that help Pacific nations patrol their vast maritime territories and counter illegal fishing that costs them millions in lost revenue. However, she emphasises that military cooperation alone cannot substitute for the comprehensive engagement that includes development assistance, educational exchanges, and diplomatic presence. The shift from soft power to hard power tools risks making the US a less attractive partner for Pacific nations seeking balanced relationships that address their development needs while respecting their sovereignty. The conversation concludes with Cefkin's reflections on the future of US-Pacific relations and the role of Congress in potentially moderating the administration's approach. She notes that bipartisan support for Pacific engagement has traditionally transcended party lines, citing testimony before Congress where both Democratic and Republican members expressed strong interest in strengthening regional relationships. Her hope is that Congress will recognise that maintaining Pacific programs requires relatively modest investments that yield disproportionate benefits for US interests. However, she acknowledges the fluid and uncertain nature of the current situation, with much depending on how Congress responds to the administration's budget requests and whether traditional supporters of Pacific engagement can make their voices heard above competing priorities. Read and subscribe to our daily blogs at devpolicy.org. Learn more about our research and join our public events at devpolicy.anu.edu.au. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for latest updates on our blogs, research and events. You can send us feedback, and ideas for episodes too, to devpolicy@anu.edu.au.

    1h 1m
  3. Managing labour mobility for Solomon Islands: a conversation with Christina Marau

    JUL 11

    Managing labour mobility for Solomon Islands: a conversation with Christina Marau

    Christina Marau, Director for Labour Mobility at the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, provides an insider's perspective on how Pacific labour mobility schemes operate in practice. Drawing on her experience managing a system that handles thousands of applications and maintains a database of 6,500 work-ready candidates, Marau explains how Solomon Islands has become one of the most successful participants in Australia's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) program. She discusses the economic imperative driving participation — with remittances reaching $475 million SBD in 2024 — while addressing practical challenges from managing worker expectations to preventing absconding. Marau then shares her vision for expanding labour mobility opportunities throughout the Pacific region. The episode opens with Marau explaining why labour mobility has become a national priority for Solomon Islands. With a minimum wage of just $8 SBD (approximately A$1.60) and the government struggling to create sufficient employment for trained youth, the opportunity to work in Australia and New Zealand at vastly higher wages represents a transformative economic opportunity. This economic imperative drives remarkable participation rates — when Solomon Islands opened recruitment for just two weeks in 2023, it received 12,000 applications, eventually registering 8,000 into its "work-ready pool" database that now holds 6,500 candidates. Marau outlines how Solomon Islands has developed one of the most systematic approaches to labour mobility in the Pacific. Unlike countries relying on agents or direct recruitment, Solomon Islands uses a centralised government-managed system supported by Australian government funding through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This includes face-to-face interviews, biometric data collection and careful screening — a labour-intensive process that took two years to complete for the 2023 cohort but ensures transparency and maintains the country's strong reputation with employers. The system has evolved since Solomon Islands joined Australia's seasonal worker program in 2012 and New Zealand's RSE in 2008, with particular growth during COVID when the country's lack of community transmission allowed continued worker mobilisation. Economic impact emerges as a central theme, with remittances reaching $475 million SBD in 2024. However, Marau expresses concern about avoiding a "remittance trap", noting that returning workers tend to invest in basic ventures like transport services rather than larger businesses due to limited financial management skills and a challenging business environment. Other persistent challenges include low female participation at just 14% across programs, managing the tension between international opportunities and domestic labour needs, and preventing worker absconding which threatens Solomon Islands' reputation. The conversation reveals how Solomon Islands navigates the complex governance of these schemes. While supporting the single-employer model in Australia's PALM scheme for long-term placements, Marau sees merit in New Zealand's more flexible joint ATR [Agreement to Recruit] system for seasonal work. She describes engaging with Australian and New Zealand governments through multiple channels — from day-to-day dialogue with DFAT posts to formal processes like the Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting that Solomon Islands will host in November 2025. Policy changes require patience as proposals work through multiple bureaucratic levels. Looking forward, Marau discusses an ambitious growth target of 16,000 workers by 2028 and emerging opportunities beyond traditional markets. Solomon Islands has pioneered an intra-Pacific labour mobility pilot with Niue and sees potential for formal arrangements with other Pacific nations where workers already go informally. She emphasises the importance of maintaining program integrity through careful pre-departure briefings and support systems while acknowledging ongoing challenges like helping workers access Australian superannuation and creating pathways for skills gained abroad to benefit the domestic economy. The episode concludes with Marau's reflections on research and evidence-building, advocating for locally engaged research that provides essential context for policy decisions. Her team of 20 staff (split between the labour mobility unit and DFAT-funded support program) represents a significant investment in managing these transformative but complex schemes that she describes as providing opportunities that are literally changing lives across Solomon Islands. Read and subscribe to our daily blogs at devpolicy.org. Learn more about our research and join our public events at devpolicy.anu.edu.au. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for latest updates on our blogs, research and events. You can send us feedback, and ideas for episodes too, to devpolicy@anu.edu.au.

