The Australian Federal Police will significantly expand its Pinkenba Hub in Brisbane, positioning it as the operational and training backbone of the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) — a Pacific-led, Australian-supported effort to strengthen law-enforcement cooperation, safety and security across the region.
AFP Commissioner Barrett said the initiative reflects the region’s collective commitment to strengthening shared security.
“The PPI is a Pacific-led initiative that is strengthening policing capacity and coordination in the region — for the Pacific, by the Pacific.”
Under the plan, the Pinkenba site will become home to the Pacific Police Support Group (PPSG), a multinational deployment team created to assist Pacific nations during major events and in times of crisis. The group has already been active across the region, including deployments to the Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games, Vanuatu’s post-earthquake recovery efforts, and last year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
To accommodate its growing role, the Hub is set for a major build-out, including a chapel, sporting fields, expanded training spaces, a full mess facility, and traditional gathering and cooking areas to reflect Pacific customs and community life.
The expansion plans were unveiled during the Hub’s first anniversary celebrations in December, which brought together police chiefs, ministers and dignitaries from across the region for the inaugural PPI Leadership Board. The event also included the opening of a Leaf Hut — a structure designed to honour Pacific meeting traditions — along with demonstrations by PPSG officers showcasing public order and capability exercises.
During the celebrations, member countries also signed Memorandums of Understanding to formalise the PPI’s operating arrangements and outline how future Pacific police deployments will function. Initial signatories included Palau’s Minister of Justice Jennifer Olegeriil, Tonga’s Minister for Police Paula Piveni Piukala, New Zealand Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
Barrett said recent discussions with leaders across Papua New Guinea, Fiji and other nations confirmed a strong appetite for deeper cooperation.
“The message from Pacific leaders is clear. As a Pacific bloc, they have the ambition and determination to find solutions for our shared security challenges.”
She added that the threats facing Pacific nations are the same threats confronting Australia, making collaboration essential.
“Together we will continue to build our resilience because the threats challenging the Pacific are also the threats that challenge Australia.”
Barrett said she was “humbled” by the insights offered by Pacific leaders and signalled that the AFP would pursue “further goals to keep our communities safe” in the coming year.
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