Is a serious debate on our approach to regional security possible?

The second proposal I will advance is one I have written about in the past.

Australia is easily the most generous provider of development assistance (aid) to our region. The largest share goes to Papua New Guinea, but increasingly assistance is being given to other regional neighbours such as Fiji and even the Solomon Islands.

It surely makes sense to have the Office of the Pacific - which manages our various programs in the region - located as close as possible to the region.

It would not be hard to locate it closer to our neighbours than its current location - Canberra!!

It would make sense to locate the Office of the Pacific in Cairns. But a case can be made for Townsville or Brisbane.

Is it too much to expect the idea is at least worth serious examination?

My final suggestion relates to links between our National Parliament and the Parliaments of the South Pacific. Parliamentary democracy in our region is under constant challenge. Now is the time to look at how our Parliament, and even state parliaments, can mentor regional parliaments and parliamentarians.

This is a suggestion that would need to be discussed with our neighbours - but I am confident the response would be positive.

It is also a policy idea the Chinese dictatorship would struggle to match!

In an election campaign in which billions are being promised, the sum total of these proposals would barely touch the sides.

But they might make a real difference!