    57 min
  4. Uncovering Kiribati: Rimon Rimon on press freedom in the Pacific

    JUN 28

    Uncovering Kiribati: Rimon Rimon on press freedom in the Pacific

    In this episode, we delve into the life and work of Rimon Rimon, a dynamic i-Kiribati citizen who has shaped both the public narrative in his own country and the evolution of independent journalism in the Pacific. Rimon’s career began in education and government service, but it was his appointment as Lead Communications and Public Relations Adviser to President Anote Tong that placed him at the centre of Kiribati’s international engagement. For over a decade, Rimon was responsible for crafting and communicating Kiribati’s message to the world — most notably on the existential threat of climate change. He managed media campaigns, coordinated public diplomacy and represented the country at major global forums, building a reputation as a skilled and trusted communicator. After leaving government, Rimon turned to independent journalism, founding the Kiribati Newsroom and contributing to regional and international outlets. His reporting has tackled corruption, misinformation and the everyday realities of life in one of the world’s most remote nations. Rimon’s advocacy extends beyond the newsroom: he is active in anti-corruption networks, mentors young journalists and has helped develop resources to strengthen Pacific media. Throughout the conversation, Rimon reflects on the pressures facing journalists in small island states, the lessons he learned working alongside President Tong and the ongoing struggle for press freedom and public accountability. He shares his vision for a Pacific where independent media is empowered to inform, challenge and connect communities, and where journalists can collaborate to defend democracy and drive development. Devpolicy Talks is the podcast of the Australian National University’s Development Policy Centre. Our producers are Robin Davies, Amita Monterola and Finn Clark. Read and subscribe to our daily blogs at devpolicy.org. Learn more about our research and join our public events at devpolicy.anu.edu.au. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for latest updates on our blogs, research and events. You can send us feedback, and ideas for episodes too, to devpolicy@anu.edu.au.

    35 min
  5. Fiji's economic future: a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad

