Vanuatu

Just earlier this month, the Turnbull Government confirmed it would spend $136 million (US$100 million) to build an undersea cable linking Solomon Islands to Australia, a project the Solomon Islands Government had originally inked with the Beijing-linked tech company Huawei.

Australia offered to take on the project instead after raising security concerns with the Solomon Islands Government.

At the end of a march marking International Seafarers Day the sailors showed the government a video detailing their concerns.

The video shows a long list of complaints about the ships they work on, including being underpaid, non-stop working hours, diets of tinned fish and rice meals, grim living conditions and a lack of life insurance cover.

Many of the sailors work on foreign ships but they say ni-Vanuatu ship owners are among the worst when it comes to paying their crew on time.

This will increase employment opportunities for Vanuatu's workers in Australia and help fill critical labour gaps in Australia's rural and regional areas.

It's one of the outcomes of today's meeting between the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra.

In 2017, the number of Vanuatu workers in Australia reached 2,150, who brought in over Vt1 billion to the Vanuatu economy.

Vanuatu began sending workers under the Seasonal Worker Programme around 2009/2010.

At a touching ceremony which recognised the efforts of over 50 tourism businesses across all sectors and provinces of Vanuatu, the passion and commitment of everyone involved in the industry was evident.

These interests include humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime surveillance and border security, police and defence cooperation.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull issued a statement today welcoming his Vanuatu counterpart Charlot Salwai to Canberra for an official visit.

“Australia will provide technical assistance to support Vanuatu to develop its first National Security Strategy. This strategy will support Vanuatu’s vision for a ‘stable, sustainable and prosperous Vanuatu’, in line with its National Sustainable Development Plan,” Turnbull said.

Charlot Salwai made the comment in Noumea on Vanuatu's stance towards the vote.

He said Vanuatu supported the Noumea Accord, but said it would be up to New Caledonia's voters to decide.

Mr Salwai said the Pacific neighbours shared the same values and that Vanuatu backed New Caledonia's further integration into the region.

While there had been ups and downs in Vanuatu's links with France, the relationship was improving, he said.

After independence in 1980, Vanuatu supported New Caledonia's pro-independence FLNKS movement.

The telecommunications company, Vocus Group, will oversee the roll-out of the 4000 kilometre undersea cable, linking Solomon Islands and PNG with the Australian mainland.

The money will come from the Australian aid budget, with the PNG and Solomon Islands governments required to contribute some of the funding.

By footing the bill, Australia effectively stopped the Chinese company, Huawei, from building the link, as it had originally signed a contract to do so with the Solomon Islands government.

The earthquake was located 34 km from Port Vila and struck at 9:13 AM local time.

Some members of the public took to social media to record their experiences.

One spoke of the house shaking while another spoke of running out of the house.

There are no immediate reports of damage.

Today's earthquake is the third big one this week. 

The other two that hit on Monday measured 5.3 and 5.1 respectively. 

Some members of parliament have complained that Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation's broadcasts were not clear in their islands.

The prime minister Charlot Salwai said MPs must take time to visit the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation to see the many changes under its new management.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reported that MPs have blamed poor standards on political interference in the board.

The Port Vila Land Transport association has long been concerned there are too many buses in Port Vila to make money.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reports the minister has told permit officers not to issue any more approvals for more bus operators.

He cited traffic congestion, poor road design and poor profits for the bus companies as reasons for the order.

He said the order would also put a stop to the buses which were operating without a permit.