Australia’s Pinkenba Hub in Brisbane is set to become the regional operational and training backbone of the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), anchoring a growing, Pacific‑led policing partnership that will support major events and crisis response across the region. The expansion positions Brisbane as a key base where Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers train and deploy alongside Pacific police services under a “for the Pacific, by the Pacific” model.​

Australia’s Pacific policing ties are set for a major boost, with the Australian Federal Police announcing a significant expansion of its Pinkenba Hub in Brisbane to serve as the regional base for the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI). The upgraded facility will underpin a Pacific‑led, Australian‑supported effort to strengthen policing capacity, coordination and shared security across the blue Pacific.​

At the heart of the new arrangements is the Pacific Police Support Group (PPSG), a multinational deployment team that will be headquartered at Pinkenba and ready to support Pacific nations during major events and in times of crisis. PPSG officers have already been deployed to support security at the Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games, assist Vanuatu’s post‑earthquake recovery, and bolster policing operations at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.​

To accommodate its growing regional role, the Pinkenba Hub is set for a major build‑out, including a chapel, sporting fields, expanded training spaces, a full mess facility and dedicated gathering and cooking areas that reflect Pacific customs and community life. The site will function as both an operational base and a cultural meeting place, designed to make Pacific officers feel at home while training and working in Brisbane.​

The expansion plans were unveiled during the Hub’s first anniversary celebrations in Brisbane, which brought together police chiefs, ministers and dignitaries from across the Pacific for the inaugural PPI Leadership Board. The event also featured the opening of a traditional Leaf Hut, used as a Pacific‑style meeting space, along with public order and capability demonstrations by PPSG officers.​

During the anniversary gathering, member countries signed a series of Memorandums of Understanding that set out how the PPI will operate and how future Pacific police deployments will work. 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, underscoring the multi‑country backing for the initiative.​

AFP Commissioner leadership has described the PPI as a clear expression of the region’s shared ambition to tackle common security threats through cooperation rather than competition. Recent engagements with leaders in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and other Pacific nations have highlighted strong support for deeper collaboration and greater Pacific representation in regional and global policing forums.​

Under the PPI framework, the Pinkenba Hub operates alongside a network of Regional Centres of Excellence across Pacific countries and the deployable PPSG capability. Together, these pillars aim to build long‑term resilience against challenges such as transnational crime, disaster response, border security and community safety, with Australia committing several hundred million dollars over five years to support the initiative.​

For Brisbane and Queensland, the expanded Hub also cements the city’s role as a gateway between Australia and its Pacific neighbours, with regular rotations of officers coming through for training, coordination and deployment. For Pacific communities in Australia, the facility’s emphasis on Pacific culture and leadership sends a strong signal that regional policing solutions will be shaped and led by Pacific voices.​

MANTV understands that as the Pinkenba Hub grows into a fully fledged regional base, there will be increasing opportunities for joint exercises, community engagement and media access showcasing Pacific policing stories. For multicultural audiences across Australia and the wider region, the initiative represents a new chapter in how Pacific countries work together to keep communities safe on both sides of the Coral Sea.