    JUN 13

    Fiji's economic future: a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad

    The episode opens with Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad reflecting on his transition from academia to politics. Born in Dreketi, Vanua Levu, in a rice farming area that benefited from Australian aid programs in the 1970s, Prasad rose through the academic ranks to become Professor of Economics and Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of the South Pacific. He left academia in 2014 to lead the National Federation Party, entering politics during what he describes as a challenging period following the 2006 coup and years of military rule. Prasad characterises the government that ruled from 2014 to 2022 as an "elective dictatorship," noting that despite elections being held, strict media censorship, restrictions on freedom of speech, and draconian laws carried over from the military regime created an undemocratic environment. His eight years in opposition taught him valuable lessons about the tension between good economics and good politics — a perspective he now applies as Finance Minister in Fiji's first coalition government in over 30 years. The conversation explores Fiji's economic recovery from COVID-19, when the country experienced the fourth-largest economic contraction globally with GDP falling by almost 20%. While acknowledging IMF concerns about the pace of fiscal consolidation, Prasad defends the government's approach of balancing debt reduction with continued social spending. He highlights the decision to write off $650 million in student debt — replacing it with merit-based scholarships — as an example of necessary post-COVID support that the IMF might not fully appreciate. Prasad outlines ambitious targets for Fiji's economic future, including becoming a high-income country by 2050, which would require sustained growth of 4-5% annually. The government has reduced the debt-to-GDP ratio from 90% to 78% since taking office and aims to bring it below 60% over the next 15 years. However, he emphasises that this must be achieved through economic growth rather than excessive spending cuts, which could be counterproductive. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on regional integration, with Prasad articulating his vision for visa-free travel throughout the Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand. He argues this would represent Australia's "century in the Pacific," creating deeper unity and common purpose across the region. While acknowledging this cannot happen overnight, he points to recent improvements in visa processing times and growing support from Pacific leaders as evidence of progress. The interview addresses current challenges including the 32% US tariff on Fijian exports — the highest in the Pacific — which particularly affects Fiji Water. Prasad expresses disappointment but remains optimistic about negotiations, while warning about the broader risks of global trade wars potentially affecting tourism and remittances if major economies slow down. On climate finance, Prasad advocates for what he calls "decolonising climate finance", arguing that Pacific Island countries need urgent support for adaptation and loss and damage rather than just mitigation. He criticises the application of the same funding rules to small island states as to large countries like Indonesia or India, calling for recognition of the unique vulnerabilities and limited fiscal capacity of Pacific nations. The episode also examines Fiji's complex relationship with development assistance. While the reduction in US aid presence is manageable given USAID had only recently re-established operations, Prasad sees the current global funding constraints as potentially beneficial, forcing African countries in particular to reduce aid dependence and take greater control of their health systems. He notes that Pacific countries, unlike many African nations, have largely avoided becoming overly dependent on external funding. Throughout the conversation, Prasad emphasises the importance of technical education in addressing labour shortages, particularly in tourism. He acknowledges that many trained Fijians will migrate to Australia and New Zealand but sees this as part of a broader regional integration that benefits Fiji through remittances. The government is investing heavily in technical education infrastructure that was neglected by the previous administration. The discussion concludes with Prasad's reflections on governance and democratic institutions. He notes with pride that the current coalition is the first in Fiji's 54-year history where a government has changed hands democratically and lasted more than a year. The immediate repeal of media restrictions, including the draconian Media Industry Development Act, and the restoration of academic freedom, represent fundamental changes. While acknowledging that "no government gets everything right", he believes they have established a solid foundation for democracy that augurs well for Fiji's future stability and prosperity. Read and subscribe to our daily blogs at devpolicy.org. Learn more about our research and join our public events at devpolicy.anu.edu.au. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for latest updates on our blogs, research and events. You can send us feedback, and ideas for episodes too, to devpolicy@anu.edu.au.

