Now is the time to enhance public support for greater assistance for PNG and the South Pacific

Of course a substantial share can be identified as "development assistance" but we need to be much more robust when it comes to greater spending.

Especially in Papua New Guinea, but also in Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Timor Leste, increased assistance and activity needs to reflect the reality that it is genuinely in "the Australian interest" for the federal government to do so.

There is far too much timidity in DFAT when it comes to engaging the Australian community with the real objectives of the support we given to Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific.

The Prime Minister needs to lead the way is totally revising how we explain the support we provide, and justify the significant increases that are inevitable if we are to counter China's growing influence and its "anti-Australia" campaign.

That means greater transparency in our existing aid program across the region. Its successes and its failures need to be highlighted. The people of Australia will support it provided there is transparency and competence in his delivery.

Terms like "Pacific Step Up" really are quite meaningless (especially when it has been baby steps to date).

The Government needs to engage the citizens (voters) with the real objectives of the support we provide across the region. Assistance with "development" yes, but also the genuine pursuit of the Australian national interest!

I have every confidence that if what is clearly in our own national interest in our region is promoted more openly and actively, the community will overwhelmingly support it.

The aggressive approach China has taken by effectively blocking key Australian exports has clearly been recognised in the community. Our deteriorating relationship with China is increasingly seen as been not irrelevant to our national security, and the very stability of our neighbours, especially our closest neighbour – Papua New Guinea.

Just last Thursday the Australian Government provided the first indication that the need to do much, much more in countering China is being understood.

The Australian and Papua New Guinean Governments signed a MOU under which Australia will provide up to $A400 million to support the renewal and upgrading of significant ports in Papua New Guinea.

Now the devil will be in the detail, but provided the project starts as soon as possible – and not be just a well-meaning MOU with no time frame – it is a very welcome one. If can really assist Papua New Guinea in a critical infrastructure and security area.