    38 min
  6. Fighting for Every Breath: a conversation with Leith Greenslade

    MAY 31

    Fighting for Every Breath: a conversation with Leith Greenslade

    The episode opens with Leith Greensalde recounting her journey from rural Queensland to international global health work. After starting her career as a political adviser to senior Labor politicians including Brian Howe, she moved to the United States for graduate study at the Harvard Kennedy School prior to Labor's anticipated 1996 election loss. Following a brief and unsatisfying return to work with Labor in opposition, and business studies in Hong Kong during the handover to China, she eventually settled in New York to work in global health during what she describes as the "golden era" of funding and institution-building in the 2000s. Her work with major institutions including the Gates Foundation, Gavi and the Global Fund gave her a front-row seat at the creation of the modern global health architecture but also left her frustrated by what she saw as narrow focus and bureaucratic limitations. This led her to found Just Actions, a platform focused on ten high-impact but neglected issues, with childhood pneumonia as the flagship cause. Leith explains that pneumonia has been the leading infectious killer of children for decades, claiming approximately 500,000 lives annually — more than HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. Yet it has consistently been overlooked by global health agencies and funders. She attributes this neglect to several factors: children in low-income countries who are most affected have no political voice, the disease has multiple causes with no single solution, and unlike other major diseases, pneumonia lacks a dedicated global fund or agency to coordinate efforts. The conversation explores the multiple barriers children face throughout what Leith calls the "pneumonia journey." Many families do not recognise the symptoms or understand the urgency of seeking care — in many countries there isn't even a word for pneumonia. When children do reach health facilities, diagnosis is difficult without rapid tests that can differentiate bacterial from viral pneumonia. Essential treatments like amoxicillin dispersible tablets (child-friendly antibiotics) and medical oxygen are frequently unavailable due to market failures and the absence of coordinated procurement systems. Leith's advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic brought the issue of medical oxygen to global attention. She describes families across Latin America, Asia and Africa being forced to source oxygen on black markets while the global health community was slow to respond. Her work with the Every Breath Counts Coalition and the subsequent Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security revealed that 70% of people worldwide who need oxygen do not receive it — a gap far greater than for other essential medicines like HIV/AIDS or malaria treatments. The discussion turns to regional issues, with Leith noting that Asia is actually the worst-affected region for respiratory conditions when including India, driven by pollution, crowding and smoking. She acknowledges the particular vulnerability of Pacific Island countries, which experienced oxygen shortages during COVID-19, while praising the support provided by the Australian government and universities in the region. She highlights the work of Professor Fiona Russell at Murdoch Children's Research Institute as an exemplary case of Australian leadership in pneumonia prevention. Despite the challenges, the conversation includes discussion of promising innovations. New RSV vaccines and monoclonal antibodies could potentially eliminate RSV as a childhood killer, while WHO's recent Integrated Lung Health Resolution represents the first coordinated approach to addressing both infectious and chronic respiratory conditions together. The episode also examines the current global health funding crisis, which Leith views not as a catastrophe but as an opportunity for necessary reform of what she sees as an unsustainable system built in the 2000s. She argues that the proliferation of large international organisations created inefficient “middleman” layers while fostering unhealthy dependence, particularly in African countries where entire health systems became reliant on external funding. The current constraints may force more effective prioritisation and potentially allow countries to regain greater control over their health systems. Leith remains optimistic about achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of ending preventable child deaths by 2030. She notes that global child mortality has already halved from 12 million to 5 million deaths annually, and believes that with focused effort on diseases like pneumonia that kill the most children, the world could achieve what she describes as guaranteeing the survival of most children regardless of where they are born — something our species has never accomplished before. Devpolicy Talks is the podcast of the Australian National University's Development Policy Centre. Our producers are Robin Davies, Amita Monterola and Finn Clark. You can read and subscribe to our daily blogs on aid, international development, and the Pacific at devpolicy.org. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Send feedback or episode ideas to devpolicy@anu.edu.au. Join us again in a fortnight for the next episode of Devpolicy Talks. Resources and Further Reading Every Breath Counts Coalition Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security Just Actions World Health Assembly Integrated Lung Health Resolution (2025) Read and subscribe to our daily blogs at devpolicy.org. Learn more about our research and join our public events at devpolicy.anu.edu.au. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for latest updates on our blogs, research and events. You can send us feedback, and ideas for episodes too, to devpolicy@anu.edu.au.

    48 min
  7. Solving wicked humanitarian problems: a conversation with Dr Helen Durham AO

    MAY 20

    Solving wicked humanitarian problems: a conversation with Dr Helen Durham AO

    The episode opens with Helen describing her unexpected route into humanitarian law, beginning as a labour lawyer before being drawn into international work through her involvement with women from the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Her early efforts to help establish rape as a war crime led her to gather evidence for war crimes tribunals and pursue a PhD on the laws of war, focusing on the prosecution of sexual violence and the impact of civil society on legal change. Helen recounts her experiences working at the grassroots level in Thailand and the Pacific, where she learned the importance of listening to affected communities and adapting legal frameworks to local realities. She reflects on her time at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), where she became the first woman and first non-Swiss to lead the International Law and Policy department. Helen discusses the cultural and gender dynamics she navigated, the need for a more open and solution-oriented approach, and her efforts to highlight the effectiveness of international humanitarian law in practice. A major focus of the conversation is Helen’s role in global treaty-making and legal reform. She shares insights from her work on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, her advocacy for new norms on autonomous weapons, and her push for stronger compliance mechanisms within international humanitarian law. Helen also discusses the challenges of promoting legal accountability in an era of shifting geopolitics and the rise of non-state armed groups. Turning to her current role, Helen outlines her vision for RedR Australia: building a robust, sovereign capacity for deploying skilled professionals to crises both internationally and domestically. She emphasises the value of practical training, the importance of maintaining expertise within Australia, and the organisation’s expanding partnerships with government departments and emergency agencies. The episode concludes with Helen’s reflections on the paradoxes of humanitarian action, the ongoing need for political solutions, and her cautious optimism for the sector’s capacity to adapt and make a difference. She also highlights her involvement with Geneva Call, a Geneva-based humanitarian organisation that engages armed groups to improve the protection of civilians in conflict zones. Read and subscribe to our daily blogs at devpolicy.org. Learn more about our research and join our public events at devpolicy.anu.edu.au. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for latest updates on our blogs, research and events. You can send us feedback, and ideas for episodes too, to devpolicy@anu.edu.au.

    48 min
  8. Intelligence for good: Jelle Postma on unveiling anti-rights actors

    MAY 2

    Intelligence for good: Jelle Postma on unveiling anti-rights actors

    The interview opens with Postma reflecting on his career trajectory, from senior roles at the United Nations and the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security to founding Justice for Prosperity. He explains how the organisation operates at the intersection of intelligence and advocacy, using advanced technologies — including AI-driven tools — to map and counter the tactics of anti-rights actors. Postma describes how his team supports at-risk groups such as LGBTIQ+ individuals, activists, and journalists, not only by sharing intelligence but also by providing training in physical and cyber security. A central focus of the discussion is the recent intelligence assessment conducted by Justice for Prosperity and the International Planned Parenthood Federation, covering ten countries in the region. Postma reveals how anti-rights actors — ranging from authoritarian states to ultra-conservative religious groups and populist alliances — manipulate cultural narratives and exploit societal divisions. He highlights how issues as diverse as vaccine scepticism, climate change, and demographic decline are weaponised to advance exclusionary and often destructive agendas. The report’s findings underscore the deliberate and interconnected nature of these movements, and the urgent need for early detection and coordinated responses across governments and civil society. Postma provides concrete examples from the region, such as the role of faith leaders in spreading disinformation about sexual and reproductive health, and the targeting of marginalised groups through lobbying, strategic alliances, and discriminatory legislation. He also discusses the economic and political motivations underpinning these campaigns, including the pursuit of influence, funding, and power. The conversation touches on the challenges of combating corruption and the blurred lines between legal and illegal activities, as seen in cases like Vanuatu’s passport sales to Russian nationals. The interview concludes with Postma’s vision for Justice for Prosperity and the broader fight to defend democracy in the Asia-Pacific. He emphasises the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration, intelligence sharing, and solidarity among rights movements, health networks, and climate advocates. Postma calls for governments — including Australia’s — to recognise these threats as matters of national security, not just health or human rights, and to break down silos in their policy responses. He stresses that only by understanding and exposing the complex, covert tactics of anti-rights actors can societies build effective, long-term defences. Download the Subversive Powers report. Read and subscribe to our daily blogs at devpolicy.org. Learn more about our research and join our public events at devpolicy.anu.edu.au. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for latest updates on our blogs, research and events. You can send us feedback, and ideas for episodes too, to devpolicy@anu.edu.au.

    43 min
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About

Devpolicy Talks brings you interviews, event recordings and in-depth documentary features relating to the topics we research at the Development Policy Centre. The Centre, part of the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy, works on Australian aid, development in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, and regional and global development issues. It is host to the Devpolicy Blog (devpolicy.org) and a range of public events including the annual PNG Update, the Pacific Update and the Australasian Aid and International Development Conference.

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